2021 Season – Old Glory DC

Thank You from the Owners

Chris McCay — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 14:59:59 +0000

OG Nation –

Well, if we can get through the trials and tribulations of the last two years together, we can do anything. And we will.

2020 and 2021 felt like nothing but obstacles for us all to overcome. First, we lost most of the ’20 season and our entire ’21 pre-season to the covid pandemic. Next, when we could begin playing games, we were restricted in the number of fans we could allow in. Even then, many supporters and partners remained understandably reticent to participate in light of ongoing pandemic uncertainty. Meanwhile, the team – no doubt affected by the lack of any pre-season and early challenges in getting our overseas players into the country – reached what we are all agreed was a disappointing record on the pitch.

But let’s look at what we accomplished: Our first full 16-game season was completed without a single cancellation or forfeit. All of our games carried on at least regional television, with seven of them on national broadcasts – not to mention around the world on The Rugby Network. Thousands of fans were welcomed to our new home at Segra Field, where we set a new attendance record at our final game. A fantastic game-day atmosphere, enlivened by the work of our partners such as Cuisine Solutions, Clonakilty Distillery, and Loudoun Brewing Company (home of the Glorified Scottish Red Ale), as well as the people and clubs of the Mid-Atlantic rugby community. With your support, Old Glory’s home matches have become family celebrations we will all long remember.

On the pitch, we saw genuinely professional-quality rugby – always hard-fought, sometimes downright brilliant. Coach Douglas and the boys are already hard at work toward next season, committed to ensuring the kinds of results we will all come to expect and be proud of. Keep in mind, it’ll only take converting a few of those agonizingly close losses to wins to have us deep in the playoff hunt.

Of course, we would like to congratulate Rugby ATL for winning the East and the newly-crowned MLR champions LA Giltinis. They certainly set a new standard for on-field performance that we will strive to meet – starting today.

As for you, our supporters, and family members, we can only say THANK YOU!!! You breathed life into our game day, brought the noise and the enthusiasm, kept our social media platforms buzzing, and made it known to all that you are proud members of OG nation! We are equally excited to offer the same ticket prices in 2022 with no increase from the previous season for most of our seating levels, with the exception being the VIP seats which will include more benefits with a slightly higher price. We hope you will come back to enjoy 2022 along with us, and that even more so, you’ll help spread the word – to your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, teammates – to everyone in Greater Washington – that the OG family is growing and we want them to be a part of it!

To us, the bottom line is this: If we can survive 2020-2021, we can survive anything. With you alongside us, Old Glory’s future is undoubtedly bright.

Chris Dunlavey and Paul Sheehy

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Old Glory Finishes 2021 with Cuisine Solutions Cup Victory over Austin

wpengine — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 16:45:48 +0000

Old Glory Finishes 2021 with Cuisine Solutions Cup Victory over Austin

By Evan Lappen

With a storm brewing in the distance, Old Glory DC ended its 2021 MLR campaign with a 29-25 victory over the Austin Gilgronis on Saturday at Segra Field. It took the full 80 minutes of rugby and a try-saving tackle in stoppage time for DC to retain the Cuisine Solutions Cup. Old Glory showed its potential and displayed glimpses of what could have been as the team finished the season on a two-game winning streak.

“It showed what we can do,” head coach Andrew Douglas said. “Austin is a very good team, and they were pretty unlucky last weekend to lose that game to LA. At times, they showed how good they are and were probably deflated from last weekend’s result. We were very good in patches and went flat off the ball. That’s been the story of our year and let Austin back into the game. Thankfully, we stuck with it and got the result.”

In the first half, Old Glory took advantage of a pair of Austin yellow cards to build a 24-15 lead with fast and loose rugby. After scoring an opportunistic try to start the second half, the OG’s let a continuation of penalties and sloppy play allow the Gilgronis back into the game. With DC up by four points in the waning moments of the match, a potentially game-winning Austin breakaway was thwarted by a superb tackle from Jason Robertson to end the game.

Robertson summed up the experience saying it was “pure agony, but we got the job done in the end. The never say die attitude, and we never gave up. The manner it finished summed up our attitude in the back end of the season. It hasn’t been easy, but we stuck it in. It’s good to get the result in the last two weeks.”

