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“My friend Paul went to all the rugby games with me – we always go to Old Glory games together – he talked me into buying a bottle and I bought it. He could always talk me into something, and he talked me into buying that bottle of whiskey. And then I turn around and asked him, ‘will you buy one?’ and he goes ‘Well, no. You bought one.’”

Brian and Paul met at Virginia Tech in 1981, and like most rugby relationships, their friendship continued off the field and long after they graduated. “We’re both local studs in our mind,” joked Brian. 

Very sadly, during the off-season, Paul passed away, and Brian knew immediately what to do with the bottle. “I ended up saving the bottle for his wake at Bearclaw. As many as I could round up, we ended up doing a little toast to him. 20 people or so took a small sip of the whiskey and it went very quick.”

Brian reflected that the whiskey was great, although he didn’t get much of it. “I’m a casual whiskey drinker. I’m pretty simple – mostly a beer guy.”

When Old Glory drew Brian’s name during the team’s International Match on February 26, he felt he had received one last gift from his friend Paul.

“It was pretty cool, you know? Maybe Paul was looking down and won the trip on his bottle.”

Clonakilty Distillery will welcome Brian and his wife to Cork, Ireland in the next few months as a part of the grand prize. 

“I’m most looking forward to getting my wife to Ireland, to be honest,” said Brian. “She’s 98% Irish and she’s never been. I’ve always wanted to see it. I’ve seen England before, but we don’t travel a lot. It will be really nice to get her overseas.”

Congratulations and Sláinte Brian George!

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In March of 1912, 3,020 cherry trees arrived in Washington, DC, as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan. Every spring, the annual blossoming of the Cherry trees in Washington, DC, signifies an official start of springtime in the nation’s capital and a reminder of the friendship between Japan and the United States. The limited-edition matchday top, inspired by D.C.’s iconic Cherry Blossoms, is a part of a larger city-themed campaign organized by Major League Rugby. The matchday top features a white base color, a cherry blossom print along the shoulders, arms, front, and back of the top, the flag of Washington, DC, and a pop of blue with red blossom outlines on the sides.

“Japan connected with the world through this wonderful sport during the 2019 Rugby World Cup, just as Japan and the U.S. are connected through the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin,” said Embassy Spokesperson Masashi Mizobuchi. “This year we are celebrating the 110th Anniversary of the gift of cherry blossom trees from Tokyo to Washington, D.C., and we are excited to partner with Old Glory DC to celebrate Japan-U.S. friendship and the Japanese community in the D.C. area.”

The matchday top will be worn during home matches in April and will make its on-field debut during the team’s Friday Night Lights theme on April 15 vs Utah Warriors. Additionally, Old Glory DC will welcome Embassy of Japan’s Ambassador Tamaki Tsukanda and Spokesperson Masashi Mizobuchi to Segra Field to deliver the match ball to referees prior to kickoff. On Saturday, April 23, Old Glory DC will auction off the limited-edition tops to the public after the match, with funds going to Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance civil and human rights for Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all.

Japan has had significant contributions to the global rugby community in recent decades. As hosts of the most recent Rugby World Cup in 2019, EY reported that the 44-day event “was the most economically successful Rugby World Cup ever, with nearly £4.3 billion generated in economic output.” Additionally, EY concluded that 2.25 million people were introduced to rugby in Asia due to the event. A separate Nielsen Sports report documented that Rugby World Cup interest almost doubled from 26% in 2018 to 44% in 2019, representing more than 50 million people. The Springboks ultimately took the Webb Ellis Cup in Yokohama, Japan, to cap off one of the most popular international sports events, filled with unforgettable moments on and off the field, unparalleled hospitality by the people of Japan, and the most competitive rugby ever seen.

“It surprises some people that Japan has become known as a great rugby nation,” said Old Glory co-owner Chris Dunlavey. “But their performance in international competition has earned worldwide respect, and by all accounts, the Rugby World Cup they hosted was among the best ever. There are many lessons rugby in the U.S. can learn from Japan.”

On June 11, 2021, USA Rugby formally accepted a bid candidacy to host an upcoming Rugby World Cup 2027, 2029 and 2031. Washington, DC has been identified as a competitive host city since the announcement of the 1874 Cup, which invited New Zealand All Blacks to Washington, DC to face USA Rugby’s Men’s XV in an international test match on Saturday, October 23, 2021, at FedExField. Alongside Events DC and the Washington Commanders, Old Glory DC was the official rugby host of both the USA Eagles and the infamous All Blacks. The marquee event welcomed 39,720 fans to FedExField to experience a rare match against the most successful rugby team in the world.

“As the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, Events DC shares in the excitement of this partnership between Old

Glory DC and Japan, symbolizing the cultural connection between our nations,” said Ralph Morton, senior vice president and managing director, sports & entertainment division at Events DC. “Washington, DC is home to a passionate and robust rugby community, and dynamic international partnerships like this strengthen DC’s position to continue to attract and host major global rugby matches and events, including the Rugby World Cup.”

