Old Glory DC

Last updated
Old Glory DC
Old Glory DC logo.svg
Full nameOld Glory DC Rugby Football Club
Nickname(s)The Flags
Founded2018;6 years ago (2018)
Location Washington, D.C.
Ground(s) Maryland SoccerPlex (Capacity: 5,000)
Chairman Paul Sheehy
Chris Dunlavey
Scottish Rugby Union
Coach(es) Simon Cross
Captain(s) Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz
League(s) Major League Rugby
2023 Conference finalist
3rd (Eastern Conference)
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Team kit
Official website
oldglorydc.com

Old Glory DC RFC is a professional rugby union team based in the Washington, D.C., area that is a member of Major League Rugby (MLR). Old Glory was founded in 2018, played some exhibition games in 2019, and began regular-season MLR play in 2020.

Contents

The organization is led by two local business leaders, former USA Eagles' Paul Sheehy, and local club rugby player Chris Dunlavey. [1] The Scottish Rugby Union has a part ownership of the team. The team has been coached by Simon Cross since July 2023.

History

Major League Rugby announced on May 15, 2018, that an expansion team would begin play in Washington, D.C., by the 2020 season [2] and confirmed the team in November 2018. [3] On February 6, 2019, the team name was announced as Old Glory DC. On March 28, 2019, the Scottish Rugby Union announced that it had purchased a minority interest in the team. [4]

After losing seven matches in a row to start the 2022 season, Old Glory DC announced the immediate departure of head coach Andrew Douglas on March 29, 2022. At the time of his departure, Douglas was the longest-tenured head coach in MLR, having joined for the 2019 exhibition season before the first MLR season in 2020. He left with a 10-17-1 overall MLR record and a 37.5% winning percentage. [5] [6] Three days later, on April 1, Old Glory DC announced that former NOLA Gold head coach Nate Osborne would serve as an interim head coach for the remainder of the season while the team conducted a search for a permanent replacement. [7]

On October 31, 2022, Josh Syms was announced as the new head coach. [8] On May 15, 2023, it was announced that Syms would leave at the end of the season to coach forwards for the Italian team Zebre Parma. [9] Several weeks later, Old Glory made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. [10] On July 7, 2023, the team announced the hiring of Simon Cross as head coach to replace Syms. [11]

In June 2023, the team announced Earth, Wind & Fire bassist Verdine White and businessman Paxton Baker had become minority owners. [12]

Stadium

The team played their exhibition and inaugural campaigns at Cardinal Stadium on the campus of Catholic University of America. [13] In 2021 they moved to Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia, [14] and on September 6, 2023, it was announced that the team would move to the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Maryland for the 2024 season. [15]

Sponsorship

SeasonKit manufacturerShirt sponsorOther Shirt sponsor(s)
2019 Adidas Cuisine SolutionsNone
2020–2022 Paladin Sports Leidos
Iron Vine Security
2023Leidos
ECS Tech

Roster

The Old Glory DC squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is: [16]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

PlayerPositionUnion
Tristan Cole Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Facundo Gattas Hooker Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay
KoiKoi Nelligan Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Martin Vaca Hooker Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
Kevin Brou Prop Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Ivory Coast
Jack Iscaro Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Cali Martinez Prop Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Quentin Newcomer Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Tyler Rowland Prop Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Joe Wrafter* Prop Flag of England.svg England
Ignacio Dotti Lock Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay
Rob Harley Lock Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
Tevita Naqali Lock Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji
Charlie Overton Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Bill Whiteside Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Lautaro Bavaro Back row Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
Brady Daniel Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Cory Daniel Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz (c) Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Collin Grosse Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Niko Jones* Back row Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Dacoda Worth Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
PlayerPositionUnion
Conor Buckley Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ethan McVeigh Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Danny Tusitala Scrum-half Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
Gradyn Bowd Fly-half Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Jason Robertson Fly-half Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Mike Weir Fly-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Tommaso Boni Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Palema Roberts Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ishmail Shabazz Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
William Talataina Centre Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
Perry Humphreys Wing Flag of England.svg England
Axel Müller Wing Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
John Powers Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
John Rizzo Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Mike Dabulas Fullback Flag of the United States.svg United States
Damien Hoyland Fullback Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland

Head coaches

Captains

Records

Season standings

SeasonConferenceRegular seasonPostseason
PosPldWDLFA+/−BPPtsPldWLFA+/−Result
2020 [lower-alpha 1] Eastern2nd5401122129-7117------Cancelled
2021 Eastern5th16619409490-811339------Did not qualify
2022 Eastern6th163013423591-1681123------Did not qualify
2023 Eastern3rd16718408443-3513432114458-14Won Eliminator Game (Rugby New York) 37-33
Lost Conference Final (New England Free Jacks) 25-7
Totals53202311,3621,653-291381222114458-141 postseason appearance

2019 season

All games in the 2019 season were exhibition games and did not count in the MLR standings.

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
May 19 Shannon RFC Home Cardinal Stadium Lost, 22-26
May 27 Scotland U-20 Home Cardinal Stadium Lost, 7-70
June 1 USA Rugby South Panthers Home Cardinal Stadium Won, 28-7
June 9 Ontario Blues Home Cardinal Stadium Won, 29-15

2020 season

On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic. [17] It was cancelled the following week. [18]

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 8 New Orleans Gold Away Gold Mine Lost, 13-46
February 16 Seattle Seawolves Home Cardinal Stadium Won, 28-22
February 22 Houston SaberCats Away Aveva Stadium Won, 22-13
February 29 Austin Gilgronis Away Toyota Stadium Won, 28-19
March 8 Rugby ATL HomeCardinal StadiumWon, 31-29
March 15 Colorado Raptors HomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
March 22 San Diego Legion AwayTorero StadiumCancelled
March 29 Rugby United New York HomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
April 11New Orleans GoldHomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
April 18 New England Free Jacks Away Union Point Sports Complex Cancelled
April 26 Toronto Arrows HomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
May 3 Utah Warriors HomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
May 9Rugby United New YorkAway MCU Park Cancelled
May 17Rugby ATLAway Life University Running Eagles Stadium Cancelled
May 24New England Free JacksHomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
May 31Toronto ArrowsAway Lamport Stadium Cancelled

2021 season

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
March 21 NOLA Gold Away Gold Mine Draw, 26-26
March 27 Rugby ATL Home Segra Field Won, 30-23
April 3 Toronto Arrows HomeSegra FieldLost, 19-40
April 18 RUNY Away MCU Park Lost, 34-38
April 25 New England Free Jacks HomeSegra FieldWon, 35-22
May 1 LA Giltinis Away Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Lost, 17-47
May 8 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Lost, 33-34
May 16 Seattle Seawolves HomeSegra FieldWon, 22-18
May 22 Houston SaberCats Away Aveva Stadium Won, 21-13
May 30RUNYHomeSegra FieldLost, 10-46
June 6New England Free JacksAway Union Point Sports Complex Lost, 34-38
June 12NOLA GoldHomeSegra FieldLost, 21-25
June 26Rugby ATLAway Lupo Family Field Lost, 12-32
July 4Toronto ArrowsAwayLupo Family Field [lower-alpha 2] Lost, 28-34
July 10 San Diego Legion HomeSegra FieldWon, 38-29
July 17 Austin Gilgronis HomeSegra FieldWon, 29-25

2022 season

Exhibition

Old Glory played two preseason matches in January 2022. Both matches were held at the St. James Sports Complex, a series of indoor fields in Springfield, Virginia. [19]

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
January 21 Toronto Arrows Home St. James Sports Complex Lost, 47-17
January 28 New England Free Jacks HomeSt. James Sports ComplexWon, 27-22

Regular season

Old Glory played eighteen matches in the regular season with two bye weeks. Their home matches were played at Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia. [20] Because the MLR's Eastern Conference has one team fewer than the Western Conference, Old Glory played the Toronto Arrows three times in the regular season, once at home and twice in Toronto.

