Luke Gross
Encyclopedia
Luke Gross is an American
rugby union footballer. A lock who has played for various club sides, he earned 62 caps
for the USA
between 1996 and 2003; although he was named to the USA squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
, and played in the 2007 squad's final warmup against Celtic League side Munster
, he did not play in the World Cup itself. Gross is the all-time caps leader for the USA. His 6"9' frame gave him a considerable presence in the line-out.
Gross started his rugby career far later than most international players, even those from countries like the USA where rugby is not a major sport, not taking up the sport seriously until age 24, after he had attended Marshall University
. He began his rugby career with the Cincinnati Wolfhounds. He played basketball
for the Thundering Herd for two seasons (1991–92 and 1992–93).
Luke last played rugby for the Doncaster Knights
, who play in National Division One, the second level of the game in England
. He is now the Forwards Coach for the USA U-20 National Team, and lives in Boulder, CO.
Rugby Roma
Llanelli Scarlets
Rotherham Titans Newcastle Falcons
Doncaster Knights
Sheffield Tigers
Luke now plays for Sheffield Tigers RUFC who are in North 1
which is one league under the National Division Three North and National Division Three South.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rugby union footballer. A lock who has played for various club sides, he earned 62 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the USA
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
between 1996 and 2003; although he was named to the USA squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
, and played in the 2007 squad's final warmup against Celtic League side Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
, he did not play in the World Cup itself. Gross is the all-time caps leader for the USA. His 6"9' frame gave him a considerable presence in the line-out.
Gross started his rugby career far later than most international players, even those from countries like the USA where rugby is not a major sport, not taking up the sport seriously until age 24, after he had attended Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
. He began his rugby career with the Cincinnati Wolfhounds. He played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
for the Thundering Herd for two seasons (1991–92 and 1992–93).
Luke last played rugby for the Doncaster Knights
Doncaster R.F.C.
Doncaster Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing the town of Doncaster. The first XV are known as the Doncaster Knights, and play in the RFU Championship...
, who play in National Division One, the second level of the game in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He is now the Forwards Coach for the USA U-20 National Team, and lives in Boulder, CO.
Clubs
Harlequins FC Rugby RovigoRugby Rovigo
Rugby Rovigo Delta are an Italian rugby union club currently competing in Super 10.They are based in Rovigo in Veneto....
Rugby Roma
Rugby Roma Olimpic
Società Sportiva Dilettantistica Rugby Roma Olimpic are an Italian professional rugby union team.Based in Rome, the senior team competed in the Italian top tier competition, the Super 10....
Llanelli Scarlets
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
Rotherham Titans Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
Doncaster Knights
Doncaster R.F.C.
Doncaster Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing the town of Doncaster. The first XV are known as the Doncaster Knights, and play in the RFU Championship...
Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield Tigers RUFC
Sheffield Tigers Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the North 1 in the English league system.Formed in 1932 they celebrate their 75th season of Rugby in 2007...
Luke now plays for Sheffield Tigers RUFC who are in North 1
North 1
National 3 North is one of the level 5 leagues of English rugby. Before 2009 the league was known as North 1....
which is one league under the National Division Three North and National Division Three South.
External links
- USA Rugby profile
- http://statistics.scrum.com/rugby_stats_05.asp?ID=UGR4