Old Glory DC is thrilled to announce the signing of Steffan Hughes, a highly experienced Welsh center, for the 2025 Major League Rugby season. Hughes brings a wealth of leadership, skill, and experience to the squad, having played for both Scarlets and Dragons RFC in the United Rugby Championship.

Over a decade with Scarlets from 2012 to 2022, Hughes made 105 appearances and was a key part of the team that won the Pro14 league in 2014. He captained Scarlets in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, cementing his role as a leader on and off the field. Following his successful tenure at Scarlets, Hughes joined Dragons RFC, where he made 38 appearances in the URC and Challenge Cup. He captained the Dragons in the 2023/24 season, continuing to showcase his leadership qualities and consistency.

Internationally, Hughes earned 21 caps for Wales U20, playing a pivotal role in the team’s run to the Junior World Cup final in 2013. He was named captain of the Wales U20s in 2014, leading his side in both the Six Nations and the Junior World Cup in New Zealand.

“The signing of Steff is another indication of just how attractive Old Glory DC and the MLR is becoming,” said Head Coach Simon Cross. “Steff is one of the big names in Welsh Rugby having captained the Scarlets and more recently the Dragons. Having worked with Steff at The Dragons, I know the impact he’ll have on this group from a playing and leadership point of view. This is yet another big signing for Old Glory DC and one that fans should get really excited about.”

Hughes expressed his excitement about the move to D.C., saying, “I’m delighted to be joining Old Glory DC, the club has a really exciting squad and are doing really well in MLR! It’s a fantastic opportunity for me and my family both professionally and personally. I’m looking forward to getting over to DC and meeting the team and getting stuck in.”

Steffan Hughes will join Old Glory DC ahead of the 2025 season, bringing a decade of top-level experience from European rugby and a strong leadership track record to help the team achieve its goals.

Thanks to Events DC, our official partner for all of our international player signings, further enhancing our ability to bring world-class talent to Washington, D.C. We’re excited to see Steffan’s impact both on and off the field as we continue to build towards a successful season.

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By Jack Foster

Old Glory DC’s 2024 season came to an end last Saturday with a 33-29 loss to the New England Free Jacks in the quarterfinal of the MLR playoffs. The loss caps a season in which Old Glory reached a .500 record for the first time since going 4-1 in the abridged 2020 season. 

New England wasted no time taking an early lead, with winger Paula Balekana darting through the DC defensive line and offloading to fullback Reece Macdonald in the fourth minute to score a try. However, Old Glory sprang back two minutes later when lock Tevita Naqali pushed through a group of tacklers and passed to scrumhalf Connor Buckley to score the equalizer. Buckley made a living orchestrating line breaks in this game, scoring three total tries. In the process. 

Neither team gave up significant ground on the scoreboard, with the lead changing hands twice. DC took its largest lead at the 21st minute when flanker and captain Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz scored a try from a maul to make the score 21-13. Not to be denied their victory, New England charged back to retake the lead before halftime with tries from flanker Jed Melvin and center Wayne Van Der Bank. Van Der Bank’s try, scored in first-half extra time, proved to be the winning score. 

The kicking game proved to be a x-factor in the momentum of this game. New England Fly Half and reigning MLR Player of the Year Jayson Potroz continued his torrid 2024 campaign by scoring four penalty goal kicks and converting all of the Free Jacks’ tries to give New England the edge. Conversely, DC’s Jason Robertson only had the opportunity for one penalty goal kick and missed one conversion. The two Fly Halves were the top and second-leading scorers in MLR this season, respectively.

Although Old Glory will be disappointed with the result, head coach Simon Cross was encouraged for the future by the progress his team had made. Cross emphasized the importance of maintaining cohesion and keeping the core of players around for future building.

“It took about 10 games to completely strip out everything from last year,” Cross said. “We’ve seen consistency in our performance in the last 6 or 7 games. We’re going to keep the majority of these boys here, add a bit more quality, and we’re going to go again.”