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 5 Rugby ATL Away Atlanta Silverbacks Park Lost, 22-55
February 12 Austin Gilgronis Away Bold Stadium Lost, 12-57
February 18New England Free JacksHome Segra Field Lost, 25-41
February 26Toronto ArrowsHomeSegra FieldLost, 5-29
March 6 San Diego Legion AwaySDSU Sports DeckLost, 12-24
March 20Rugby ATLHomeSegra FieldLost, 13-27
March 26 New Orleans Gold HomeSegra FieldLost, 22-31
April 3 Rugby New York Away JFK Stadium Lost, 31-35
April 9Toronto ArrowsAway York Lions Stadium Lost, 27-32
April 15 Utah Warriors HomeSegra FieldWon, 22-21
April 23 Dallas Jackals HomeSegra FieldWon, 50-10
May 7New England Free JacksAway Veterans Memorial Stadium Lost, 26-20
May 14New Orleans GoldAway Gold Mine on Airline Lost, 50-21
May 21 Houston Sabercats HomeSegra FieldLost, 42-59
May 29Rugby New YorkHomeSegra FieldLost, 49-59
June 5Toronto ArrowsAwayYork Lions StadiumWon, 50-35

2023 season

Old Glory played 16 games in the 2023 regular season. All eight home games were played at Segra Field. They advanced to the playoffs, defeating the Rugby New York Ironworkers to advance to the conference final, which they lost to the New England Free Jacks.

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 18 Chicago Hounds Home Segra Field Won, 42-27
March 5 Rugby New York Ironworkers Away Memorial Field Lost, 34-8
March 11 New England Free Jacks Away Veterans Memorial Stadium Lost, 34-31
March 18 Toronto Arrows HomeSegra FieldWon, 29-3
March 25 NOLA Gold HomeSegra FieldLost, 17-20
April 2 San Diego Legion Away Snapdragon Stadium Lost, 48-26
April 8 Rugby ATL Away Atlanta Silverbacks Park Lost, 35-27
April 16Rugby New York IronworkersHomeSegra FieldWon, 42-31
April 22 Utah Warriors HomeSegra FieldWon, 36-22
May 6 Dallas Jackals Away Choctaw Stadium Won, 7-3 [lower-alpha 3]
May 14New England Free JacksHomeSegra FieldLost, 24-42
May 18Toronto ArrowsAway York Lions Stadium Draw, 29-29
May 27 Seattle Seawolves HomeSegra FieldLost, 41-19
June 3NOLA GoldAway Gold Mine Won, 28-15
June 9 Houston SaberCats Away SaberCats Stadium Lost, 31-7
June 17Rugby ATLHomeSegra FieldWon, 36-28

Postseason

RoundDateHome/AwayOpponentResult
East EliminatorJune 25AwayRugby New York IronworkersWon, 37-33
East Conference FinalsJuly 1AwayNew England Free JacksLost, 7-25

2024 season

Old Glory will play 16 games in the 2024 regular season. All eight home games will be played at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
March 2 NOLA Gold Away Gold Mine Lost, 18-6
March 9 New England Free Jacks Away Veterans Memorial Stadium Won, 35-34
March 16 Chicago Hounds Home Maryland SoccerPlex Draw, 22-22
March 23 San Diego Legion Home Maryland SoccerPlex Lost, 27-11
March 30 Anthem RC Away American Legion Memorial Stadium Won, 46-32
April 6 RFC Los Angeles Home Maryland SoccerPlex Draw, 22-22
April 20 Houston SaberCats Home Maryland SoccerPlex
April 26 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium
May 4 Miami Sharks Home Maryland SoccerPlex
May 11 Chicago Hounds Away SeatGeek Stadium
May 24 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Sports Complex
June 1 Anthem RC Home Maryland SoccerPlex
June 8 New England Free Jacks Home Maryland SoccerPlex
June 14 Dallas Jackals Away Choctaw Stadium
June 22 Miami Sharks Away Chase Stadium
June 29 NOLA Gold Home Maryland SoccerPlex

