NEWS

How the LA Environment ‘Inspired’ Eagle Germishuys to Move to the West Coast

Written by Joe Harvey | Photos by Brian Jackson

Hanco Germishuys is just two days removed from the LA Giltinis’ 22-9 loss to the Austin Gilgronis when he picks up the phone. 

The result means that the Giltinis have moved to a 2-2 record and currently sit fifth in the Western Conference.

Austin, in contrast, now have a 5-0 record, with Sam Harris’ side leading their division heading into this weekend. 

Germishuys came off the bench as a replacement in the game, the USA Eagle having played a part in every game so far this season after making the move from Rugby New York in the offseason.

RECENT MEMORIES

“It definitely hurt,” Germishuys said. “They are our rivals, because the owner owns the two teams, so we definitely went into it thinking they were our enemy and stuff. 

“At the end of the day we are friends off the field. It definitely sucks going there and getting a loss. It just hurts right now.

“If you look at the game, both teams played a good game, it was just little mistakes on our side that gave them two tries.

“If those two tries didn’t happen, we would be sitting here with a W, but in every game those small things happen, and we just have to take this week, fix those small things and make sure they don’t happen in the next game.”

Saturday night was certainly one of unique occurrences at Bold Stadium. Just prior to kick-off, the Giltinis’ starting fly-half, Luke Burton, had to pull out of the game during the warm-ups, and with Matt Giteau and Luke Carty out injured, Stephen Hoiles turns to skills coach, Orene Ai’i, to be the playmaker.

At 42, the former All Blacks Sevens player kicked all of the incumbent champions’ points in the game before being replaced by Tas Smith in the 65th minute.

“You wouldn’t think that’s his age,” Germishuys laughed. “I look at him as a 30-year-old guy, because when we are in training sessions, he is running with us.

“Getting his insight on how to run a line or something like that, learning from an experienced guy like him, means so much and boosts your energy and confidence so much more.”

It is uncertain as of right now if Ai’i will be lining up this weekend also, but in the same game that MLR saw its oldest ever player take to the field, its youngest player did also.

As part of the pre-match squad shakeup, Kahanu Koi, was named on the bench. The 18-year-old wing took to the field in the hours that followed, the teenager joined by fellow Senior Academy player, Zach Bonte.

“We have a couple of Academy boys with us training, and it doesn’t matter about their age, we have all been in that position,” Germishuys said.

“With how hungry they are for it, it makes the older guys try harder, with the passion that they bring to the game.

“When they were on the field [Ai’i and Koi], you realize that rugby is literally for everyone of all ages, it doesn’t matter where you are from or what you do, if your mind is set on it you can still play.”

MOVING TO LA

Since MLR’s first season, Germishuys has been something of a crowd favorite. The flanker registered six tries in the 2018 season, before representing the Colorado Raptors in 2019 and then Rugby New York in 2020 and 2021.

A constant in Gary Gold’s USA squads across this time also, the 25-year-old says that after watching how LA operated last season, drew him to the side.

“Seeing last year, and what chemistry they had together, what the organization does for their players off the field, how well they take care of them, it just inspired me, because I wanted to be in that environment.

“It just makes you so much better if you are in that environment. If you are on the field, they make sure all the details are right, they make sure that you as a player are taken care of on the field, knowing every role, knowing a little bit more of the skill and off the field, they take care of us so well that it doesn’t feel like you are going into rugby.

“It doesn’t feel like you are working, because if you are in an environment that isn’t like that, you don’t have that passion to go and play rugby, you feel like you have to be there.”

Since arriving on the West Coast, Germishuys has spent his time becoming a more well-rounded rugby player.

Having largely been known for his attacking threat on the field, the back-row has been focusing on his defensive work, becoming a more dominant tackler, as well as more effective at the breakdown.

This work, combined with the new environment that he finds himself in, has reignited the Nebraska-raised Eagle’s passion for playing the game.

“Before the World Cup, rugby felt like it was a job for me,” he said. “Coming here, I just regained my passion for it, and the people I am around now have inspired me to do more, be greater, do things off the field and just do extras and they are always there to motivate you.

“The guys here are amazing, they just make you want to be a good dude and do the best for them.”

GETTING BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Playing West Conference rivals, the Utah Warriors this weekend, LA will be hoping to get back to winning ways.

Last year, the pair played out some memorable encounters, perhaps the most pivotal being in the Western Conference Final at the Coliseum, with late Ryan James tries sending the Giltinis to the Final, where they beat Rugby ATL to lift the Shield.

As part of the event at Exposition Park, the USA 7s and Australia 7s will meet at the Coliseum, the teams just months removed from playing each other twice at the Tokyo Olympics.

Playing once at half-time and then again following the final whistle, the games are being played as part of Women’s History Month, and some of the world’s best players showcasing their abilities on one of the biggest stages.

Germishuys’ focus will be somewhat different, the need for getting back to winning ways firmly on his mind.

“You can see on social media already what people have said about the West Conference clash,” he said.

“But, for our aim, we are going to put Austin in the bag now, and then move onto Utah and focus on them for the whole week and focus on them and do what we do.

“My first game at the Coliseum was a great experience. The fans were amazing, I was a little nervous playing in a big stadium like that, but that is out of the way now.

“Every win you get, you start building confidence in your game plan and being out there with your brothers.

“It just gives you that motivation to just do better and a loss just sucks coming into the next week, so we strive to just get those wins, because that flows into the following weeks’ confidence and that we can do better coming off a win.”