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Houston SaberCats

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The Houston SaberCats are an American professional rugby union team based in Houston, Texas. The team was founded in 2017 and competes in Major League Rugby,[1] the top-level rugby union competition in the United States and Canada that played its first season in 2018. The SaberCats organization was born from one of the founding amateur rugby clubs that pooled resources to emerge professionally, and were the first in MLR membership to build a rugby-specific stadium intended for MLR competition.

Houston SaberCats
Full nameHouston SaberCats
Founded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
LocationHouston, Texas
Ground(s)SaberCats Stadium (Capacity: 4,000)
PresidentMike Sheehan
Coach(es)Pote Human
Captain(s)Johan Momsen
Most capsZach Pangelinan (56)
Top scorerSam Windsor (432)
Most triesChristian Dyer (19)
League(s)Major League Rugby
2023Elimination round
3rd (Western Conference)
Team kit
Official website
www.houstonsabercats.com

Home field

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Main article: SaberCats Stadium

Houston plays their games in SaberCats Stadium, which was opened on April 13, 2019.[2] In February 2018, the City of Houston agreed to fund $3.2 million of the $15.25 million needed to build a permanent rugby stadium for use by the Houston SaberCats at Houston Sports Park.[3] On July 17, the SaberCats announced that a three-year naming rights were awarded to British multinational software and technology company Aveva, and that it would be initially known as "Aveva Stadium".[4] Following this deal, the venue became known as "SaberCats Stadium".

Houston Sports Park is also the permanent training ground for Major League Soccer soccer team Houston Dynamo as well as the Houston Dash women's soccer team.

During the 2018 regular season, the SaberCats played their home matches at Dyer Stadium[5] and trained at Athlete Training and Health in Houston. The team also played at Constellation Field, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters, for part of the 2019 season, and for their exhibition matches in 2017 and 2018.[6] Also, in April 2019, while the new pitch at SaberCats Stadium healed, the team returned to Dyer Stadium to play one match against San Diego before returning to SaberCats Stadium.

Stadium Capacity Location Year(s)
Dyer Stadium 6,000 Houston, Texas 2018
Constellation Field 7,500 Sugar Land, Texas 2018–2019
SaberCats Stadium 4,000 Houston, Texas 2019–present

Broadcasts

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  • 2019 home games were shown on KUBE-TV an independent station in Houston.

Sponsorship

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Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Other Shirt sponsor(s)
2018–2019 XBlades Aveva None
2020 Paladin Sports
2021 Lone Star College System
2022 Live Oak Vodka None
2023 None

Players and personnel

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Current squad

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For player movements before and during the 2024 season, see List of 2023–24 Major League Rugby transfers § Houston SaberCats.

The Houston SaberCats squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is:[7]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Pita Anae Ah-Sue Hooker   Samoa
Tiaan Erasmus* Hooker   South Africa
Brian Flamenco Hooker   United States
Seth Smith Hooker   United States
Sidney Tobias Hooker   South Africa
Rob Cobb Prop   New Zealand
Pono Davis Prop   United States
Frikkie de Beer* Prop   South Africa
Valdemar Lee-Lo Prop   United States
Ezekiel Lindenmuth Prop   Samoa
Maks van Dyk Prop   South Africa
LaRome White Prop   United States
Justin Basson Lock   South Africa
Nathan Den Hoedt Lock   Australia
Siaosi Mahoni Lock   United States
Johan Momsen (c) Lock   South Africa
Marno Redelinghuys Lock   South Africa
Tomiwa Agbongbon Back row   United States
Emmanuel Albert Back row   United States
Orrin Bizer Back row   United States
Asa Carter Back row   United States
Aiden Kerr Back row   United States
Ronan Murphy Back row   United States
Keni Nasoqeqe Back row   United States
Gideon van Wyk Back row   South Africa
Anton Viera Back row   United States
Player Position Union


