Atlanta Renegades

The Atlanta Renegades Rugby Football Club (also known as The 'Gades), founded in 1971, is a premier D1 men's rugby union team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The club competes in and is governed by the Georgia Rugby Union[1] (GRU), USA Rugby South (USARS), and USA Rugby.[2]

Renegades RFC
Full nameAtlanta Renegades Rugby Football Club
UnionUSA Rugby
Founded1971
LocationAtlanta, Georgia
Ground(s)Atlanta Silverbacks Park (Capacity: 5,000)
PresidentEric Rogers
Coach(es)Randy Joseph, Bob Taylor
Captain(s)Chris Sillay
League(s)USA Rugby South
Team kit
Official website
www.atlantarenegades.com

History

The Atlanta Renegades Rugby Football Club was founded in 1971 by a small group of athletes dedicated to the game of rugby. The aspirations of the club were not great; in fact at that time there were no club championships, select sides, territorial sides or national side. The Club Philosophy was simply to WORK HARD, PLAY WELL and HAVE FUN.

Since then rugby has grown to have multiple layers of competition in the U.S. True to the traditions laid down in the beginning - Renegade sides have earned a respected place in the history of Southern and American rugby.

In 1973, ARRFC hosted the first Peachtree Invitational Rugby Tournament - one of the first ever rugby tournaments to be held in the South. In 1977, the club was the first Southern team to tour England and Wales. One of the host teams has become a "brother club" to the Renegades - the Newport Saracens. To this day, members of those teams gather to travel to play in Saranac as the "Saragades" in over-45 divisional play. Also in 1977, the club formed its original charter.

On the field, the club has a long list of successes. The Renegades have been involved in territorial playoffs since 1980, through the existence of the old Eastern Rugby Union and now in USA Rugby South. Tournaments won include the Peachtree Invitational, St. Louis Ruggerfest, Gator Invitational, Savannah St. Patrick's Day Tournament, Charleston Michelob Rugby Classic, the Dogwood Invitational and others.

The ARRFC has toured Wales, Scotland, Ireland, England, The Bahamas, The Cayman Islands, and the U.S. West Coast. Touring sides to visit the Renegades include teams from Wales, Ireland, Zambia, South Africa, Argentina, England, Bermuda, The Bahamas and The Cayman Islands.

The club membership rolls have included players from not only all corners of the U.S., but also Italy, Fiji, England, Wales, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Western Samoa, Uruguay, Scotland, France, Kenya, and Tonga. That cultural diversity is an aspect of this club that is considered particularly unique.

Practice/Field Location

The Atlanta Renegades RFC currently practice and host home games at the Atlanta Silverbacks Park. New players as well as experienced ones are always welcome to come out and join. Practice starts at 7:30 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. More information can be found on the Atlanta Renegade's Home Page.

2013-2014 Fixtures
DateOpponentVenueResultScore
Sat 21 Sep 2013GA Southern (Friendly)HomeWon56-19
Sat 28 Sep 2013UT Knoxville (Friendly)AwayWon49-19
Sat 28 Sep 2013NARCHomeWon42-22
Sat 05 Oct 2013GRITSAwayWon117-7
Sat 12 Oct 2013FT Bragg RFCHomeWonForfeit
Sat 12 Oct 2013Macon RFCHomeWon71-17
Sat 19 Oct 2013Chattanooga RFC (1st XV) (Friendly)AwayWonFriendly
Sat 19 Oct 2013Chattanooga RFC (Friendly)AwayWonFriendly
Sat 26 Oct 2013Cape Fear RFCAwayLost39-24
Sat 26 Oct 2013GRITSHomeWon78-12
Sat 02 Nov 2013NARCAwayWon50-11
Sat 09 Nov 2013Battleship Tournament (Friendly)AwayTBDTBD
Sat 09 Nov 2013Macon RFCAwayWon34-17
Sat 16 Nov 2013Charlotte RFCAwayTBDTBD
Sat 23 Nov 2013Old White RFCHomeTBDTBD
Sat 25 Jan 2014Charleston RFCHomeTBDTBD
Sat 01 Feb 2014UT Knoxville (Friendly)HomeTBDTBD
Sat 15 Feb 2014Augusta RFCAwayTBDTBD
Sat 22 Feb 2014Columbia RFCAwayTBDTBD
Sat 01 Mar 2014Old White RFCAwayTBDTBD
Sat 15 Mar 2014Greenville RFCHomeTBDTBD
Sat 22 Mar 2014Life RFCHomeTBDTBD

Sponsorship

Current sponsors of the Atlanta Renegades include- Stouts Irish Pub Bushmills Irish Whiskey, Rí Rá Irish Pub Atlanta Georgia, mix1 all natural shakes, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Stone & Bellus, P.C. Attorneys at Law, and Wilson Hutchison Realty, LLC

References
  1. "Georgia Rugby Union". Georgia Rugby Union.
  2. "Atlanta Renegades". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
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