Old Glory DC

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.

Old Glory DC
Full nameOld Glory DC Rugby Football Club
Nickname(s)The Flags
Founded2018 (2018)
LocationWashington, D.C.
Ground(s)Maryland SoccerPlex (Capacity: 5,000)
ChairmanPaul Sheehy
Chris Dunlavey
Scottish Rugby Union
Coach(es)Simon Cross
Captain(s)Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz
League(s)Major League Rugby
20226th (Eastern Conference)
Team kit
Official website
oldglorydc.com

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]

Old Glory DC played its home games at Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia, in 2021–2023.[12] On September 6, 2023, it was announced that the team would move to the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Maryland for the 2024 season.[13]

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Other Shirt sponsor(s)
2019 Adidas Cuisine Solutions None
2020–2022 Paladin Sports Leidos
Iron Vine Security
2023 Leidos
ECS Tech

Roster
For player movements before and during the 2024 season, see List of 2023–24 Major League Rugby transfers § Old Glory DC.

The Old Glory DC squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is:[14]

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

Player Position Union
Facundo Gattas Hooker Uruguay Uruguay
KoiKoi Nelligan Hooker United States United States
Alex Balladares Prop United States United States
Ramiro Herrera Prop Argentina Argentina
Jack Iscaro Prop United States United States
Cali Martinez Prop Canada Canada
Quentin Newcomer Prop United States United States
Kyle Stewart Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Kyle Baillie Lock Canada Canada
David Beach Lock United States United States
Ignacio Dotti Lock Uruguay Uruguay
Rob Harley Lock Scotland Scotland
Apisai Naikatini Lock Fiji Fiji
Tevita Naqali Lock Fiji Fiji
Stan South Lock England England
Lautaro Bavaro Back row Argentina Argentina
Fintan Coleman* Back row Ireland Ireland
Alejo Daireaux Back row Argentina Argentina
Brady Daniel Back row United States United States
Cory Daniel Back row United States United States
Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz (c) Back row United States United States
Collin Grosse Back row United States United States
Langilangi Haupeakui Back row United States United States
Niko Jones Back row New Zealand New Zealand
Player Position Union
Gardy Lebon Scrum-half United States United States
John LeFevre Scrum-half United States United States
Jose Reyes Scrum-half United States United States
Danny Tusitala Scrum-half Samoa Samoa
Gradyn Bowd Fly-half Canada Canada
Joaquín Díaz Bonilla Fly-half Argentina Argentina
Jason Robertson Fly-half Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
Mike Weir Fly-half United States United States
Tommaso Boni Centre United States United States
Fermín Martínez Centre Argentina Argentina
Thretton Palamo Centre United States United States
William Talataina Centre Samoa Samoa
Marcos Young Centre United States United States
Peni Lasaqa Wing New Zealand New Zealand
Axel Müller Wing Argentina Argentina
John Rizzo Wing United States United States
Junior Sa'u Wing New Zealand New Zealand
Kurt Baker Fullback New Zealand New Zealand
Mike Dabulas Fullback United States United States
Damien Hoyland Fullback Scotland Scotland
Owen Sheehy Fullback United States United States
  • Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
  • MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

Head coaches

Captains

Records

Season standings
Season Conference Regular season Postseason
Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts Pld W L F A +/− Result
2020[lower-alpha 1] Eastern 2nd5401122129-7117------Cancelled
2021 Eastern 5th16619409490-811339------Did not qualify
2022 Eastern 6th163013423591-1681123------Did not qualify
2023 Eastern 3rd16718408443-3513432114458-14Won 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 19Shannon RFCHomeCardinal StadiumLost, 22-26
May 27Scotland U-20HomeCardinal StadiumLost, 7-70
June 1USA Rugby South PanthersHomeCardinal StadiumWon, 28-7
June 9Ontario BluesHomeCardinal StadiumWon, 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.[15] It was cancelled the following week.[16]

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 8New Orleans GoldAwayGold MineLost, 13-46
February 16Seattle SeawolvesHomeCardinal StadiumWon, 28-22
February 22Houston SaberCatsAwayAveva StadiumWon, 22-13
February 29Austin GilgronisAwayToyota StadiumWon, 28-19
March 8Rugby ATLHomeCardinal StadiumWon, 31-29
March 15Colorado RaptorsHomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
March 22San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumCancelled
March 29Rugby United New YorkHomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
April 11New Orleans GoldHomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
April 18New England Free JacksAwayUnion Point Sports ComplexCancelled
April 26Toronto ArrowsHomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
May 3Utah WarriorsHomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
May 9Rugby United New YorkAwayMCU ParkCancelled
May 17Rugby ATLAwayLife University Running Eagles StadiumCancelled
May 24New England Free JacksHomeCardinal StadiumCancelled
May 31Toronto ArrowsAwayLamport StadiumCancelled

2021 season
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
March 21NOLA GoldAwayGold MineDraw, 26-26
March 27Rugby ATLHomeSegra FieldWon, 30-23
April 3Toronto ArrowsHomeSegra FieldLost, 19-40
April 18RUNYAwayMCU ParkLost, 34-38
April 25New England Free JacksHomeSegra FieldWon, 35-22
May 1LA GiltinisAwayLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumLost, 17-47
May 8Utah WarriorsAwayZions Bank StadiumLost, 33-34
May 16Seattle SeawolvesHomeSegra FieldWon, 22-18
May 22Houston SaberCatsAwayAveva StadiumWon, 21-13
May 30RUNYHomeSegra FieldLost, 10-46
June 6New England Free JacksAwayUnion Point Sports ComplexLost, 34-38
June 12NOLA GoldHomeSegra FieldLost, 21-25
June 26Rugby ATLAwayLupo Family FieldLost, 12-32
July 4Toronto ArrowsAwayLupo Family Field[lower-alpha 2]Lost, 28-34
July 10San Diego LegionHomeSegra FieldWon, 38-29
July 17Austin GilgronisHomeSegra 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.[17]

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
January 21Toronto ArrowsHomeSt. James Sports ComplexLost, 47-17
January 28New England Free JacksHomeSt. 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.[18] 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 5Rugby ATLAwayAtlanta Silverbacks ParkLost, 22-55
February 12Austin GilgronisAwayBold StadiumLost, 12-57
February 18New England Free JacksHomeSegra FieldLost, 25-41
February 26Toronto ArrowsHomeSegra FieldLost, 5-29
March 6San Diego LegionAwaySDSU Sports DeckLost, 12-24
March 20Rugby ATLHomeSegra FieldLost, 13-27
March 26New Orleans GoldHomeSegra FieldLost, 22-31
April 3Rugby New YorkAwayJFK StadiumLost, 31-35
April 9Toronto ArrowsAwayYork Lions StadiumLost, 27-32
April 15Utah WarriorsHomeSegra FieldWon, 22-21
April 23Dallas JackalsHomeSegra FieldWon, 50-10
May 7New England Free JacksAwayVeterans Memorial StadiumLost, 26-20
May 14New Orleans GoldAwayGold Mine on AirlineLost, 50-21
May 21Houston SabercatsHomeSegra 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.

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 18Chicago HoundsHomeSegra FieldWon, 42-27
March 5Rugby New York IronworkersAwayMemorial FieldLost, 34-8
March 11New England Free JacksAwayVeterans Memorial StadiumLost, 34-31
March 18Toronto ArrowsHomeSegra FieldWon, 29-3
March 25NOLA GoldHomeSegra FieldLost, 17-20
April 2San Diego LegionAwaySnapdragon StadiumLost, 48-26
April 8Rugby ATLAwayAtlanta Silverbacks ParkLost, 35-27
April 16Rugby New York IronworkersHomeSegra FieldWon, 42-31
April 22Utah WarriorsHomeSegra FieldWon, 36-22
May 6Dallas JackalsAwayChoctaw StadiumWon, 7-3[lower-alpha 3]
May 14New England Free JacksHomeSegra FieldLost, 24-42
May 18Toronto ArrowsAwayYork Lions StadiumDraw, 29-29
May 27Seattle SeawolvesHomeSegra FieldLost, 41-19
June 3NOLA GoldAwayGold MineWon, 28-15
June 9Houston SaberCatsAwaySaberCats StadiumLost, 31-7
June 17Rugby ATLHomeSegra FieldWon, 36-28

Postseason
RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
East EliminatorJune 25Rugby New York IronworkersAwayWon, 37-33
East Conference FinalsJuly 1New England Free JacksAwayLost, 7-25

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.

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. Augenstein, Neal (October 22, 2020). "Pro rugby team Old Glory DC moving to Loudoun County". WTOP-FM. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  13. "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.
  14. "Old Glory DC". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  15. "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS". Major League Rugby. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  16. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. Agence France-Presse. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  17. "2022 Old Glory Preseason Schedule". Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  18. "2022 Match Schedule". Retrieved 4 January 2022.
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