Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

The Austin MLR team have rebranded and fans can't get over the absurd new name

(Photo via majorleague.rugby)

Throughout the history of professional sports there have been a host of unusual, surprising and downright absurd names.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Austin Major League Rugby team – known as the Elite from 2017 to 2018 and then as the Herd last year – may have now taken the cake for the strangest name ever conceived.

As announced earlier today, last year’s cellar-dwelling MLR side will henceforth be known as the Austin Gilgronis.

Most people won’t recognise the nickname, primarily because it’s a word that doesn’t actually exist as yet.

Continue reading below…

Video Spacer

According to the MLR website, the Gilgronis are named after a “new Texas-sized cocktail, to be released soon”.

Fans have understandably taken to Twitter to divulge their opinions on the new moniker – and the consensus seems to be swaying towards the negative at present.

Here’s what’s been said:

https://twitter.com/JakeHFrechette/status/1222662826919153664

ADVERTISEMENT

https://twitter.com/joeydogood/status/1222656907405594626

American sports teams, in particular, have a history of running with somewhat peculiar nicknames. The Gilgronis will now join the long list of somewhat ill-thought names such as the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs.

Terrible name aside, the Gilrgonis also announced a number of excellent initiatives to help grow rugby in Austin, including:

  • Paying for every youth players’ annual fees;
  • Capping ticket sales at $5 per person for families;
  • Sponsoring the U16, U18, and U20 teams to travel nationally as they strive to win their respective national championships;
  • Providing all uniforms, boots, and training kits to youth at a wholesale price to make the sport more affordable. No jersey will cost more than $25.

Loyals LLC, who have taken over the franchise, have brought in former All Blacks skills coach Mick Byrneas as the teams’ head of rugby and will be aiming to improve the Gilgronis’ standing in the league.

The full press release can be read here.

ADVERTISEMENT

WATCH: Kotaro Matsushima’s confirmed switch from Japan to France could be a game-changer.

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING The appointment I would make to save Steve Borthwick – Andy Goode The appointment I would make to save Steve Borthwick – Andy Goode
Search