‘Old Glory DC’ brings pro rugby to Washington, with founders sure ‘there is a place for rugby’

A grin slowly spread across Chris Dunlavey’s face when he thought about it. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes drifting upward as if he could see it projected on the ceiling. And when he talked about it, he punctuated the idea with a silly laugh, drumming his fingers on the armrests of his chair.

The United States, a world rugby power.

Imagine, he said, “if it ever happens that rugby in the U.S. starts to draw some of the athletic talent that right now is trying to get into the NFL or the NBA or Major League Baseball. If the guys that failed to make an NFL roster last year all went to play rugby, we’d have the most talented athletes in the world.

Read more about MLR's 2020 expansion team, here.