Coach Douglas applauded his team’s effort. “Jason was great today… When he needed to, he fronted and was very good. The tight five did a really good job, and Renata [Roberts Te-Nana] works really hard… They all bought in, and no one had a bad game. Jack Iscaro was good for a long time today, and he did it without complaint at all. They all put their hand up.”

The game began with a quick succession of scores that set the tempo early. As Old Glory made one of its first forays into enemy territory, an errant pass was scooped up by Dom Akina for the 55-meter try. Austin looked to capitalize off the restart, but a turnover by Danny Tusitala had OGDC off to the races. Roberts-Te Nana sprinted down the sideline and passed back inside to Robertson for the try. The Kiwi flyhalf tied the game with the conversion after five minutes of action.

The intensity remained high, and Austin broke the stalemate soon after. Old Glory was penalized on their own scrum put-in giving the AGs an attacking lineout. Following a well-placed kick to touch, the Gilgronis mauled in the five-meter lineout for a Mack Mason try. The lead didn’t remain at five points for long as Robertson added a penalty cut the score to 12-10.

With neither team gaining much traction, discipline issues arose for both clubs. The referee had enough in the 23^rd minute as Austin’s David Still was yellow-carded for not retreating ten meters on the penalty. An initial onslaught at the line was turned away, but a second attempt found the whitewash. Following a ten-meter lineout, the forwards attracted the interior of the defense before Robertson skipped the ball wide to the wing. D’Montae Noble was all alone on the sideline for his fifth try of the season.

Austin responded with a recovery off the restart and then decided to go for points when OGDC was penalized in front of the posts. Mason’s kick was good, and the score stood at 17-15 after 32 minutes.

Old Glory got back on the front foot with a short lineout to Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz and a pass back to Mikey Sosene-Feagai. The AGs couldn’t get out of their own way and were hit with multiple penalties, which resulted in Michael de Waal being binned for repeated infringement. On the subsequent five-meter scrum, Austin was penalized again, and the referee awarded the penalty try. With the automatic seven-pointer, DC led at halftime 24-15.

DC opened the second half with Mungo Mason reliving his childhood playing soccer. Two kicks at the loose ball saw the co-captain chasing down the pill for the try. After missing the conversion, Robertson attempted to push the lead to 17 points with a penalty in the 49^th minute, but the kick was off target.

The game slowed down as penalties and scrum after scrum brought the match to a lull. Following an offsides infraction, Austin took advantage of the defense not being set. On the quick tap, Will Magie kicked across the field to a wide-open Rodrick Waters for the try.

The teams went back and forth until the final five minutes of the match. Needing more than a try to win, Austin kicked a penalty in the 78^th minute to slash the lead to four points.

With time winding down, the AGs kept the ball in hand, and after a series of offloads, a streaking Akina found daylight near the sideline. The flanker looked to have a step on the defense, but a shoestring tackle from Robertson saved the game-winning try. Tempers flared after the play, but the referee ended the match, 29-25.

Although the season didn’t end with a trip to the postseason, there is plenty to be hopeful for. “We’re going to be back bigger and better than ever,” co-owner Chris Dunleavey said. “If we could get through this year with all the challenges of COVID, a new venue, and the league interrupting the season, it’s all up from here… We couldn’t be more excited for what comes next.”

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OG v AG: Program

Chris McCay — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 14:51:33 +0000

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The post OG v AG: Program appeared first on Old Glory DC.

Weather Policy

Chris McCay — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 14:30:37 +0000

Severe Weather Plan

Segra Field is responsible for monitoring and reporting weather forecast/conditions at least a day before the event and have the ability to receive weather information at all times during the event.

For severe weather occurring during the event, appropriate announcements will be made to those in attendance providing them with appropriate actions to take.

Weather Monitoring

Local forecasts along with radar will be monitored through the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington Forecast Office (www.weather.gov/lwx). NWS forecasts along with watches and warnings disseminated for Loudoun County and surrounding areas can be followed on Twitter (@NWS_BaltWash). Alert Loudoun (www.loudoun.gov.alert) allows you to register for a variety of alerts to include weather and traffic.