View the limited-edition Cherry Blossom match day tops in person and join Old Glory DC at Segra Field on Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 23 by purchasing tickets at Ticketmaster.com.

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“We are proud to be Old Glory’s signage partner,” said Roman Blazauskas, Owner and President, SpeedPro Northern Virginia. “SpeedPro is only as successful as our clients and helping propel Old Glory’s outstanding brand in our region is a privilege. As a sports fanatic, I look forward to introducing more people to Old Glory DC and the exciting sport of rugby.”   

SpeedPro Northern Virginia and Old Glory DC will work together this season to bring Old Glory branding to Segra Field, as well as elevate the team’s current and future sponsorship visibility on the concourse and throughout the stadium on match day.  Additionally, Old Glory DC will highlight the products and solutions on our website, email, social media, and matchday program. 

About SpeedPro Northern Virginia

SpeedPro Northern Virginia is a large format printing company based in Sterling that specializes in signs, banners, vehicle wraps, wall/window graphics, posters, and more. The company is a local business leader and has a track record of supporting the community. Started in 2014, SpeedPro’s core values include pride in work, being relationship-driven, community-oriented, and trusted partner.  www.SpeedProNova.com

About Old Glory DC

Old Glory is the first and only professional rugby team in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Established in 2018, Old Glory DC competes in Major League Rugby (MLR), a North American league that includes teams in New York, Boston, Atlanta, Toronto, Houston, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Austin, Seattle, and Los Angeles. The team was founded 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, committing both financial investment and operational support to the organization.  The 2022 Major League Rugby season kicks off on February 5th, 2022. For more, visit oldglorydc.com.

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With this partnership, Mount St. Mary’s University will be Old Glory DC’s official partner in higher education, and Old Glory DC will provide several internship placement opportunities each year to support students with their studies.

“The Mount has long-established reputations for both academic excellence and as a collegiate rugby power,” observed Old Glory Chairman Chris Dunlavey. “A partnership like this, where we can align with the institution to pursue its mission and work together to grow rugby in our region—it’s perfect.”

Located in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Mount St. Mary’s University is a private, liberal arts Catholic university dedicated to inspiring students with a passion for learning to become ethical leaders who lead lives of significance in service to their community.

Robert Brennan, Vice President for University Advancement, stated “rugby has been one of our most successful sports at the Mount since 1973.  We now have generations of alumni who support our rugby program and our student-athletes on and off the pitch.”  Brennan added, “our partnership with Old Glory will allow us to ‘export the goodness’ of our Mount Rugby program to players, families, and rugby fans in the DMV and throughout the country. We could not be more optimistic as we enter into this partnership and we look forward to mutually beneficial results for the Mount and Old Glory.”

John Nauright, dean of the Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business and Director of the Global Rugby Leadership Institute, believes that rugby is the ideal sport to lean on when it comes to career development.  “Rugby is a game that builds trust, leadership, teamwork, and great decision-making skills,” said Dean John Nauright. “All of those aspects are something that can really translate to career success, and one of those things we are really trying to connect is the values of rugby to leadership skills that can help people in their future careers no matter what that may be.”  Looking ahead, Nauright also mentions that this partnership will lay the foundation for excellent development for rugby at the highest levels in the Mid-Atlantic.

“I’m hoping that we will achieve tremendous growth for rugby in the region and awareness that Washington, DC, and the surrounding areas are a real hub for US rugby, particularly as we build up for likely hosts for the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup and 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup,” said Nauright. “With this partnership, we hope to raise awareness of rugby, build performance pathways from youth to college to professional, and embed ourselves effectively within our region through community programs.”

The Mount St. Mary’s men’s rugby team, established in 1973, won the 2016 National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) National Championship. The team, led by Director of Rugby and Head Coach Jay Myles, now play in the Division I Chesapeake Collegiate Rugby Conference.  Myles commented, “the professional setting Old Glory provides will enhance our student athletes’ growth and prepare them for success.  We are excited for the opportunities the partnership will create.”

About Old Glory DC

Old Glory is the first and only professional rugby team in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Established in 2018, Old Glory DC competes in Major League Rugby (MLR), a North American league that includes teams in New York, Boston, Atlanta, Toronto, Houston, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Austin, Seattle, and Los Angeles. The team was founded 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, committing both financial investment and operational support to the organization.  The 2022 Major League Rugby season kicks off on February 5^th, 2022. For more, visit oldglorydc.com.

About Mount St. Mary’s University

Mount St. Mary’s University is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near historic Emmitsburg, Maryland, with a satellite campus in Frederick, Maryland’s second largest city. The university offers more than 80 majors, minors, concentrations and special programs for traditional undergraduate students, and more than 20 adult undergraduate and graduate level programs as well as 24 NCAA Division I athletic teams and 2 premier sports, men’s rugby and esports. Founded in 1808, Mount St. Mary’s includes Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, the second oldest in the United States, and the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, an idyllic shrine for spiritual reflection located on the hill above the university.

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