Devereaux Ferris Scrum-half   United States
Carlo de Nysschen* Scrum-half   South Africa
Jay Renton Scrum-half   New Zealand
André Warner Scrum-half   South Africa
AJ Alatimu Fly-half   Samoa
Davy Coetzer Fly-half   South Africa
Max Schumacher Fly-half   United States
Dom Akina Centre   United States
Sam Hill Centre   England
Seimou Smith Centre   United States
Tautalatasi Tasi Centre   Australia
Louritz van der Schyff Centre   South Africa
Drake Davis Wing   United States
Christian Dyer Wing   United States
Gerrie Labuschagné Wing   South Africa
Jeremy Misailegalu Wing   United States
Line Latu Fullback   United States
Drew Wild Fullback   New Zealand
  • Senior 15s and senior 7s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
  • MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

Current coaching staff

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  • Pote Human (Head Coach)
  • Vic Meyer (Assistant Coach - Attack)
  • Ryan Nell (Assistant Coach – backs)
  • Mike Brown (Assistant Coach)
  • Jon Hood (Strength & Conditioning Coach)

Head coaches

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Former assistant coaches

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Captains

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Records

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Season standings

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Season Conference Regular season Postseason
Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts Pld W L F A +/− Result
2018 - 7th 8 1 0 7 216 256 −40 7 11 - - - - - - Did not qualify
2019 - 7th 16 6 0 10 345 496 −151 6 30 - - - - - - Did not qualify
2020[a] Western 6th 5 1 0 4 99 116 −17 2 6 - - - - - - Cancelled
2021 Western 6th 16 2 0 14 274 550 -276 5 13 - - - - - - Did not qualify
2022 Western 3rd 16 9 0 7 408 393 +15 12 48 1 0 1 27 46 -19 Lost West Conference Final (Seattle Seawolves) 27–46
2023 Western 3rd 16 10 0 6 484 413 +71 13 53 1 0 1 26 37 -11 Lost West Conference Eliminator Game (Seattle Seawolves) 26-37
2024 Western 1st 16 14 0 2 478 347 +131 11 67 1 0 1 22 34 -12 Lost West Conference Eliminator Game (Dallas Jackals) 22-34
Totals 93 43 0 50 2,304 2,571 -267 56 228 3 0 3 75 117 -42 3 postseason appearances

Notes

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  1. ^ 2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


2018 season

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Exhibition

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
November 18, 2017 Dallas Reds Away Won, 31–24
December 2, 2017 Dallas Harlequins Away Won, 125–0
December 9, 2017 Austin Blacks Away Won, 46–31
December 9, 2017 Austin Blacks Away Won, 55–14
December 16, 2017 Dallas Reds Home Won, 21–5
January 6, 2018 Seattle Saracens Away Won, 50–7
January 13, 2018 Vancouver Ravens Away Lost, 23–26
January 20, 2018 Uruguay National Team Home Lost, 24–32
January 27, 2018 James Bay Athletic Club Home Won, 42–13
February 3, 2018 Capital Selects Home Won, 49–3
February 10, 2018 Chicago Lions Home Won, 60–10
February 17, 2018 New York Athletic Club Away Won, 39–38
February 24, 2018 New Orleans Gold Home Won, 30–12
March 3, 2018 Ontario Arrows Home Draw, 28–28
March 24, 2018 New Orleans Gold Away Draw, 32–32
April 7, 2018 San Diego Legion Away Won, 33–17

Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 21 New Orleans Gold Home Lost, 26–35
April 28 Austin Elite Home Won, 50–38
May 4 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 32–35
May 19 New Orleans Gold Away Lost, 26–35
May 26 Utah Warriors Home Lost, 30–36
June 2 Seattle Seawolves Home Lost, 7–20
June 9 Glendale Raptors Away Lost, 24–37
June 23 Utah Warriors Away Lost, 27–31

2019 season

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Exhibition

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
December 1, 2018 Austin Blacks Away Won, 78–12
December 8, 2018 Dallas Reds Away Won, 34–8
January 11, 2019 Austin Elite Home Lost, 10–14
January 19, 2019 Glendale Raptors Home Lost, 21–36

Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Venue Result
January 26 Austin Elite Away Dell Diamond Won, 21–20
February 9 San Diego Legion Away Torero Stadium Lost, 13–17
February 22 Toronto Arrows Home Constellation Field Lost, 27–44
March 2 Rugby United New York Home Constellation Field Lost, 8–35
March 10 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Sports Lost, 14–27
March 16 New Orleans Gold Home Constellation Field Lost, 11–49
March 23 Utah Warriors Home Constellation Field Won, 29–27
April 6 Glendale Raptors Away Infinity Park Lost, 44–52
April 13 Seattle Seawolves Home Aveva Stadium Lost, 12–52
April 21 Toronto Arrows Away York Stadium Lost, 21–35
April 27 San Diego Legion Home Dyer Stadium Lost, 19–41
May 5 Rugby United New York Away MCU Park Lost, 0–21
May 18 New Orleans Gold Away Archbishop Shaw Stadium Won, 27–20
May 25 Austin Elite Home Aveva Stadium Won, 36–15
May 29 Glendale Raptors Home Aveva Stadium Won, 32–17
June 1 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Won, 31–27

2020 season

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On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic.[13] It was cancelled the following week[14]

Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result
February 8 Colorado Raptors Home Aveva Stadium Won, 21–12
February 16 Toronto Arrows Neutral Las Vegas Ballpark Lost, 22–27
February 22 Old Glory DC Home Aveva Stadium Lost, 13–22
March 1 Rugby United New York Home Aveva Stadium Lost, 23–31
March 7 Austin Gilgronis Home Aveva Stadium Lost, 20–24
March 14 New England Free Jacks Away Union Point Sports Complex Cancelled
March 21 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Stadium Cancelled
April 5 San Diego Legion Away Torero Stadium Cancelled
April 11 Utah Warriors Home Aveva Stadium Cancelled
April 18 Colorado Raptors Away Infinity Park Cancelled
April 26 Austin Gilgronis Away Round Rock Multipurpose Complex Cancelled
May 2 Seattle Seawolves Home Aveva Stadium Cancelled
May 9 New Orleans Gold Away Gold Mine Cancelled
May 16 San Diego Legion Home Aveva Stadium Cancelled
May 23 Rugby ATL Home Aveva Stadium Cancelled
May 30 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Cancelled

2021 season

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Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
March 20 Seattle Seawolves Home Won, 30–24
March 27 New England Free Jacks Home Lost, 0–32
April 3 Austin Gilgronis Away Lost, 0–26
April 10 San Diego Legion Home Won, 34–32
April 17 LA Giltinis Home Lost, 48–33
April 24 Utah Warriors Away Lost, 50–43
May 8 New Orleans Gold Away Lost, 26–28
May 15 Toronto Arrows Home Lost, 10–19
May 22 Old Glory DC Home Lost, 13–21
May 29 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 11–39
June 5 Austin Gilgronis Home Lost, 9–28
June 13 LA Giltinis Away Lost, 5–52
June 19 Rugby ATL Away Lost, 15–33
June 26 Utah Warriors Home Lost, 5–24
July 10 Rugby United New York Away Lost, 19–54
July 15 Seattle Seawolves Away Lost, 21-40

2022 season

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Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 5 LA Giltinis Home Won, 21–11
February 12 Rugby New York Home Lost, 7-10
February 19 Dallas Jackals Away Won, 38–33
February 26 San Diego Legion Home Lost, 20-31
March 5 Rugby ATL Away Lost, 22-29
March 12 Seattle Seawolves Home Won 21-19
March 26 Utah Warriors Away Won, 28-12
April 3 Austin Gilgronis Away Lost, 5-45
April 9 Dallas Jackals Home Won, 31-6
April 16 LA Giltinis Away Lost, 12-17
April 23 Toronto Arrows Home Won, 29-17
May 8 San Diego Legion Away Won, 34-24
May 14 Utah Warriors Home Won, 31-27
May 21 Old Glory DC Away Won, 59-42
May 27 Seattle Seawolves Away Lost, 36-43
June 3 Austin Gilgronis Home Lost, 14-29