Identification of Best Available Protective Area(s)

In the event of severe weather, the following location has been identified as a pre-determined safe structure for participants to seek shelter: team locker rooms for players and team staff; referee locker rooms for match day referees; hospitality suite for premium suite ticket holders. All remaining game day staff should seek shelter in the hospitality suite; all remaining fans in attendance must seek shelters in their cars.

Notification Procedures

If thunder is heard or lightning is seen, the following announcement will be made:

“May I have everyone’s attention – For everyone’s safety due to the thunder and or/lightning the event is postponed/canceled until further notice. A decision to resume will be made 30-minutes following the sighting of lightning or sound of thunder. Please leave the area as quickly as possible.”

In the event a protective area is not available due to the event taking place in an open area, participants/attendees should be directed to return to their vehicles.

If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued for the area where the venue is located, the following announcement will be made:

“May I have everyone’s attention – The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning effective until [inserted time] for the immediate area. For everyone’s safety the event is postponed/cancelled until further notice. A decision to resume will be made 30-minutes following the sighting of lightning or sound of thunder. Please leave the area as quickly as possible.”

In the event a protective area is not available due to the event taking place in an open area, participants/attendees should be directed to return to their vehicles.

If a tornado warning is issued for the area where the venue is located, the following announcement will be made:

“May I have everyone’s attention please – The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning effective until [insert the end time] for the immediate area. For everyone’s safety the event is postponed/canceled until further notice. A decision to resume will be made 30-minutes following the expiration of the warning. Please take cover immediately. Do not seek shelter in your vehicle. If no protective structure exists, seek shelter in a low-lying area, cover your head and protect yourself from flying debris.”

In the event of a postponed or canceled game, guests are advised to check the Old Glory DC’s website, the official Old Glory DC Twitter account (@OldGloryDC) and Facebook account for further information.

Even with inclement weather, the Old Glory DC will make every effort to play scheduled matches.

The post Weather Policy appeared first on Old Glory DC.

How to Watch Week 18

Chris McCay — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 03:00:38 +0000

How to Watch Week 18

Old Glory DC vs. Austin Gilgronis will be streamed live on NBC Sports Washington Plus and The Rugby Network at 5:00 PM ET on Saturday, July 17th. More information on NBC Sports Washington can be found here.

Tickets are still available for this weekend’s match! Help us break an Old Glory DC crowd record and let’s pack Segra Field. Purchase tickets now!

Prematch and Post Match Headquarters

Glory Days Grill will be showing Old Glory vs. Austin Gilgronis at select locations. Be sure to stop in and enjoy a set of delicious wings and cheer on our boys for the Week 18 match of the Major League Rugby Season. Fans are also welcome to grab a pre-game beverage, post-game beverage, or watch the game at Loudoun Brewing Company and Mattie and Eddies.

Game Day Activities

It is only fitting that the last game of the season is for the Cuisine Solutions Cup. Presented to the winner of the annual match between Old Glory DC and Austin Gilgronis, the Cup will be defended by Old Glory this Saturday at Segra Field, as OG strives to retain the trophy for another year. With neither club progressing to the postseason, the battle for bragging rights is at stake. Gates open at 12:30 PM.

Curtain Raisers

Prior to Old Glory’s match at 5 PM, come watch two curtain raisers featuring local and traveling players. The Met NY Rugby All Stars face the USA Rugby South All Stars at 1:00 PM. Following the match, the Old Boy Roosters face the Old Boy Cardinals at 3 PM. Join us for a full day of rugby!

Merchandise Offers

We will have merchandise on sale at the merchandise table this Saturday, be sure to stop by and pick up this limited edition Old Glory apparel while supplies last.

The Young Glory Kids Zone

Kids will have their own area to learn about and explore the game of rugby, play games, get their arms or faces painted, visit the balloon artist, and make signs to show their support of our players!

Veterans Moving Forward Canine Swag Bag Raffle

Veterans Moving Forward is raffling off a TSA-compliant Dog Gear bag, filled with goodies that your dog will love! Veterans Moving Forward provides service dogs and canine therapy services to veterans with physical and/or mental health challenges, at no cost to the veteran. Head to their tent on the concourse to enter to win.

