The Austin Herd Major League Rugby franchise was recently sold to new ownership group, Loyals LLC, and will now be known as the Austin Gilgronis. The Australian rugby investment group has also bought the Los Angeles MLR franchise, which is set to make its debut in 2021. 

The sale of the team comes at an interesting time for the former Herd who, following a frustrating 0-16 season, have undergone a makeover both on and off the field this offseason to restore pride in the jersey and reconnect with the community. 

After changing their name from the Elite to the Herd, the Austin team will now have its third name in the past six months. 

Mick Byrne, the Australian national team skills coach, will takeover as the Director of Rugby, while head coaches Brent Semmons and Andrew Suniula remain in their roles. 

Where will they play?

The team will now have a permanent home, as they will relocate from the minor league baseball stadium Dell Diamond to the new stadium at the Circuit of the Americas F1 complex, which the Gilgronis will share with United Soccer League side the Austin Bold. 

Tickets for the games will be as cheap as $5 for families, and $8 for general admission. The new ownership group plans to put on premium entertainment before and during each and every match, including human cannonballs, fire performers, BBQ cook-offs, and cheer competitions. 

What is a Gilgroni?

A Gilgroni is a new, "Texas-sized" cocktail beverage, waiting to be released by the same ownership group, Loyals LLC, that has bought the franchise. 

Ownership Initiatives

Feeling as though the game of rugby has become a bit "stagnant", the new ownership group has set ambitious goals to well and truly integrate rugby into the Texas culture. 

Their target is to promote the youth level of the game, and as such they are planning to heavily invest in that sector. Some of their pans include:

• 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.
• Provide 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.
• Build the world's largest youth strength and conditioning center, to be made available to both girls and boys.

Looking ahead

The new-look franchise could be heading for a breakthrough year. Enormous strides have already been made within the team itself, as well as with the Austin rugby community in general. Now, an influx of investment and a commitment to providing premium fan experience for a low-cost could be huge drivers in making Austin a keen destination for players and fans to join. 

The boys will get their season underway on February 9th against the Toronto Arrows at their new home stadium at the Circuit of the Americas.