AG’s RE-SIGN FLANKER MOE ABDELMONEM

AUSTIN, TX (July 31, 2020) Austin Gilgronis is excited to announce the re-signing of Moe Abdelmonem, a 27-year-old ball-winning flanker entering his third season in Austin. Abdelmonem is 5’10” 220lbs Egypt-born Canadian on the cusp of earning his first international cap with Rugby Canada. 

“I can’t wait to be back in Austin, it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever lived,” says Adbelmonem. “I’m excited to get to work with the new coaching staff, and their experience and excitement is going to build on our momentum from last season.”

Abdelmonem is known as one of the toughest players in the MLR to wrestle off the ball in the breakdown and he proved that again in 2020. Through five matches Abdelmonem tallied five breakdown steals and 48 tackles at a 78% made tackle percentage. He added 21 carries for 90 meters in an average of 57.8 minutes per game. Abdelmonem played all 80 minutes of the final three matches of the season. 

Abdelmonem picked up rugby at the Al Khor International School in Qatar. Then carried on playing with Phoenix Rugby when he moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2009. Abdelmonem studied finance at Saint Mary’s University and continued his rugby career with the university team and with the Halifax Tars. He found his way onto the Canadian national team radar after successful representative seasons with Nova Scotia Keltics and regional power Atlantic Rock. Abdelmonem credits a 2017 stint with Spotswood RFC in New Zealand for teaching him breakdown artistry. In 2018, Abdelmonem moved to British Columbia to get closer to the RugbyCanada headquarters and joined the James Bay Athletic Association squad. He played a preseason match with the Ontario Arrows who would go on to form the Toronto Arrows. Abdelmonem then signed with Austin Elite halfway through the 2019 season and went on to lead the team in breakdown steals. 

Abdelmonem is still in the RugbyCanada player pool and very much on their radar. “Every young rugby player’s dream is to play for country,” says Abdelmonem. “I feel like I’m right there and now it’s just about making the most of any opportunity I get.”

Welcome back to the AG’s, Moe Abdelmonem!