Halftime Events

We are honored to continue our efforts to grow the sport of rugby by hosting several local youth clubs for OG Halftime Minis once again!

Game Day Information

For ticket holders joining us at Segra Field, please ensure you are familiar with our game day FAQ and come prepared. Please be reminded:

Segra is a CASHLESS stadium. Please pay with credit or debit cards.
Once ticket holders cannot leave and re-enter the stadium. Please make sure you bring all important items with you.

Segra Field is located at: 42095 Loudoun United Drive, Leesburg, VA 20175. Gates open at 12:30 PM ET and kick off is at 5:00 PM ET.

Please familiarize yourself with Segra Field’s prohibited items list here to include but not limited to: No bags larger than 14x6x14 (bags must be transparent), No outside food or beverage, No containers, No umbrellas, No video recorders or selfie sticks, No noisemakers, no inflatables, and No weapons. A complete prohibited items list can be found on our website here.

We can’t wait to welcome our supporters to Segra Field!

Tickets are still available for this weekend’s match! Help us break an Old Glory DC crowd record and let’s pack Segra Field. Purchase tickets now!

Prematch and Post Match Headquarters

Game Day Activities

Curtain Raisers

Merchandise Offers

We will have our Pride merchandise on sale at the merchandise table this Saturday, be sure to stop by and pick up this limited edition Old Glory apparel while supplies last.

The Young Glory Kids Zone

Kids will have their own area to learn about and explore the game of rugby, play games, get their arms or faces painted, visit the balloon artist, and make signs to show their support of our players!

Veterans Moving Forward Canine Swag Bag Raffle

Halftime Events

We are honored to continue our efforts to grow the sport of rugby by hosting several local youth clubs for OG Halftime Minis once again!

Game Day Information

For ticket holders joining us at Segra Field, please ensure you are familiar with our game day FAQ and come prepared. Please be reminded:

Segra is a CASHLESS stadium. Please pay with credit or debit cards.
Once ticket holders cannot leave and re-enter the stadium. Please make sure you bring all important items with you.

Segra Field is located at: 42095 Loudoun United Drive, Leesburg, VA 20175. Gates open at 11:00 AM ET and kick off is at 5:00 PM ET.

We can’t wait to welcome our supporters to Segra Field!

The post How to Watch Week 18 appeared first on Old Glory DC.

Old Glory and Austin Battle for Cuisine Solutions Cup in Season Finale

wpengine — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 18:39:57 +0000

Old Glory and Austin Battle for Cuisine Solutions Cup in Season Finale

By Evan Lappen

It is only fitting that the last game of the season is for the Cuisine Solutions Cup. Presented to the winner of the annual match between Old Glory DC and the Austin Gilgronis, the Cup will be defended by Old Glory this Saturday at Segra Field, as OG strives to retain the trophy for another year. With neither club progressing to the postseason, the battle for bragging rights is at stake. The game kicks off at 5:00 PM and will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Washington and the Rugby Network. Tickets are available online at Old Glory’s ticket page.

Join Old Glory for all the festivities when the gates to Segra Field open at 12:30 PM. The curtain raisers begin with the Met NY u23 All-Stars versus the Rugby South All-Stars at 1:00 PM, followed by the presenting sponsor Cuisine Solutions’ Stanislas Vilgrain’s Old Boys game between the Cardinals and Roosters at 3:00 PM. Additionally, the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s LOVEwork sign will be at the field to promote the message that “Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation.”

With a resounding victory over San Diego last weekend, the OG’s are confident and motivated to end the season with their sixth win of the year. The team played more connected and consistent than in weeks past, and it showed on the field.

“We were more consistent for a full 80 minutes,” head coach Andrew Douglas said of last weekend’s match. “Against Toronto, we had seven minutes of drop off, and that cost us the game. Against San Diego, we stayed in the game a lot longer.”

It will be a competitive week of practice with the USA Eagle players rejoining a group riding high off the Legion win. Battles at almost every position will be fierce, with numerous guys playing at a high level. However, with most of the players available, the coaching staff has options.

Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, Mikey Sosene-Feagai, and Mike Dabulas will be ready; however, Jamie Dever (hamstring) and Cory Daniel (ankle) are out with injuries. Jack Iscaro and Dakota Worth will get a look after filling in nicely as replacements last weekend. Thretton Palamo is considered day-to-day with a nerve ailment, and Doug Fraser’s return from the UK has been delayed with Canada.

“The boys are excited to get back on the field this weekend and play together again,” Api Naikatini said. “Especially because it’s the last game of the season, the boys are up for it. The attitude we are going to bring this Saturday has to match the attitude from last weekend or better.”

“We are focused on our game and trying to finish on a high this season,” Naikatini added. “Not focused on what [Austin] is going to bring personnel-wise. We are mainly focused on our game and what we are going to bring on Saturday to get that win and executing it on the day.”

Awaiting Old Glory is a team wholly different from what it faced in Week 4 of last year. The Austin Gilgronis went through a total squad overhaul and only retained 13 players from last season’s 1-3-1 record.

“They are a completely different team now,” Douglas said. “You can’t really compare the two years that Austin had. They had a complete reshuffle of coaching and playing roster. You can’t take anything out of last year’s game. It was nice to win down there for Stan with Cuisine Solutions and the trophy, but it’s a very different lineup this year.”

The coaching and personnel change worked as the AGs went 9-6 this season and were only one standing point away from remaining in the playoff hunt this Saturday. Before the LA loss last Saturday, Austin had one of the best runs this season, going on a four-game heater where they outscored their opponents 144-85.

The AGs get back four of their Eagles this weekend, with Bryce Campbell, Ruben de Haas, Will Magie, and Conner Mooneyham rejoining the club. Add them to the likes of the front row of Jamie Mackintosh, Hugh Roach, and Mason Pederson and a backline featuring Frank Halai, Zinzan Elan-Puttick, Pele Cowley, Mack Mason, and Kurt Morath, it’s no wonder why the Gilgronis were contenders this season.

“They like to go through Halai and the big boys to get their gain line for them, and that forward pack works pretty hard,” Douglas indicated. “They are a pretty complete team. #9 and #10 are pretty experienced with Cowley and Morath. They have some good playmakers and drivers around there.”

Coach Douglas knows what Old Glory needs to do to win. “Set piece is going to be really important. We have to win our own ball and pressure theirs. If we can win the contact battle, it will go a long way to winning this game. Defense is always essential, but we have to slow their ball down at the same time as getting ours quick. If we can keep the ball for longer periods of time, it will be a big difference in the game… It has to be a whole team effort, 100%. The whole team has to front.”

Naikatini summed up the key simply. “It’s getting excited to play. We need to get excited once we get that ball in hand. Show what we can do as a team. We show that on the field at training and we need to transfer that to Saturday. I’m sure most of the boys are really excited to get onto the field this weekend and just play and enjoy each other’s company.

“This will be the last time most of us will be playing alongside each other with a few boys leaving. It’s always good to finish on a high and enjoy each other’s company while on the field. Make it memorable for the fans and make them excited about what we can display on the day.”

The post Old Glory and Austin Battle for Cuisine Solutions Cup in Season Finale appeared first on Old Glory DC.

Old Glory Non-Stop Over San Diego

wpengine — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 19:26:11 +0000

Old Glory Non-Stop Over San Diego

By Evan Lappen

It’s good to be back home. Old Glory DC showed relentless effort to defeat the San Diego Legion, 38-29 on Saturday before a record crowd at Segra Field. OGDC scored six tries against their West Coast opponent and never let up the intensity. The squad banded together to find their “go forward” and played loose, fun rugby for the victory. Old Glory has one final home game next Saturday against the Austin Gilgronis.

“Overwhelming proud of the boys,” captain Mungo Mason said. “It’s been a tough season, a few injuries, and lots of ups and downs. We came together when we needed to and dug it out in tough spots. Our replacements were unbelievable. So proud of the boys.”