Among the standouts that will be part of DC’s future are Scottish lock and vice captain Rob Harley. Harley played a full 80 minutes for Old Glory on 10 separate occasions, including this game, and ranked third in MLR with 189 tackles in the regular season. Harley totaled 17 tackles against the Free Jacks, his second-highest total in 2024.

“I’m really proud of the way we came together as a team and the statements we made,” Harley said after the game. “I think this gives us a good platform we can build on for next year.”

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Old Glory DC kicks off 2024 playoff run against the New England Free Jacks

Old rivals will collide on Saturday when Old Glory DC travels to Quincy, Massachusetts to face the New England Free Jacks in the first round of the 2024 MLR playoffs. Having split the two regular season meetings, both teams will look to gain supremacy and springboard a potential championship run.

Old Glory

The Flags enter the 2024 playoffs having achieved a .500 season for the first time in franchise history. In Old Glory’s first season playing under head coach Simon Cross, DC maintained its place in a turbulent playoff race ultimately decided by results on the final day of the regular season. Captain and flanker Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz leads a squad which spent the season developing an identity. Forwards such as Scotsmen Rob Harley and Steven Longwell have helped DC put together a scrum that can stand up to any in the league. Meanwhile, the addition of scrumhalves Ethan McVeigh and Connor Buckley and the return of fan-favorite Jason Robertson have added a dynamic kicking element to the DC attack. Old Glory also boasts one of the hardest-working defenses in MLR. Flanker Cory Daniel leads all MLR tacklers with 254 on the season, while Harley and flanker Lautaro Bavaro are tied for fourth with 172. Both sides of the ball will need to be firing on all cylinders for the Flags to get the win and continue their playoff dreams.

Free Jacks

The defending MLR champions are right back in their element, having placed first in the Eastern Conference in each of the past three seasons. New England boasts the highest scoring offense with 463 total points and fewest points allowed with 344. Reigning MLR Player of the Year Jayson Potroz has maintained his roaring form, scoring the second-most points in MLR this season with 140. Reece McDonald, who has filled in at both fullback and flyhalf for the Jacks this season, ranks fourth in MLR with 1518 meters carried. This firepower has allowed New England to score at least 30 points in four of their last five matches. That offensive prowess going against the hard-nosed tackling of DC should make for a thoroughly entertaining game. 

Season Matchups

Old Glory and the Free Jacks split the season series, with each road team winning via a late comeback. DC took a 35-34 victory in round 2 in Quincy, with center William Talataina scoring a try and Robertson hitting the conversion in the final moments. Old Glory hosted the Free Jacks in round 15, and despite holding a 13-point lead with 20 minutes remaining, DC could not stop Potroz from slipping through the defensive line in the 69th minute to give the Free Jacks the winning score. Ball handling played a key role, with the winning side committing fewer handling errors and forcing at least 4 turnovers in both games. Given the close games the teams have already this season, taking care of the ball will be vital to keeping championship homes alive.

Old Glory DC and the Free Jacks will kick off at 5 p.m. EDT  on Saturday on FS2. The winner will advance to the semifinal to face either the Chicago Hounds or NOLA Gold, who kick off at 6:30 EDT on Sunday

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Old Glory Kitchen Presented by Cuisine Solutions’ Dark Assembly Kitchen Officially Launches Saturday, June 8, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 6, 2024) – Old Glory DC, the DMV’s only professional rugby team, and its presenting sponsor Cuisine Solutions, the global leader in sous vide, are teaming up to launch a dark kitchen with an exclusive menu featuring the Old Glory sandwich, available only in the Washington, D.C. area. The all-new Old Glory Kitchen presented by Cuisine Solutions’ Dark Assembly Kitchen (CSDAK) officially launches on Saturday, June 8, 2024, via all major food delivery applications.