Notes

  1. ↑ 2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. ↑ The Arrows temporarily relocated for the 2021 season due to COVID-19 border crossing concerns.
  3. ↑ Match abandoned at halftime due to hazardous weather conditions.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Washington, D.C.</span>

Washington, D.C., has major league sports teams, popular college sports teams, and a variety of other team and individual sports. The Washington metropolitan area is also home to several major sports venues including Capital One Arena, RFK Stadium, Commanders Field, Audi Field, and Nationals Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utah Warriors</span> US professional rugby union team from Salt Lake City, Utah

The Utah Warriors are a professional rugby union team that competes in Major League Rugby, the top-level rugby union competition in the United States and Canada that played its first season in 2018. The team is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was founded in 2010 as Utah Warriors and re-refounded in 2017 by Rugby Utah Ventures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osea Kolinisau</span> Fijian Former rugby player and Coach

Osea Kolinisau, OF is a Fijian rugby union player who plays for Old Glory DC of Major League Rugby (MLR). He captained the Fiji Sevens side to their first olympic gold medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. He is currently the coach of Fiji Mens Sevens Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Ilnicki</span> Canadian rugby union player

Jake Ilnicki is a Canadian rugby union prop who plays international rugby for Canada and professional club rugby for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby (MLR). He has also played for the New South Wales Country Eagles in Australia's National Rugby Championship and for the Seattle Seawolves in MLR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major League Rugby</span> Professional rugby union competition in the United States and Canada

Major League Rugby is a professional rugby union competition for clubs in North America. In the 2023 season it was contested by twelve teams: eleven from the United States and one from Canada. While operating outside of the governance and oversight of the national governing body, the league is officially sanctioned by USA Rugby—a member union of Rugby Americas North (RAN)—and is consequently part of World Rugby. The league was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houston SaberCats</span> Professional rugby union team from Houston, Texas

The Houston SaberCats are an American professional rugby union team based in Houston, Texas. The team was founded in 2017 and competes in Major League Rugby, the top-level rugby union competition in the United States and Canada that played its first season in 2018. The SaberCats organization was born from one of the founding amateur rugby clubs that pooled resources to emerge professionally, and were the first in MLR membership to build a rugby-specific stadium intended for MLR competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Arrows</span> Professional rugby union team from Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Arrows R.F.C. was a rugby union club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that played in Major League Rugby. The Arrows team was an independent off-shoot of the Ontario Blues provincial programme and was funded by a group of private investors and supporters. They are currently on hiatus following the 2023 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Seawolves</span> Professional rugby union team from Seattle, Washington

The Seattle Seawolves are an American professional rugby union team based in Tukwila, Washington. The team was founded in 2017 and competes in Major League Rugby (MLR), the top-level rugby union competition in the United States that began play in 2018. The Seawolves won two MLR championships in 2018 and 2019, and lost in the 2022 final. They play at Starfire Sports, a 4,500-seat stadium in Tukwila that primarily serves soccer teams.

The New Orleans Gold, stylized as NOLA Gold, is a professional rugby union team based in New Orleans. The team was founded in 2017 and competes in Major League Rugby. Since January 2020, French rugby power ASM Clermont Auvergne has owned a minority stake in the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego Legion</span> Professional rugby union team from San Diego, California

The San Diego Legion are a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR), based in San Diego, California. The Legion began play in the league's inaugural 2018 season. The team plays their home games at Snapdragon Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby New York</span> Professional rugby union team from New York City

Rugby New York, originally known as Rugby United New York and officially nicknamed the Ironworkers, was a professional rugby union team based in New York City that was a member of Major League Rugby (MLR). The team played an exhibition season in spring 2018 and joined MLR for its second full season in 2019. The team was founded by James Kennedy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Segra Field</span> Association football stadium in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States

Segra Field is a soccer-specific stadium in Leesburg, Virginia, and the home of Loudoun United FC of the USL Championship and previously Old Glory DC of Major League Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New England Free Jacks</span> Professional Rugby Union Team from Boston, Massachusetts

The New England Free Jacks are a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR) based in the Greater Boston area. They were announced in September 2018 and began to compete professionally in October 2018. They competed in their first season in MLR in the 2020 season. On July 8, 2023, they became the MLR Champions for the 2023 season, after defeating San Diego Legion in a closely fought match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby Football Club Los Angeles</span> Professional Rugby Union Team from Los Angeles, California, United States

Rugby FC Los Angeles (RFCLA) is a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR) from Los Angeles. The team began play in 2020 as Rugby ATL, based in Atlanta, Georgia but announced they would relocate to Los Angeles for the 2024 season, under new ownership.

The 2020 Major League Rugby season was the third season of Major League Rugby, the professional rugby union competition sanctioned by USA Rugby. The regular season schedule was released on September 23, 2019, and the regular season itself began on February 8, 2020.

Andrew Douglas is a New Zealand rugby union coach and the former head coach of Old Glory DC of Major League Rugby (MLR).

Kianu Kereru-Symes is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a hooker or Prop for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR) in the United States. He has previously played for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Hounds (rugby union)</span> Professional rugby union team from Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Hounds are a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR) based in Chicagoland. The team was founded in 2022 and is co-owned by a small group of investors including majority owner Peter Bernick and part-owners Matt Satchwell and Phil Groves. Their home stadium is SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Games are broadcast on Marquee Sports Network.

The 2023 Major League Rugby season was the sixth season of Major League Rugby, the professional rugby union competition sanctioned by USA Rugby. The regular season began on February 17, 2023.

The 2023 Major League Rugby Championship Final was the fifth Major League Rugby (MLR) championship match, held at the conclusion of the 6th season of the rugby union club competition in North America. The match was played on July 8, 2023, at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. It was the first MLR Final to be held in Illinois, and the first held at a pre-determined venue, since the 2019 final. The match was won by the New England Free Jacks over the San Diego Legion by a score of 25-24, claiming their first MLR Championship.

References

  1. ↑ Neibauer, Michael (May 17, 2018). "Two local business leaders may field professional D.C. rugby team". Washington Business Journal .
  2. ↑ Pengelly, Martin (May 15, 2018). "Washington DC team to enter Major League Rugby 'no later' than 2020". The Guardian .
  3. ↑ Rowe, James (November 3, 2018). "Toronto Officially Joins Major League Rugby For 2019; Washington, DC In 2020". The Runner Sports.
  4. ↑ "Scottish Rugby take minority stake in new U.S. team". ESPN. Reuters. March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  5. ↑ McCay, Chris (29 March 2022). "Head Coach Andrew Douglas to Depart Old Glory DC". Old Glory DC. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Old Glory parts ways with Head Coach Andrew Douglas". Americas Rugby News. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  7. ↑ Allen, Hope (April 2022). "Old Glory DC Names Nate Osborne Interim Head Coach". Old Glory DC. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "Old Glory DC Announces Joshua "Josh" Syms as Head Coach". Old Glory DC. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  9. ↑ "Josh Syms to depart DC for Italy". Americas Rugby News. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "Old Glory slides past Gold to book first ever playoff spot". Americas Rugby News. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Simon Cross Named Head Coach of Old Glory DC". Old Glory DC. July 7, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  12. ↑ Mosley, Kyle T. (13 June 2023). "Earth, Wind, and Fire's Verdine White Ventures Into Sports Ownership". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  13. ↑ "New home field for Old Glory DC in MLR 2024". Americas Rugby News. September 6, 2023.
  14. ↑ Augenstein, Neal (October 22, 2020). "Pro rugby team Old Glory DC moving to Loudoun County". WTOP-FM . Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Old Glory DC Announces the Maryland Soccerplex as Our Home Venue for the 2024 Major League Rugby Season". Old Glory DC. September 6, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Old Glory DC". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS". Major League Rugby. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. Agence France-Presse. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  19. ↑ "2022 Old Glory Preseason Schedule" . Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "2022 Match Schedule" . Retrieved 4 January 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.