DC trotted out the same starting 15 for the first time this season, and the consistency and continuity were evident. All the players spoke of a great week of training, and the coaches had their squad ready to play. Contributions from Mason, Josh Brown, Api Naikatini, Jack Iscaro, Jason Robertson, and Tevita Naqali were instrumental in the win and brought joy to the nearly 2,500 fans in attendance.

San Diego’s devastating counterattack ran rampant in the first half, but the OG coaching staff made the necessary adjustments. “We talked about it at halftime,” head coach Andrew Douglas said. “We were going up in ones and twos and not connecting on our chase lines. We spoke about slowing down the chase lines and getting connected first before we go up.”

Old Glory’s set-piece was superior, and the players won their individual battles to emerge victoriously. The scrum was very disciplined, and the tight, clean rucks led to fast ball that San Diego couldn’t keep up with.

“We got two big forward packs that like to get down in the trenches and do work, so I thought it was a great physical battle,” Legion co-head coach Zack Test said. “Old Glory came out on top because they were the more disciplined and did the right things in the right areas. Credit to them for sticking to their game plan and executing it.”

Old Glory was first on the board, and it all started with Robertson stepping in front of Bjorn Basson’s pass. Naqali ran into contact, sending Naikatini through the line. Brown barrelled through two defenders after the next offload and pitched it back to Naqali, who downed it in the corner. Robertson slotted the conversion for the 7-0 lead.

“I saw Josh running with the ball, and I knew he would have to get down,” Naqali said. “I came to his left side and found the ball. I finally celebrated after the try now.”

San Diego answered right back as the counterattack of Cam Clark, Cecil Afrika, and Basson found space in the defense. After a big run from Paddy Ryan, the ball was whipped wide, and Afrika dotted down the try.

After the hydration break, a San Diego high tackle gave DC a great field position. After the five-meter lineout, Naqali was stopped short of the line. Iscaro took the pick and go and dove over the whitewash for his first professional try.

“I saw a few bodies and a line, and I just went for it,” Iscaro said. “Just happy to get over and help with the win.”

The Legion responded immediately. Old Glory knocked it forward off the restart, and San Diego countered with a series of offloads. Nate Augspurger sent it wide, and Keni Nasoqeqe finished with the dot down. Santiago Gonzales-Iglesias completed the seven-point play to narrow the gap to 14-12.

Old Glory extended the lead to 19-12 with speed Mungo Mason didn’t know he had. “The crowd got me going,” Mason exclaimed. “It was a Tevita tackle, and they knocked it on. I picked it up and just saw the open gap. I saw a much faster man come on my outside, and just a quick step, which Danny Tusitala and D’Montae Noble taught me, and then went for the line.”

The score remained until the end of the half when the Legion slashed the lead to two points. After a side entry penalty off their five-meter maul, SD’s Ryan took the quick tap for the score. The conversion missed, but Old Glory led 19-17 at the half.

Focused coming out of the break, DC didn’t waste time adding to their lead. In the 42^nd minute, Ciaran Hearn exploited the gap next to an injured Legion player for the bonus point try.

After a string of DC defensive stands, which included a pressure-relieving turnover from Steven Longwell, the Legion finally broke through when Ryan Matyas put on a show and the ball was swung wide. Afrika lured in the defenders on the wing and put away Basson for the score. San Diego kept it close with the conversion at 26-24.

In the final quarter of the game, Old Glory dug deep. With the Legion backed against their own try line, DC overpowered San Diego’s scrum and stole the ball. Brown grabbed the pill from the back and outmuscled five tacklers for the score.

“Our pack did a good job getting the ball back, and I knew that was the opportunity we were looking for,” Brown added. “All I saw was opportunity.”

After a yellow card sent a Legion player to the bin in the 70^th minute, Old Glory went for points but was wide right. DC kept on the pressure and stole the scrum again inside the 22. Danny Thomas ran it to the five, and Naikatini dove over for a game-sealing score.

San Diego would go on to score a brilliant try through hands in the 78^th minute, but an intercept from Hearn ended the match. With the kick to touch, the DC faithful celebrated the glorious 38-29 victory.

In addition to the MLR match, Old Glory’s U-19 Academy Girls and Boys sides lost to the New England Junior Jacks, 19-7 and 23-17, respectively.