Post season

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See also: 2022 Major League Rugby playoffs
Round Date Opponent Home/Away Result
West Conference Finals June 18 Seattle Seawolves Home Lost, 27-46

2023 season

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Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 19 Dallas Jackals Away Won, 33-12
February 25 NOLA Gold Home Won, 35-14
March 5 San Diego Legion Home Won, 31-26
March 11 Seattle Seawolves Away Lost, 12-24
March 25 Rugby ATL Home Won, 40-28
April 2 Chicago Hounds Away Won, 38-21
April 8 Utah Warriors Home Lost, 24-30
April 15 Dallas Jackals Home Won, 33-21
April 23 New York Ironworkers Away Won, 34-27
April 30 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 16-29
May 13 Seattle Seawolves Home Lost, 17-34
May 20 Utah Warriors Away Lost, 28-34
May 27 Chicago Hounds Home Won, 40-33
June 3 Toronto Arrows Away Won, 48-26
June 9 Old Glory DC Home Won, 31-7
June 18 New England Free Jacks Away Lost, 24-47

Post season

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Round Date Opponent Home/Away Result
West Conference Eliminator Round June 24 Seattle Seawolves Away Lost, 26-37

2024 season

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Regular season

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Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result
March 2 Utah Warriors Home SaberCats Stadium Won, 22-15
March 10 Rugby Football Club Los Angeles Away Dignity Health Sports Park Won, 27-12
March 16 Miami Sharks Home SaberCats Stadium Won, 30-19
March 22 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Sports Complex Won, 42-40
March 29 Dallas Jackals Away Choctaw Stadium Won, 30-27
April 13 New England Free Jacks Home SaberCats Stadium Lost, 47-35
April 20 Old Glory DC Away Maryland SoccerPlex Won, 38-17
April 27 San Diego Legion Home SaberCats Stadium Won, 33-0
May 4 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Won, 29-24
May 10 Anthem RC Away American Legion Memorial Stadium Won, 38-15
May 18 Chicago Hounds Home SaberCats Stadium Won, 23-22
June 1 NOLA Gold Away The Gold Mine Won, 21-7
June 8 Rugby Football Club Los Angeles Home SaberCats Stadium Won, 29-12
June 15 Seattle Seawolves Home SaberCats Stadium Won, 28-25
June 23 San Diego Legion Away Snapdragon Stadium Lost, 37-24
June 29 Dallas Jackals Away SaberCats Stadium Won, 29-28

Post season

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Round Date Opponent Home/Away Result
West Conference Semi-Final July 20 Dallas Jackals Home Lost, 34-22

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Major League Rugby – As It Stands". Americas Rugby News. 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  2. ^ "SaberCats fall to Seawolves in first match played at AVEVA Stadium". Houston Chronicle. April 13, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  3. ^ Schneider, Andrew (2018-02-07). "Houston City Council Approved $3.2 Million Deal To Build A New Rugby Stadium". Houston Public Media. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  4. ^ "SaberCats, city to break ground on new AVEVA Stadium late July". KHOU. July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  5. ^ Gorman, Jack (2018-03-05). "Houston SaberCats Announce New Temporary Home". Houston Press. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  6. ^ Dart, Tom (2018-01-22). "Houston? No problem – SaberCats bullish about latest US rugby venture". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  7. ^ "Houston SaberCats". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Houston? No problem – SaberCats bullish about latest US rugby venture". The Guardian. January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  9. ^ "Paul Emerick takes helm of SaberCats". Houston Chronicle. May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  10. ^ "New Coach Announced Ahead of 2020 Season". August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  11. ^ "Pote Human to join Heyneke Meyer at American Major League outfit". Sport24. September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "MLR 2022 - Houston SaberCats vs LA Giltinis - ARN Guide". Americas Rugby News. 2022-02-04. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  13. ^ "Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020". Archived from the original on March 14, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  14. ^ "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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