The City of Glendale’s publicly funded rugby team, which has announced it will sit out the upcoming season in 2024, is facing legal action after allegedly failing to follow through on its commitment to hire renowned Argentinian coach Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe by the end of 2023. This unexpected development has raised questions about the management decisions surrounding the American Raptors, Glendale’s rugby team.
Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe, a distinguished former professional rugby player who competed at the highest levels from 1996 to 2011, has transitioned into coaching since his retirement. Most recently, he served as a coach for Los Pampas in the Super Rugby Americas League, which is where the American Raptors also played. This past season, the Raptors suffered a staggering defeat to Los Pampas, losing 63-0, a result that prompted Glendale officials to pursue Fernández Lobbe for the coaching role.
Fernández Lobbe describes his coaching career as reaching a critical crossroads during this period. He had been considering several opportunities, including an offer to become the head coach of Spain’s national rugby team. However, intrigued by the prospect of working alongside Marcelo Loffreda—a former coach and mentor—Fernández Lobbe opted to accept Glendale’s offer to join the Raptors’ coaching staff.
“Fernández Lobbe believed that coaching for the American Raptors would open up future career opportunities in the United States,” the lawsuit reveals, indicating the Argentine’s motivations for making the move. He signed a contract on December 7, agreeing to a compensation of $6,500 per month, and was set to relocate from Buenos Aires by New Year’s Day.
Unfortunately for Fernández Lobbe, his transition to coaching in the United States took an unexpected turn when Loffreda was diagnosed with a health issue that precluded him from coaching the Raptors for the 2024 season. In the wake of this sudden change, the City of Glendale decided to abandon its plans to retain Fernández Lobbe for the upcoming season, despite prior agreements.
The City of Glendale reportedly cited two instances of insubordination during the previous fall as the rationale for removing Fernández Lobbe from his position. However, the coach contends that these incidents unfolded during the job interview process, prior to his official hiring, thus rendering them irrelevant as grounds for termination.
“In reality, the city decided to ‘move in another direction for 2024’ after it learned Loffreda would not be able to join the American Raptors in Glendale,” Fernández Lobbe asserts, shedding light on the situation’s complexities. Following the assistant coach’s rejection of severance pay offers that amounted to $5,000 and later $8,000, the City of Glendale proceeded with his termination in early 2024, according to his allegations in the lawsuit.
“Whether rugby is a wise use of public funds is a question for the taxpayer to decide. But as a matter of law, the City of Glendale has not been operating its rugby program like the American government it is,” Fernández Lobbe’s complaint reads, suggesting potential mismanagement within the city’s operations. He emphasizes in his legal claims that “This is not how governments are allowed to behave in the United States of America,” and he is determined to hold the City of Glendale accountable for its actions.
His legal representation consists of attorneys Stephen Hennessy and Mirko Kruse from the Hennessy Kruse firm, who have yet to provide comments on their client’s situation. Requests for interviews with Fernández Lobbe were also not returned by his legal team.
Full story via BusinessDen
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Originally Published: November 20, 2024 at 4:00 PM MST
**PAA Questions for “Interview on the American Raptors and the Legal Action Surrounding Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe”:**
**Interview on the American Raptors and the Legal Action Surrounding Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe**
*Interviewer*: Today, we’re joined by sports analyst and rugby expert, Laura Martinez, to discuss the recent developments with the City of Glendale’s rugby team, the American Raptors, and their decision to sit out the 2024 season amid a legal battle concerning coach Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe. Laura, thanks for being here.
*Laura Martinez*: Thanks for having me! It’s definitely an interesting and complex situation.
*Interviewer*: Let’s start with the announcement that the American Raptors will not participate in the upcoming season. What do you think led to this decision?
*Laura Martinez*: From what we know, the Raptors’ decision seems closely tied to their management struggles and the legal action surrounding Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe. After a disappointing performance last season, where they lost 63-0 to Los Pampas, there was an urgent need for change. Fernández Lobbe was highly sought after due to his experience, but now, with the city backing out of his hiring, they’re in a tough spot.
*Interviewer*: Can you tell us more about the dynamics between Fernández Lobbe and the Raptors? What were the initial expectations?
*Laura Martinez*: Certainly. Fernández Lobbe, being a celebrated figure in rugby and having recently coached Los Pampas, brought a lot of promise to the Raptors. He was reportedly excited about this opportunity as it could significantly impact his coaching career in the U.S. However, after Marcelo Loffreda, who was supposed to mentor him, fell ill, everything changed. The city cited instances of insubordination as a reason for severing ties, which he disputes, stating those incidents occurred during the interview process.
*Interviewer*: What are the implications of the ongoing legal action for both parties?
*Laura Martinez*: This legal situation could have serious repercussions. For Fernández Lobbe, it’s about holding Glendale accountable for not following through on their commitments. For the city, it raises questions about their management decisions and the future of the Raptors. If the court finds in favor of Fernández Lobbe, it could set a precedent that compels the city to honor contracts more carefully. Moreover, it risks further tarnishing the Raptors’ reputation, especially with fans who are already frustrated with the team’s performance and management decisions.
*Interviewer*: Considering all these factors, what do you think the future holds for the American Raptors?
*Laura Martinez*: It’s really uncertain at this point. The Raptors need to rethink their strategy moving forward, particularly in how they manage their coaching staff and player recruitment. If they continue to face litigation and fail to attract a strong head coach, they might find it hard to bounce back. The potential fallout from this could lead to changes in their approach to team management and community support as they try to regain trust from both players and fans.
*Interviewer*: Thank you for your insights, Laura. It seems there are many moving parts in this story, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds in the coming months.
*Laura Martinez*: Absolutely. Thank you for having me on!
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This interview reflects the ongoing situation surrounding the American Raptors and highlights the implications of both the team’s decisions and the legal issues at play.
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