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How to Watch Week 17

Chris McCay — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 01:23:06 +0000

How to Watch Week 17

Old Glory DC vs. San Diego Legion will be streamed live on NBC Sports Washington Plus and The Rugby Network at 5:00 PM ET on Saturday, July 10th. More information on NBC Sports Washington can be found here.

Tickets are still available for this weekend’s match! Help us break an Old Glory DC crowd record and let’s pack Segra Field. Purchase tickets now!

Prematch and Post Match Headquarters

Glory Days Grill will be showing Old Glory vs. San Diego Legion at select locations. Be sure to stop in and enjoy a set of delicious wings and cheer on our boys for the Week 17 match of the Major League Rugby Season. Fans are also welcome to grab a pre-game beverage, post-game beverage, or watch the game at Loudoun Brewing Company and Mattie and Eddies.

Game Day Activities

This Sunday’s match against the San Diego Legion is our Pride Night OUT match in collaboration with Team DC Sports.

As we are now able to open up all available areas of the stadium with no distance restrictions, there will be several new additions to Segra that long time fans of OG will recognize.

Curtain Raisers

Prior to Old Glory’s match at 5 PM, come watch the U19 Girls and Boys take on New England Free Jack teams. The girls kick off at 11:30 AM and the boys kick off at 1 PM. Additionally, the Washington Renegades will face off against Baltimore Flamingos at 3 PM! Join us for a full day of rugby!

DC Different Drummers

We are excited to welcome D.C.’s Different Drummers to tomorrow’s match! D.C.’s Different Drummers is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender music organization welcoming ALL musicians as it fosters pride, inclusivity, and engagement with the greater Washington, D.C. region through music.

Merchandise Offers

We will have our Pride merchandise on sale at the merchandise table this Saturday, be sure to stop by and pick up this limited edition Old Glory apparel while supplies last.

Return of the Kids Zone

Kids will have their own area to learn about and explore the game of rugby, play games, get their arms or faces painted, and make signs to show their support of our players! This Saturday, we are excited to be able to bring back our fun inflatables!

Team DC Signed Ball Raffle

Team DC is the association of LGBTQ sports clubs in the greater Washington DC region with 40 member teams and leagues with over 6,000 participants. In addition to sponsoring Pride Night OUT events with local pro teams, including our very own Old Glory Rugby, Team DC sponsors a College Scholarship program for LGBTQ student-athletes and many other great programs. They will be raffling off a team signed ball tomorrow afternoon. Tickets start at $5!

Halftime Events

We are honored to continue our efforts to grow the sport of rugby by hosting several local youth clubs for OG Halftime Minis once again! We are also to welcome DC Different Drummers for a halftime performance!

Gates will open at 11 AM to allow you to arrive early to enjoy all of the various curtain raiser opportunities. Our kids zone and food opportunities will open at 1:30 PM. Be sure you arrive early to ensure that you can partake in ALL of the amazing activities throughout the day!

Game Day Information

For ticket holders joining us at Segra Field, please ensure you are familiar with our game day FAQ and come prepared. Please be reminded:

Segra is a CASHLESS stadium. Please pay with credit or debit cards.
Once ticket holders cannot leave and re-enter the stadium. Please make sure you bring all important items with you.

Segra Field is located at: 42095 Loudoun United Drive, Leesburg, VA 20175. Gates open at 11:00 AM ET and kick off is at 5:00 PM ET.

We can’t wait to welcome our supporters to Segra Field!

The post How to Watch Week 17 appeared first on Old Glory DC.

OG v SD Game Day Program

Chris McCay — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 01:19:41 +0000

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The post OG v SD Game Day Program appeared first on Old Glory DC.

Old Glory Begins Final Homestand Against San Diego

wpengine — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 17:52:34 +0000

Old Glory Begins Final Homestand Against San Diego

By Evan Lappen

Old Glory DC returns home on Saturday to complete the season with a two-game homestand starting with the San Diego Legion. This match marks the first meeting against the Legion, and DC hopes the friendly confines of Segra Field will help the squad buck its season-long losing streak. It will be Red, White, Blue, and PRIDE with Team DC at Segra with the game kicking off at 5:00 pm. Doors open at 11 AM for three curtain-raisers.

