Two months after Major League Rugby (MLR) sensationally ousted the LA Giltinis and Austin Gilgronis from the competition -- two teams owned by Australian entrepreneur Adam Gilchrist -- many questions remain unanswered as confusion reigns among players, coaches and fans alike.
Less than a month after the United States was awarded the 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups, the MLR, the US men's premier professional competition, was in crisis mode after it dramatically expelled both the Giltinis and Gilgronis ahead of the postseason. They were the top two teams in the competition's Western Conference, and LA were the reigning champions.
In a brief statement on social media, the competition simply stated the teams had "violated league rules" with unspecified misconduct and had been "disqualified from the 2022 Major League competition". It was later reported that Austin failed to co-operate with a salary cap investigation, while LA pursued "conduct deemed detrimental to the league". Team owner Gilchrist filed a lawsuit against MLR soon after.
Following "much deliberation and counsel", according to MLR commissioner George Killebrew, both teams were then dumped from the competition ahead of the 2023 season, leaving players, coaches and fans frustrated and in limbo regarding the clubs.
Gilchrist's precarious financial situation appeared to be the league's sticking point, with the Australian entrepreneur stepping down as CEO shortly after his company F45 recorded a 60% drop in share prices midway through 2022.
It's understood Gilchrist was in the process of selling the Gilgronis when the MLR discovered irregularities in accounts before allegations of a salary cap breach were made.
Gilchrist failed to finalise the sale for his Austin-based side before deadline, while it's reported a deal tabled for the Giltinis was declined by current MLR owners due to the terms of the offer. With the ownership of the Giltinis and Gilgronis uncertain, MLR made the decision to expel both sides.
ESPN approached both MLR and Gilchrist's representatives for comment but received no response.
Giltinis assistant coach and Wallabies centurion Adam Ashley-Cooper has told ESPN of both his personal confusion and frustration, and that of his players, and the lack of communication from the league.
"As much as I know the dream's over. So that's basically where it's at," Ashley-Cooper told ESPN. "It's hard, it's a hard one to comment on because we actually really don't know what's going on. There's obviously legal suits happening, whether that's against the MLR or against 'Gilly' [Gilchrist], we don't know.
"There's a lot of confusion. There's a lot of heartbreak, a lot of frustration because of the lack of communication as well because of the lawsuits. We haven't been able to speak publicly; only recently have we only been able to speak publicly about it, which I guess was just a matter of helping the team get through this period, but, yeah, it's been very confusing.
"I don't understand how there wasn't a better result from that, and how we've basically been kicked from the competition. We're not the only ones that are mad either; there's a lot of supporters that had bought into the game and the Giltinis in LA, there's a lot of local fans, and they're obviously left scratching their heads as well.
"It's a shame that it's over because we had a cracking two years, it felt like we did really well to grow the game, particularly in LA; we certainly helped the quality of the competition with obviously the marquee guys coming in and sharing their experiences on that. It's just a bit of a shame really, but it is what it is, it's hard to kind of comment on it."
Former Giltinis halfback Harrison Goddard -- who signed with the NSW Waratahs ahead of LA's expulsion -- was also left devastated by the abrupt ending to his time with the club.
"We're not really too sure [what happened]," Goddard told ESPN. "It's something with the owner, Adam Gilchrist. We only found out the week before we were meant to be playing the semifinal. We just got told that we were suspended because of a contract issue or something, and we weren't allowed to play that week, which we tried to fight but that didn't work out in the end.
"It was a bit of a downer for the boys to get that first spot [in the western conference] and it slipped away at the end."
With no independent body running the competition, the 12 team owners make up the MLR board -- which has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, or at least suggestions that some parties weren't happy with the way Gilchrist was going about his business.
Ashley-Cooper, meanwhile, raised the idea of expanding the salary cap -- which was set at $US 500,000 in 2020 -- in order to entice and retain the best talent from around the world.
"There's no anger [from the players] towards Gilly [Gilchrist] at all," Ashley-Cooper said. "I would say there is probably some frustration towards the MLR, and how it's all been handled. But that's what happens I guess when you don't necessarily have an independent commission. It's the 12 team owners are the board, they are the MLR, and so obviously Gilly got them offside, and he's now paid the price for it.
"I think they certainly need to change the rules around the amount of marquee players that can come in, and how much they can spend, because they're all privately owned teams... there's no reason why you can't spend a little bit more money on marquee players and get that influence from overseas and around the world.
"I think if they start to change it, if they've got that growth mindset, there's no reason why it can't work. They've got the World Cup there in 2031, so they're obviously growing towards that, but I think there definitely needs to be changes made."
Former Gilgronis and Brumbies backrower Locky McCaffrey had similar feelings after his playing career in Austin came to an abrupt end, lambasting the MLR's administration for its "lack of forward thinking" that he believes will eventually lead to the league's best players moving elsewhere.
"Yeah, there's a lot of confusion for supporters, players and coaches alike," McCaffrey told ESPN. "I think there is a lack of forward thinking within the MLR hierarchy. Anyone that has spent much time in America can see the potential for USA to compete in their 2031 home World Cup. The recent Eagles results shows some high-level rugby brains needs to be brought in urgently to move the MLR and rugby in America forward.
"The potential [for the competition] is amazing. There are so many talented young American rugby players and anyone that goes and lives and plays pro rugby in America realises that the potential is incredible. I think what's been the most disappointing part is some recent decisions have actually been detrimental to the growth of rugby in America
"The salary cap is just ridiculous, if you want to grow the sport in America, and get the top players from around the world playing in the league, then the salary cap has to increase. It's just simple maths. People are not going to come to play in the MLR and take a $20 grand contract when they're getting offered a $100 grand contract somewhere else. That's the nature of the beast of professional sports.
"If they don't start increasing the salary cap you will see, even over the next 12 months, I would say 20 of the league's top 40 players won't be there in 2023. So how are you going to promote the growth of the game when you're removing 20 of the best players?"
Following the decision to dump the Giltinis and Gilgronis, the MLR announced the competition would reduce from 13 to 12 teams with the introduction of a new side based in Chicago, while the American-based contracted players from LA and Austin were automatically entered into a draft to be scattered across the other teams.
Despite the issues facing the MLR and the USA Eagles failing to qualify for the 2023 World Cup in France, Waratahs recruit Goddard believes the future of rugby in America is bright.
"100 percent [rugby's growing in the USA]," Goddard told ESPN. "And the way they do sports over there, I went to a few NBA and NHL games, they do it so well. I just think in the next 5-10 years it will take off, they probably just need more people to go over there [and play], a bit more funding and to market it well; in LA it was amazing, we had pretty good crowds most games.
"There were some young players that were actually really good, they've obviously come from a football background and they're just learning the new skills of rugby, but I think there is definitely a market there. They've got the World Cup coming soon and hopefully they can build up the MLR before then."
Set to host the 2031 and 2033 World Cups -- after failing to secure the 2027 men's edition -- USA Rugby had been linked with recently sacked England coach Eddie Jones in a bid to revive the struggling Eagles outfit. An eight-year contract was reportedly tabled that would see Jones lead the team through to a home World Cup, but Rugby Australia has since flagged its intention to bring the former Wallabies coach back home.
The 2023 Major League Rugby season begins on Feb. 18.