“We’re thrilled to be working with our longtime partner, Cuisine Solutions to launch the Old Glory Kitchen presented by CSDAK,” said Chris Dunlavey, Chairman of Old Glory DC. “This special project is a fun and innovative way that we get to work with our partners and we can’t wait for the community to get a taste of the Old Glory sandwich!”

Fans of Old Glory DC who attend the June 8 home match at the Maryland SoccerPlex can be among the first to sample the Old Glory Sandwich. Players will be handing out samples to the supporters and the first 100 active duty or veteran military will be offered a complimentary full-size sandwich. June 8 marks Military Appreciation Night with Old Glory DC as the team takes on the New England Free Jacks at 7 p.m. ET.

Cuisine Solutions chefs and Old Glory players have been working together for weeks to perfect the menu for Old Glory Kitchen presented by CSDAK, which includes a variety of mouth-watering items like the Nacho Burger, Pollo Loco Chicken Sandwich and the Chesapeake Fish Sandwich (full menu available here). The Old Glory is a hearty sandwich featuring a delicious trio of sliced beef, tender sliced chicken, and flavorful pulled pork. Topped with whole grain mustard, sliced red onion, tangy pickles, and melted Swiss cheese for a burst of flavor in every bite, the Old Glory also includes a creamy, crunchy slaw for a refreshing touch.

“Cuisine Solutions has been a proud sponsor of Old Glory DC since 2020 and we share a love of the game of rugby and good food,” said Robert Carkin, Executive Chef at Cuisine Solutions. “Our Dark Assembly Kitchen is just one way Cuisine Solutions demonstrates the promise and possibilities of sous vide. We love that it helps us connect directly with consumers to give them delicious, convenient meals.”

Cuisine Solutions is the world’s leading manufacturer of sous vide products and the pioneer of the method. The company services more than 30,000 restaurants to streamline their operations. The Dark Assembly Kitchen (DAK) relies on using their fully cooked sous vide products to help to lower labor costs, reduce waste,  and save hours of prep time for chefs in the kitchen. The chefs are able to focus on the final product and offer a consistent meal without ever sacrificing customer satisfaction. 

Old Glory DC has two home matches remaining in the 2024 Major League Rugby regular season. The team faces off against the New England Free Jacks on Saturday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET on Military Appreciation Night and takes on NOLA Gold on Saturday, June 29 at 7:00 p.m. ET for its final home match and Fan Appreciation Night. All home matches are played at the Maryland SoccerPlex, an intimate venue where every seat offers an up-close view of the heart-pounding action of live rugby. Tickets are available at OldGloryDC.com.

About Old Glory DC

Old Glory is greater Washington’s only professional rugby team and represents the region in Major League Rugby (MLR), a North American league that includes teams in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New England, New Orleans, Seattle, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Charlotte. Founded in 2018 by life-long Washington, DC area residents, business leaders, and rugby players Chris Dunlavey and Paul Sheehy, Old Glory added the Scottish Rugby Union to the partnership in 2019 and investors Pablo Calderini, Paxton Baker, and Verdine White in 2023.  Old Glory completed the 2023 season with its first MLR playoff appearance, reaching the Eastern Conference championship game. For more, visit oldglorydc.com.

About Cuisine Solutions

Led by an international team of award-winning chefs, Cuisine Solutions is the world’s leading manufacturer of sous vide products — the innovative, precise-cooking technique the company pioneered, perfected, and popularized decades ago. Headquartered in Sterling, Virginia, Cuisine Solutions services more than 30,000 restaurants and 6,000 retailers, as well as major airlines and hotels. For more information, visit www.cuisinesolutions.com.