11:30 AM – U19 Old Glory Girls Academy vs New England Free Jacks

1:00 PM – U19 Old Glory Boys Academy vs New England Free Jacks

3:00 PM– Washington Renegades vs Baltimore Flamingos

The match will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Washington and on the Rugby Network. Tickets are available at online at Old Glory’s ticket page.

Last Sunday in Georgia, DC looked to be playing with confidence and having fun on the field until a fateful ten minutes in the second half doomed the match. Toronto scored three tries in that period, and Old Glory was unable to recover.

“You can see from the weekend the boys are still trying hard. We’re just making crucial mistakes,” Head Coach Andrew Douglas said. “We had a poor ten minutes which killed us really. I thought we had a better team on the day and looked more threatening, but… in those ten minutes, we switched off a bit, and it cost us.”

One of the bright spots was the play of the squad’s rising stars. D’Montae Noble, Cory Daniel, and Simi Moala stood out, and three more made their MLR debuts.

“They made the most of their opportunities,” Douglas said. “It’s great to develop young players and see the future of the club. It was not an ideal result, but it was positive that those guys got some game time. Three guys made their debut with the club in Owen [Sheehy], Mo [Katz], and Dakota [Worth], and deservedly so. They have been working hard, and it’s good to get some fresh energy in there.”

To further develop the young talent in the final two games, Callum Gibbins will take a step back from playing to focus on coaching. This decision will give players like Daniel and Worth more game time while allowing Gibbins to teach and convey his valuable knowledge to everyone on the squad.

As for the other players who missed the Arrows match, Thretton Palamo is considered day-to-day with a nerve injury, and Casey Renaud progressing after getting sick last week. Over in the UK, Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz and Mikey Sosene-Feagai started for the USA Eagles against England and put in good shifts. Fa’anana-Schultz scored a try in the second half, which saw the Eagles outscore England in that period. Doug Fraser and Mike Dabulas weren’t selected for their respective teams this past weekend but hope to play in the final matches on Saturday.

San Diego and Old Glory share a lot in common this season. Both sides went into this year with a lot of promise only to be cut short by injuries. However, each team has had their fair share on highs and lows and hope to complete the season with poise and vigor.

“[San Diego] is a very strong team, and they showed that against Seattle over the weekend,” Douglas said. “They have a pretty good roster, and most of their players are back now. They will be a good team for the fans to come and watch.”

The Legion broke a three-game losing streak last weekend with a 34-21 win over the Seawolves. San Diego took advantage of a pair of yellow cards to burst out to a 31-7 halftime lead. The Seawolves did their best to claw back, but the Legion defense prevented a comeback. Ryan Matyas scored a pair of tries, with Peter Malcolm, Cole Zarcone, and Cameron Clark contributing one each.

In their final match of its season, the Legion has the weapons to finish the year on a high note. Former All Black Tom Franklin runs the set-piece, and Eagle Nate Augspurger captains the ship at scrumhalf. Old Glory will have to look out for the speed and shiftiness of Matyas, Zarcone, and Cecil Afrika in the back three. Joe Pietersen, Bjorn Basson, Dan Pryor, and Thomas Morani were all out for the Seattle game and may be back for the cross-country trek to DC.

“Both teams are playing to try and do themselves proud this season,” Douglas indicated. “We have to hold the ball for longer periods of time, and I think we did that better against Toronto. Recycle the ball faster and be more threatening. We had some really nice set plays against Toronto, so we’ll keep trying to build on that.”

As with most games this season, the focus for Old Glory is on themselves. “We’re going to focus on performance and making sure we’re developing ourselves,” Douglas stated. “We can’t waste this season. It’s a learning season, and it’s been a tough one for us all. We know what we need to fix, but we can’t waste this season.”

“When you are playing well, you get confidence,” Douglas concluded. “The old cliché, you create your own luck. Unfortunately, we didn’t have our confidence, and luck isn’t going our way. We just got to keep working hard, and we’re never going to quit. San Diego is a big challenge this weekend at home. It would be nice to get back to Segra and put on a show for our fans.”

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