Austin Gilgronis Sign World Cup Trio

Austin, TX (March 4, 2020): Austin Gilgronis (the AG’s) are excited to announce the signing of three World Cup-level backs for the 2020 season. Samoan scrumhalf Pele Cowley, Tongan flyhalf Kurt Morath, and USA Eagle Will Magie arrived in Austin this week. The new AG’s celebrated their signing at the Circuit of The Americas Tower this afternoon.

“All three of these guys bring heaps of international experience to the side,” said Coach Semmons, “Each are unique in how they’ll lift the team week to week.”

All three men have been selected to face the Sabercats in Houston this Saturday with the Texas Cup on the line.

Pele Cowley

The 26-year-old scrumhalf out of Auckland New Zealand was the first to arrive in Austin this week and has already begun to push the team’s tempo in training and in the gym. 

“I signed with Austin because I knew what potential the club had, the team is made up of a bunch of hungry lads eager to learn and win” says Cowley. “People here in Austin have been welcoming and hospitable, so it’s exciting to see how far this team can go.”

Cowley represented Samoa in three of the four World Cup matches this autumn. He came up through the Auckland development pathway under AG’s coach Brent Semmons.

“Pele’s only 26, but he brings a ton of experience from high performance on through to international-level,” says Semmons. “His tempo and control are going to be his biggest assets, when to push the pace and when to kick the ball into the carpark.”

Kurt Morath

Morath too is from Auckland and brings 37 international caps to the AG’s. Morath has been a stalwart at flyhalf for Tonga in the last three World Cups (‘11, ‘15, ‘19.) He makes his return to American professional rugby in Austin.

“This is a team with huge potential and ambition, so I’m happy to be here in Austin with the Gilgronis,” says Morath. 

Before this last season with Doncaster, Morath played in six matches for the Utah Warriors in year one of the Major League Rugby and 11 matches for the San Diego Breakers in the now defunct PRO rugby league.

“Kurt is going to bring structure and organization to our layered attack,” says Semmons. “He’s got a quick catch-pass and can play close to the line as a threat to run.”

 Will Magie

Like Morath, Will Magie makes the move from the RFU Championship to Major League Rugby to compete for the flyhalf job in Austin. 

“Look, it’s not everyday you get the opportunity to play under a coaching staff like this one,” says Magie. “The guys have come so close to winning each week and I hope I can help us get that first win and then hopefully the rest will fall like dominoes.”

This autumn Magie’s selection to represent the USA in the 2019 World Cup added to his tally of 26 caps for the Eagles. Magie has played flyhalf and fullback at the professional and international level.

“Little known fact, Will was actually at our combine as a referee,” says Semmons. “He’ll bring that rugby IQ and gamesmanship to the pitch along with a really consistent boot.”

At 28 years old, Magie has strung together several successful seasons in the RFU Championship with the London Scottish and Ealing Trailfinders and two championship seasons with the Glendale Raptors and the Denver Stampede.

The AG’s coaching staff looks forward to the competition that has already begun to play out in the backline with the addition of the international trio. The AG’s have no doubt that  Pele, Will, and Kurt will bring even more action to the premium entertainment experience you’ll see at a Gilgronis match.