# # #

Media Contacts:
Katrina Younce for Old Glory DC

katrina@marcglobalcommunications.com

T: 310-995-3619

Sarah Gartner for Cuisine Solutions

sarah@rcourihaycpr.com

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Join Old Glory DC athletes, staff and fans at Taffer’s Tavern beginning this Saturday, March 9 to watch Old Glory DC vs. New England Free Jacks at 2:00 p.m. ET

WHAT: Taffer’s Tavern, the quintessential pub in the heart of Washington, D.C., has been named the official viewing and watch party location for Old Glory DC, the DMV’s only professional rugby team. Following its first playoff appearance in 2023, Old Glory DC is back and stronger than ever for the 2024 Major League Rugby season. Fans can bring friends and make new ones at Taffer’s Tavern while watching the squad take on the New England Free Jacks this Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Old Glory DC players who are not traveling with the team along with the new General Manager, Robyn Remick, will be in attendance. Giveaways and prizes, including Old Glory DC merchandise, will be available. Designed with traditional Old-World taverns in mind, Taffer’s Tavern provides an inviting and welcoming ambiance, offering Old Glory fans outstanding signature drinks, mouth-watering savory food, and excellent customer service while they watch the match.

Led by new Head Coach, Simon Cross, the Old Glory DC roster features 

players from 11 countries, including Team Captain Jamason Faanana-Schultz (AUS), DC native Jack Iscaro (USA) and recent signings Rob Harley (GBR), the most capped player for the Glasgow Warriors, along with a stacked back three including Damien Hoyland (GBR), who has more than 100 caps with Edinburgh Rugby Club, Axel Muller (ARG) and Perry Humphreys (GBR).  

For more information about the team, the full season schedule, and tickets to the home opener on March 16th, please visit OldGloryDC.com. 

WHO: Old Glory DC professional rugby players, ambassadors and staff

WHEN: Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET
and for all games in the 2024 MLR season

WHERE: Taffer’s Tavern at 6th and H Street

700 6th St. NW

Washington, D.C. 20001

MORE: Jon Taffer, “Bar Rescue” star and award-winning hospitality expert, has
launched his own innovative, full-service restaurant franchise concept, Taffer’s Tavern. Taffer’s Tavern is the quintessential pub, a place to gather with your old friends and make new ones along the way. The tavern features outstanding signature cocktails, elevated tavern foods influenced by American favorites, excellent customer service, and the highest safety standards in the industry. Designed with traditional Old-World taverns in mind, its ambiance is inviting, warm, and comfortable, making guests feel relaxed and welcomed visit after visit.  Taffer’s Tavern is now open in Alpharetta, Georgia and Washington, D.C. with more markets to follow. For more information, visit www.tafferstavern.com. 

MEDIA

CONTACT: Katrina Younce at katrina@marcglobalcommunications.com

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“We are thrilled to welcome Old Glory to the Monumental Sports Network family,” said Caitlin Mangum, Vice President, Content & Programming at Monumental Sports Network. “We are happy to bolster our live programming lineup and offer D.C.-area sports fans the chance to enjoy this exciting and quickly growing sport.” 

The broadcast partnership features live game coverage and provides access to live rugby matches to the more than three million subscribers in the network’s footprint, reaching from Delaware to Richmond, VA. 

Local area rugby fans can watch the games through their Pay TV subscription on linear tv, on monumentalsportsnetwork.com, or by downloading the Monumental streaming app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV and using an eligible TV Everywhere log-in. 

“Monumental Sports Network is the ideal partner to carry Old Glory and bring all the action, intensity and elegance of professional rugby to the entire Greater Washington Region,” said Old Glory’s Chairman Chris Dunlavey. “Rugby is the greatest team sport in the world, and Monumental is bringing it to your living room.”

In August 2022, Monumental Sports & Entertainment acquired full ownership of NBC Sports Washington from Comcast/NBC Universal. The station was rebranded Monumental Sports Network in September with a new slate of programming. The network is the exclusive local television media rights holder for the NHL’s Washington Capitals, NBA’s Washington Wizards, and WNBA’s Washington Mystics and also boasts the most comprehensive regional collegiate Division II-and-under and regional high-school sports programming in the greater Washington, D.C. metro area.  

