WFR News
Californian Grizzlies Annouce Major Roster Overhaul Ahead of WFRXXXI
2026-09-11 22:56:11
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The Californian Grizzlies have officially announced a comprehensive restructuring of their playing squad for the upcoming WFR XXXI season. Following a deeply disappointing WFR XXX campaign that fell short of club expectations, the organization is launching a definitive new era with six high-profile player retirements, three releases, and a massive influx of seventeen new signings.
The club bids a heartfelt farewell to six foundational figures who have announced their retirement from professional rugby. Bryce Campbell, Ben Pinkleman, Paul Mullen, Christian Dyer, and Nate Augspurger have all hung up their boots after stellar careers. Most poignantly, the club confirms the heartbreaking forced retirement of Zion Going, whose career has been tragically cut short. The premature loss of such a promising talent has sent shockwaves through the organization, and the club is fully committed to supporting him through his transition away from the playing field.
Additionally, the club can confirm the release of Conner Mooneyham, Tomiwa Agbongbon, and Tom Jordan at the conclusion of the WFR XXX season. The Grizzlies extend their sincere gratitude to these players for their hard work and wish them the absolute best in their next chapters.
To spearhead the reload for WFR XXXI, the Grizzlies have secured a blockbuster 17-man signing class. The incoming talent features elite international pedigree alongside explosive domestic prospects, including Marco Van Staden, Cassh Muluia, Dominic Besag, Sione Mahe, Benjamin Bonasso, Toby Fricker, Joe Taufete'e, Mike Sosene-Feagai, Kalisi Moli, Jasper Bowen-Shepard, Nathan Sylvia, Oliver Kane, Damien Morley, Payton Telea-Ilalio, Karl Keene, Spencer Huntley, and Jesse Hamilton.
These reinforcements will join an incredibly potent core of elite star players who remain under contract for WFR XXXI, including Handre Pollard, Mark Telea, Cadan Murley, and Edwill van der Merwe.
"Last season was incredibly tough on everyone involved with the club, and the results were simply not up to the standard of the Californian Grizzlies," said Grizzlies Head Coach Jack Clark. "We are losing an immense amount of character and experience with the retirements of guys like Nate, Bryce, Ben, and Paul, who gave everything to this badge. Experiencing Zion’s forced retirement is particularly heartbreaking for all of us—he is a phenomenal young man who had his brightest rugby years ahead of him. However, elite sport demands evolution. This new signing class brings a hunger, a powerful physical profile, and the tactical versatility we desperately needed to inject into our setup. We are rebuilding to win, and the work for WFR XXXI starts right now."
Grizzlies Club Captain Jason Damm echoed the sentiment, looking forward to guiding the revamped squad. "As players, we took the disappointment of the WFR XXX season personally. It hurt. Seeing Zion forced out of the game he loves is a brutal, heartbreaking reminder of how fragile a rugby career can be, and the boys are rallying tightly around him. We're going to miss all of our retiring brothers immensely, but it’s our responsibility now to welcome this new group and build a culture that puts the Grizzlies back where we belong."
Further details regarding the WFR XXXI pre-season schedule and ticketing information will be released in the coming weeks.
Back to News Centre
The club bids a heartfelt farewell to six foundational figures who have announced their retirement from professional rugby. Bryce Campbell, Ben Pinkleman, Paul Mullen, Christian Dyer, and Nate Augspurger have all hung up their boots after stellar careers. Most poignantly, the club confirms the heartbreaking forced retirement of Zion Going, whose career has been tragically cut short. The premature loss of such a promising talent has sent shockwaves through the organization, and the club is fully committed to supporting him through his transition away from the playing field.
Additionally, the club can confirm the release of Conner Mooneyham, Tomiwa Agbongbon, and Tom Jordan at the conclusion of the WFR XXX season. The Grizzlies extend their sincere gratitude to these players for their hard work and wish them the absolute best in their next chapters.
To spearhead the reload for WFR XXXI, the Grizzlies have secured a blockbuster 17-man signing class. The incoming talent features elite international pedigree alongside explosive domestic prospects, including Marco Van Staden, Cassh Muluia, Dominic Besag, Sione Mahe, Benjamin Bonasso, Toby Fricker, Joe Taufete'e, Mike Sosene-Feagai, Kalisi Moli, Jasper Bowen-Shepard, Nathan Sylvia, Oliver Kane, Damien Morley, Payton Telea-Ilalio, Karl Keene, Spencer Huntley, and Jesse Hamilton.
These reinforcements will join an incredibly potent core of elite star players who remain under contract for WFR XXXI, including Handre Pollard, Mark Telea, Cadan Murley, and Edwill van der Merwe.
"Last season was incredibly tough on everyone involved with the club, and the results were simply not up to the standard of the Californian Grizzlies," said Grizzlies Head Coach Jack Clark. "We are losing an immense amount of character and experience with the retirements of guys like Nate, Bryce, Ben, and Paul, who gave everything to this badge. Experiencing Zion’s forced retirement is particularly heartbreaking for all of us—he is a phenomenal young man who had his brightest rugby years ahead of him. However, elite sport demands evolution. This new signing class brings a hunger, a powerful physical profile, and the tactical versatility we desperately needed to inject into our setup. We are rebuilding to win, and the work for WFR XXXI starts right now."
Grizzlies Club Captain Jason Damm echoed the sentiment, looking forward to guiding the revamped squad. "As players, we took the disappointment of the WFR XXX season personally. It hurt. Seeing Zion forced out of the game he loves is a brutal, heartbreaking reminder of how fragile a rugby career can be, and the boys are rallying tightly around him. We're going to miss all of our retiring brothers immensely, but it’s our responsibility now to welcome this new group and build a culture that puts the Grizzlies back where we belong."
Further details regarding the WFR XXXI pre-season schedule and ticketing information will be released in the coming weeks.