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Former Wallabies hooker joins Major League Rugby expansion side LA Giltinis
The LA Giltinis have confirmed the appointment of highly regarded Australian rugby executive and former Wallaby Adam Freier as the organisation’s general manager for its maiden MLR season set to kick off in March 2021.
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Freier brings a world-class and unique skill set to the MLR, having played a significant role in Australian rugby across marketing, digital, media/communications and community rugby, as well as a 15-year professional playing career.
Freier joins Giltinis coach Darren Coleman and former Wallabies, Waratahs and Randwick teammate Stephen Hoiles to lead the franchise out of Venice Beach next season.
News of Freier’s appointment comes ahead of a massive period for the Gitltinis as the club looks to introduce over 30 new signings to the MLR from November 1.
“I am humbled but extremely excited by this appointment and see it as a great honour to lead Los Angeles into their maiden season and toward their first MLR Championship,” said Freier.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to work at a premium entertainment business who is attacking sports marketing in such a particular way. It has been great to find like-minded marketing and sports executives to innovate the way in which consumers can engage with rugby with freedom to constantly challenge the status quo.
“Make no mistake, entertainment will drive what we do here at the Giltinis, and our franchise is looking forward to bringing a very unique match day experience to the US sports market and the city of Los Angeles. It’s going to be fun, and fans of all ages will be in for a real treat, with some of the best family entertainment available in LA.”
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With Freier’s marketing expertise comes an appreciation and admiration for the community, having played and made a significant impact on youth and development programs as well as ‘grassroots’ associations and foundations within the Australian Rugby landscape.
“Outside of the stadium, what really excites me is the opportunity to play a role in uniting and igniting the rugby community here in Los Angeles. The local rugby community has some great people and foundations in place for our franchise to thrive, and I look forward to working with them as the sport continues to rise in the city.
“We obviously want immediate on-field success, but our long-term focus is to have a sustainable flow of high-end rugby talent coming out of the region, and we have some exciting announcements about our youth and development plans later this month, and an exceptional coach to drive it.”
Michael Hooper has hit back at talk of increased niggle following the questions raised during the week about apparent targeting of All Blacks first-five Richie Mo'unga. #BledisloeCup #NZLvAUS https://t.co/4qIMp0LNQd
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 17, 2020
Since the appointment of Coleman and Holies in May, the Giltinis have remained tight lipped on communicating any players, taking the approach of naming their squad during a condensed period, with Freier giving fans a sense of what’s to come in the coming months.
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“The entire organisation have been working incredibly hard in the background to assemble the very best local and international rugby stars which we will be confirming over the next couple of months, and we really want to own this space. I’m absolutely certain that LA and our Rugby community will be happy with their team representing them in the MLR this season and will do our city proud.
“The level of interest from players across the world to join us in LA has been overwhelming and really does highlight why LA is the entertainment capital of the world.
“Seeing the holistic benefits LA can provide our rugby players and their families and its professional opportunities, it’s obviously unparalleled to anywhere else within the professional rugby landscape.
“Now the 2021 season is locked in, you can feel the energy brewing within US rugby circles and the MLR is starting to gain some real traction internationally, which is a credit to all of the MLR owners, their staff and the league office.”
The Giltinis will kick off their Major League Rugby campaign on the weekend of March 20, 2021.
– LA Giltinis
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
41 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
41 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
41 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
41 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
41 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
41 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
41 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments