Rugby ATL

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

Rugby ATL
Nickname(s)Rattlers
Founded2018 (2018)
LocationAtlanta, Georgia
Ground(s)Silverbacks Park
Coach(es)Stephen Brett
Captain(s)Matt Heaton
League(s)Major League Rugby
2022Eliminator round
2nd (Eastern Conference)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
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]

On August 2, 2023, Major League Rugby announced that Rugby ATL would be relocating to a yet-to-be announced location for the 2024 season.[3] On August 17, it was announced the team would relocate to Los Angeles.

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Other Shirt sponsor(s)
2019 Canterbury None None
2020–2022 Paladin Sports Barbour Orthopedics and Spine None
2023 Terrapin Beer Co.
Body Armor Sports Drink

Roster
For player movements before and during the 2022 season, see List of 2021–22 Major League Rugby transfers § Rugby ATL.

The Rugby ATL squad for the 2023 Major League Rugby season is:[4]

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

Player Position Union
Isaac Bales Hooker United States United States
Tiaan Eramsus Hooker South Africa South Africa
Ben Strang Hooker New Zealand New Zealand
Phil Thiel Hooker United States United States
Sidney Tobias Hooker South Africa South Africa
Will Burke Prop United States United States
Wikus Groenewald Prop South Africa South Africa
John-Roy Jenkinson Prop South Africa South Africa
Alex Maughan Prop United States United States
Jonas Petrakopoulos* Prop Netherlands Netherlands
Lincoln Si'i Prop United States United States
Justin Basson Lock South Africa South Africa
Jordan Brown Lock Australia Australia
Matt Gelhaus Lock United States United States
Nahuel Milán Lock Argentina Argentina
Johan Momsen Lock South Africa South Africa
Connor Cook Back row United States United States
Jason Damm Back row United States United States
Ross Deacon Back row United States United States
Matt Heaton (c) Back row Canada Canada
Vili Helu Back row United States United States
Frederick Henry-Ajudua* Back row Nigeria Nigeria
Chase Schor-Haskin Back row United States United States
Daemon Torres Back row United States United States
Player Position Union
Evan Conlon Scrum-half United States United States
Rowan Gouws Scrum-half South Africa South Africa
Ryan Rees Scrum-half United States United States
Niall Saunders Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Kurt Coleman Fly-half South Africa South Africa
Chris Hilsenbeck Fly-half Germany Germany
Duncan van Schalkwyk Fly-half United States United States
George Barton Centre Canada Canada
Will Leonard Centre Ireland Ireland
Seth Purdey Centre Canada Canada
Te Rangatira Waitokia Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Harley Davidson Wing United States United States
Trevior Owens Wing United States United States
Jack Shaw Wing Canada Canada
Nolan Taumoheloa Wing United States United States
Austin White Wing United States United States
Rewita Biddle Fullback New Zealand New Zealand
Martini Talapusi Fullback Samoa Samoa
  • 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

Assistant 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 5th5203116110+6412------Cancelled
2021 Eastern 2nd161105420321+9913572112740-13Won East Conference Final (Rugby United New York) 10–9
Lost Major League Rugby final (LA Giltinis) 17–31
2022 Eastern 2nd161105468340+12811571011926-7Lost East Conference Eliminator (Rugby New York) 19–26
2023 Eastern 5th165110355428-73628------Did not qualify
Totals53291231,3591,199+160281263124666-202 postseason appearances

404 Rugby (2019)

Rugby ATL started with an exhibition side, called 404 Rugby. From September to November 2019, 404 Rugby played exhibition matches against Mystic River, NYAC, Old Blue, and USA Rugby men's club champions Life University.[6]

2019 roster

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

Player Position Union
Alex Maughan Hooker United States United States
Amro Gouda Hooker United States United States
Barrington McNutt Hooker United States United States
Sam Chaney Prop United States United States
Nick Towns Prop United States United States
Cullen Barelka Prop United States United States
Sam Peri Lock United States United States
Michael Young Lock United States United States
Paris Hollis Flanker United States United States
Josh Rieser Flanker United States United States
Andre Potgieter Flanker South Africa South Africa
Lordan Hinojosa Flanker United States United States
Marthinus van Zyl Number 8 South Africa South Africa
Player Position Union
Kurtis Werner Scrum-half United States United States
Sam Christmann Scrum-half United States United States
Lucas Baistrocchi Fly-half United States United States
Ryan Britain Centre United States United States
Martini Talapusi Centre United States United States
Richard Shore Centre United States United States
Drew Moyes Wing United States United States
Eamonn Mathews Wing United States United States
Sam Trammel Wing United States United States
Tom Wallace Wing United States United States
John Truax Wing United States United States
Robert Mattison Fullback South Africa 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.[7] It was cancelled the following week[8]

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

2021 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 21–14
March 27Old Glory DCAwayLost, 23–30
April 3San Diego LegionHomeWon, 41–22
April 11Rugby United New YorkHomeLost, 17–27
April 17Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 15–17
April 24New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 38–28
May 9Toronto ArrowsAwayWon, 33–29
May 15New England Free JacksHomeWon, 33–18
May 23Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 25–6
May 29LA GiltinisHomeWon, 17–12
June 5New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 8–7
June 13Rugby United New YorkAwayLost, 24–31
June 19Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 33–15
June 26Old Glory DCHomeWon, 32–12
July 10Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 41–31
July 18New England Free JacksAwayLost, 19–22

Post season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
July 24Rugby United New YorkHomeWon, 10–9
August 1LA GiltinisAwayLost, 17–31

2022 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 5Old Glory DCHomeWon, 55–22
February 12New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 14–9
February 19Rugby New YorkHomeLost, 31–36
March 5Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 29–22
March 12Austin GilgronisHomeWon, 29–14
March 20Old Glory DCAwayWon, 27–13
March 26New England Free JacksHomeLost, 27-41
April 2Toronto ArrowsAwayWon 20-14
April 9New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 34-17
April 24San Diego LegionAwayWon, 30-17
April 30LA GiltinisHomeLost, 19-31
May 7Utah WarriorsAwayLost, 26-44
May 13New England Free JacksAwayLost, 10-15
May 22Rugby New YorkAwayWon, 38-3
May 28Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 34-23
June 3New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 45-19

Postseason
See also: 2022 Major League Rugby playoffs
RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
East EliminatorJune 11Rugby New YorkHomeLost, 19–26

Notes
  1. 2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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. "Major League Rugby's Atlanta Team to Relocate". Major League Rugby. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  4. "Rugby ATL". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  5. "Rugby ATL adds Stephen Brett to coaching staff". Americas Rugby News. 2020-12-31. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  6. "Schedule".
  7. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  8. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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