AG’s SIGN ROUND ROCK NATIVE CHRISTIAN OSTBERG

AUSTIN, TX (August 7, 2020) Austin Gilgronis is thrilled to announce the signing of Christian Ostberg. The 6’6” 250lbs lock grew up in Round Rock, TX just a mile down the road from the AG’s high-performance precinct.

“To come back home and play and train with this team, five minutes from where I first picked up a rugby ball, it means a lot,” says Ostberg. “Getting the chance to play in front of my family is the reason I came home to Austin.”

Ostberg first picked up rugby at Stony Point HS in Round Rock, under now Rock Rugby Academy head coach Paul ‘Rock’ McCartney. He earned a spot on the Rugby Texas High-Performance squad and then was selected to the High School All-Americans team to tour South Africa. Ostberg then earned a scholarship to Life University and continued in the All-American pathway with the U-20 All-Americans. In 2013, a 19-year-old Ostberg was a standout forward at the IRB Junior World Championship in France. After three pool matches against England (1st Place) France (5th Place) and South Africa (3rd Place), Ostberg hired an agent and began receiving calls for his professional services overseas.

Ostberg earned his first professional contract with Algher Rugby in the Italian isle of Sardinia. Then it was on to Chinnor RFC in England for a six month season. In 2015, he negotiated a contract to play with the French club, Stade Aurillacois, in the Pro D2. In 2017, Ostberg signed a three-year extension with the club. In March of 2020, Stade and Ostberg mutually parted ways and returned home to his family in Austin amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Ostberg returned to the American rugby ranks for the first time in six years and trained with the AG’s ahead of the San Diego Legion match in March of 2020. That match was canceled due to the pandemic. 

“We are beyond happy to have a lock of Christian’s caliber in our engine room,” says Matt Burgess. “Christian is a local boy; we want Austinites in our club to show the new players what Austin is all about, and to make sure our fingerprints are true to this great city.”