2024 Old Glory Games on Monumental Sports Network 

Saturday, March 2 at NOLA Gold at 4pm 

Saturday, March 9 at New England Free Jacks at 2pm 

Saturday, March 16 vs. Chicago Hounds at 4pm 

Saturday, March 23 vs. San Diego Legion at 4pm 

Saturday, March 30 at Charlotte Rugby at 6pm 

Saturday, April 6 vs. RFC Los Angles at 5pm 

Saturday, April 20 vs. Houston Sabercats at 5pm 

Saturday, May 11 at Chicago Hounds at 6pm 

Friday, May 24 at Seattle Seawolves at 10:30pm 

Saturday, June 1 vs. Charlotte Rugby at 7pm 

Saturday, June 8 vs. New England Free Jacks at 7pm 

Saturday, June 22 at Miami Sharks at 7:30pm 

Saturday, June 29 vs. NOLA Gold at 7pm 

# # # 

About Old Glory DC
Old Glory is greater Washington’s only professional rugby team and represents the region in Major League Rugby (MLR), a North American league that includes teams in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New England, New Orleans, Seattle, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Charlotte. Founded in 2018 by life-long Washington, DC area residents, business leaders, and rugby players Chris Dunlavey and Paul Sheehy, Old Glory added the Scottish Rugby Union to the partnership in 2019 and investors Pablo Calderini, Paxton Baker, and Verdine White in 2023.  Old Glory completed the 2023 season with its first MLR playoff appearance, reaching the Eastern Conference championship game. For more, visit oldglorydc.com. 

About Monumental Sports Network 
Monumental Sports Network is wholly owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE). The network holds exclusive local television media rights for the NHL’s Washington Capitals, NBA’s Washington Wizards and WNBA’s Washington Mystics games. Monumental Sports Network is also the TV and digital home to the NBA G League’s Capital City Go-Go and the NBA 2K League’s Wizards District Gaming as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes content and original sports and entertainment programming. The network also boasts the most comprehensive regional high-school and regional collegiate Division II-and-under sports programming in the greater Washington D.C. metro area.  For more, visit: www.monumentalsportsnetwork.com.   

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“What you’re seeing from Old Glory this off-season is a focused effort to build on the success we achieved in 2023, but adding the pieces we need to surpass it in 2024 and beyond” said 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘆.  “Kurt was a true player-coach for us last year, and he was an essential element in what we established.  Now he’ll turn his attention full-time to coaching our attack, and we’re confident Old Glory supporters are going to love the results.”

Baker joined us last season in a player-coaching role where he appeared in 10 matches and scored 3 tries, 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗚 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹.

“Kurt Baker’s fiery spirit and relentless competitive nature have been instrumental in propelling us to new heights.” Said Old Glory Owner, 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗵𝘆. “His leadership led us to our first-ever playoff game and victory in 2023, setting a standard for excellence. As he transitions into a coaching role, his invaluable experience and dedication will continue to ignite the passion within Old Glory, driving us towards even greater success in 2024.”

“I’m really excited to build on the growth and progress we made as a group and organization last year,” said 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿.

Join us in welcoming Kurt back to the OG squad!

##END##

About Old Glory DC

Old Glory is greater Washington’s professional rugby team and represents the region in Major League Rugby (MLR), a North American league that includes teams in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New England, New York, New Orleans, Seattle, Salt Lake City, San Diego, and Toronto. Old Glory was founded in 2018 by life-long DC area residents, business leaders, and rugby players Chris Dunlavey and Paul Sheehy. In 2019, the Scottish Rugby Union joined the partnership, while investors Pablo Calderini, Paxton Baker, and Verdine White joined in 2023.  Old Glory completed the 2023 season with its first MLR playoff appearance, reaching the Eastern Conference championship game. For more, visit oldglorydc.com.

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