Rugby ATL

Rugby ATL is a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR) from Atlanta, Georgia, that began play in 2020.

Rugby ATL
Founded2018
LocationAtlanta, Georgia
Ground(s)Lupo Family Field
Coach(es)Scott Lawrence (head)
Blake Bradford (forwards)
Nese Malifa (backs)
Matt Dallow (athlete development)
Santiago Sodini (team manager)
Captain(s)Matt Heaton
League(s)Major League Rugby
Official website
www.rugbyatl.rugby

History

On September 21, 2018, Major League Rugby announced that Atlanta was one of the expansion teams joining the league for the 2020 season.[1] The team name Rugby ATL was revealed on February 26, 2019.[2]

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2019 Canterbury TBA
2020–present Paladin Sports Barbour Orthopedics and Spine

Roster
For player movements before and during the 2021 season, see List of 2020–21 Major League Rugby transfers § Rugby ATL.

The Rugby ATL squad for the 2021 Major League Rugby season is:[3]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Neethling Gericke Hooker South Africa
Amro Gouda Hooker United States
Alex Maughan Hooker United States
Duane Aholelei Prop Tonga
Julian Montes Prop United States
Jonas Petrakopoulos* Prop Netherlands
Lincoln Sii Prop United States
Chance Wenglewski Prop United States
Conor Keys Lock Canada
Mike Matarazzo Lock United States
Marno Redelinghuys Lock South Africa
Connor Cook Flanker United States
Matt Heaton (c) Flanker Canada
Jalen Tatum Flanker United States
Daemon Torres Flanker United States
Ross Deacon Number 8 United States
Maciu Koroi* Number 8 Fiji
Player Position Union
Rowan Gouws Scrum-half South Africa
Eamonn Mathews Scrum-half United States
Ryan Rees Scrum-half United States
Duncan van Schalkwyk* Scrum-half South Africa
Kurt Coleman Fly-half South Africa
Martini Talapusi* Fly-half New Zealand
Bautista Ezcurra Centre Argentina
Jeremy Misailegalu Centre United States
Robbie Petzer Centre South Africa
John Scotti Centre United States
Harley Davidson Wing United States
Te Rangatira Waitokia Wing New Zealand
Austin White Wing United States
Zander van Schalkwyk* Fullback South Africa
  • Senior 15s and senior 7s 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.

Records

Season standings
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts   Playoffs
2020 6th 5203116110+3412  Season cut short due to Coronavirus Pandemic


2019 – 404 Rugby

Rugby ATL started with a developmental side, called 404 Rugby. From September to November 2019, 404 Rugby played exhibition matches against Mystic River, NYAC, Old Blue, and Life University.[4]

2019 roster

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Alex Maughan Hooker United States
Amro Gouda Hooker United States
Barrington McNutt Hooker United States
Sam Chaney Prop United States
Nick Towns Prop United States
Cullen Barelka Prop United States
Sam Peri Lock United States
Michael Young Lock United States
Paris Hollis Flanker United States
Josh Rieser Flanker United States
Andre Potgieter Flanker South Africa
Lordan Hinojosa Flanker United States
Marthinus van Zyl Number 8 South Africa
Player Position Union
Kurtis Werner Scrum-half United States
Sam Christmann Scrum-half United States
Lucas Baistrocchi Fly-half United States
Ryan Britain Centre United States
Martini Talapusi Centre United States
Richard Shore Centre United States
Drew Moyes Wing United States
Eamonn Mathews Wing United States
Sam Trammel Wing United States
Tom Wallace Wing United States
John Truax Wing United States
Robert Mattison Fullback South Africa

2019 season

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

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
September 7Mystic RiverAwayPine Banks50-25
September 14Old BlueHomeLupo Family Field45-6
September 28New York Athletic ClubAwayTravers Island42-17
October 5Life UniversityAwayLupo Family Field22-21
October 12New OrleansAwayGretna Park55-24
October 19Old BlueAwayColumbia Soccer Stadium17-25
November 2New York Athletic ClubHomeLupo Family Field66-7
November 9Life UniversityHomeLupo Family Field30-18

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.[5] It was cancelled the following week[6]

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 9Utah WarriorsHomeLife University Running Eagles StadiumWon, 28–19
February 16New Orleans GoldAwayGold MineWon, 22–10
February 23Rugby United New YorkHomeLife University Running Eagles StadiumLost, 19–22
March 1Toronto ArrowsHomeLife University Running Eagles StadiumLost, 18–28
March 8Old Glory DCAwayCardinal StadiumLost, 29–31
March 22New England Free JacksHomeLife University Running Eagles StadiumCancelled
March 28Austin GilgronisAwayRound Rock Multipurpose ComplexCancelled
April 5New Orleans GoldHomeLife University Running Eagles StadiumCancelled
April 10Rugby United New YorkAwayMCU ParkCancelled
April 19Toronto ArrowsAwayLamport StadiumCancelled
April 26San Diego LegionHomeLife University Running Eagles StadiumCancelled
May 2Colorado RaptorsAwayInfinity ParkCancelled
May 10Seattle SeawolvesHomeLife University Running Eagles StadiumCancelled
May 17Old Glory DCHomeLife University Running Eagles StadiumCancelled
May 23Houston SaberCatsAwayAveva StadiumCancelled
May 30New England Free JacksAwayUnion Point Sports ComplexCancelled

References
  1. "Major League Rugby confirms Boston and Atlanta for 2020 - Americas Rugby News". www.americasrugbynews.com. September 21, 2018.
  2. "ATLANTA'S NEW MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY TEAM PICKS A NAME". USMLR.com. February 26, 2019.
  3. "Rugby ATL". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  4. "Schedule".
  5. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  6. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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