Professional rugby trainer sues Town of Glendale for hiring after which firing him

The Town of Glendale’s publicly funded rugby crew, which gained’t play subsequent 12 months, has been sued for allegedly reneging on its plans to rent an Argentinian trainer on the finish of 2023.

Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe, 50, performed skilled rugby from 1996 to 2011 and has been a trainer since retiring, maximum not too long ago for Los Pampas of the Tremendous Rugby Americas League. Glendale’s crew, the American Raptors, additionally performed in that league.

Closing 12 months, Los Pampas walloped the Raptors 63-0. That, consistent with a lawsuit filed Nov. 14, is when the Glendale crew made up our minds to trap Fernández Lobbe to Colorado.

The Argentine’s training occupation used to be at an inflection level, he recalled within the lawsuit. He had an be offering to train Spain’s nationwide rugby crew, amongst different potentialities. However Glendale had employed Marcelo Loffreda, a former trainer of his, to run the Raptors. So, he got here right here to paintings beneath Loffreda.

“Fernández Lobbe believed that training for the American Raptors would open up long term occupation alternatives in america of The united states,” consistent with the lawsuit that he filed.

Fernández Lobbe’s $6,500-per-month contract used to be signed Dec. 7, consistent with the assistant trainer, and he deliberate to transport right here from Buenos Aires on New Yr’s Day. However prior to he may just, Loffreda used to be recognized with a well being downside that averted him from training the Raptors in 2024, and the Town of Glendale backtracked on its plans to stay Fernández Lobbe for the 2024 season.

Reportedly, the town’s mentioned explanation why for firing Fernández Lobbe used to be two incidents remaining fall when he grew agitated and insubordinate. He mentioned the ones befell throughout the interview procedure, prior to he have been employed to train the Raptors, and subsequently can’t be used to fireside him. Town didn’t solution requests for remark at the case.

“Actually, the town made up our minds to ‘transfer in some other path for 2024’ after it realized Loffreda would no longer be in a position to sign up for the American Raptors in Glendale,” consistent with Fernández Lobbe.

After the assistant trainer became down severance pay provides of $5,000 and $8,000, the Town of Glendale fired him in early 2024, Fernández Lobbe alleges in remaining week’s lawsuit.

“Whether or not rugby is a sensible use of public finances is a query for the taxpayer to come to a decision. However as a question of regulation, the Town of Glendale has no longer been working its rugby program just like the American executive it’s,” claims his criticism for breach of contract and promissory estoppel.

“This isn’t how governments are allowed to act in america of The united states,” it added. “Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe intends to carry the Town of Glendale responsible.”

His legal professionals are Stephen Hennessy and Mirko Kruse on the Hennessy Kruse regulation company. Requests for an interview or remark from Fernández Lobbe weren’t responded by way of his legal professionals.