Rugby Football Club Los Angeles

{{short description|Professional Rugby Union Team from Los Angeles, California, United States}}

{{Infobox rugby team

| teamname = Rugby FC Los Angeles

| image = RFC Los Angeles logo.png

| imagesize =

| nickname =

| shortname =

| founded = {{start date and age|2018}}

| first season = 2020

| location = Los Angeles, California

| ground = Wallis Annenberg Stadium

| capacity =2,145

| chairman =

| rugby director =

| captain = Niall Saunders

| top scorer =

| caps =

| coach = Stephen Hoiles

| url = https://rugbyfcla.com/

| league = Major League Rugby

| season = 2023

| position = 5th (Eastern Conference)

| pattern_la1 = _yellowborder

| pattern_b1 = _collaryellow

| pattern_ra1 = _yellowborder

| pattern_sh1 =

| pattern_so1 = _yellowtop

| leftarm1 = 45CAFF

| body1 = 45CAFF

| rightarm1 = 45CAFF

| shorts1 = 45CAFF

| socks1 = 45CAFF

| pattern_la2 = _yellowborder

| pattern_b2 = _collaryellow

| pattern_ra2 = _yellowborder

| pattern_sh2 =

| pattern_so2 = _yellowtop

| leftarm2 = ffffff

| body2 = ffffff

| rightarm2 = ffffff

| shorts2 = ffffff

| socks2 = ffffff

}}

Rugby FC Los Angeles (RFCLA) is an American professional rugby union team based in Los Angeles, California, that competes in Major League Rugby (MLR). The team began play in 2020 as Rugby ATL, based in Atlanta, Georgia, but announced they would relocate to Los Angeles for the 2024 season, under new ownership.

History

=Rugby ATL=

On September 21, 2018, Major League Rugby announced that Atlanta was one of the expansion teams joining the league for the 2020 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/09/21/major-league-rugby-confirms-boston-atlanta-2020/ |title=Major League Rugby confirms Boston and Atlanta for 2020 – Americas Rugby News |website=www.americasrugbynews.com |date=September 21, 2018}} The team name "Rugby ATL" was revealed on February 26, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.usmlr.com/news/atlantas-new-major-league-rugby-team-picks-a-name/ |title=ATLANTA'S NEW MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY TEAM PICKS A NAME |website=USMLR.com |date=February 26, 2019}} The team was unofficially known as the Rattlers and in 2021 an alternate logo with a rattlesnake was unveiled.{{cite news |title=Rugby ATL unveil new logo for 2021 season |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2020/08/09/rugby-atl-unveil-new-logo-for-2021-season/ |access-date=17 December 2023 |work=Americas Rugby News |date=9 August 2020}} Rugby ATL played its first three seasons at Lupo Family Field on the campus of Life University in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta. The field was damaged by flooding in September 2021 and the team moved to Silverbacks Park ahead of the 2022 season.{{cite news |title=Rugby ATL relocate to Silverbacks Park for 2022 |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2021/12/06/rugby-atl-relocate-to-silverbacks-park-for-2022/ |access-date=17 December 2023 |work=Americas Rugby News |date=6 December 2021}}

Following the death of their original team owner, S. Marcus Calloway, the ownership of the team was placed into an investment group, acquiring control of the franchise on an interim basis. The move kept Rugby ATL operational, until a permanent ownership group was acquired in 2023.

=Rugby FC Los Angeles=

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.{{Cite web |title=Major League Rugby’s Atlanta Team to Relocate |url=https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugbys-atlanta-team-to-relocate/ |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=Major League Rugby |language=en-US}} On August 17, it was announced the team would relocate to Los Angeles. On December 21, it was announced that the team would be renamed to Rugby FC Los Angeles, abbreviated to RFCLA.{{cite web |title=Major League Rugby Officially Announces Rugby FC Los Angeles for 2024 |url=https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-officially-announces-rugby-fc-los-angeles-for-2024/ |website=Major League Rugby}}{{cite web |title=Major League Rugby Officially Announces Rugby Football Club Los Angeles for 2024 |url=https://rugbyfcla.com/major-league-rugby-officially-announces-rugby-football-club-los-angeles-for-2024/ |website=Rugby FC LA |access-date=22 December 2023}} This marked the return of Major League Rugby back to Los Angeles since the removal of the former LA Giltinis in October 2022. On the same day, it was announced that RFCLA would play out of Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA.

Sponsorship

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
Season ! Kit manufacturer ! Shirt sponsor ! Other Shirt sponsor(s)
2019 \| Canterbury \| None \| None
rowspan="3"\|2020–2023 \| rowspan="3"\|Paladin Sports \| rowspan="2"\|Barbour Orthopedics and Spine \| None
Terrapin Beer Co. Body Armor Sports Drink

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

Season

! Kit manufacturer

! Shirt sponsor

! Other Shirt sponsor(s)

2019

| Canterbury

| None

rowspan="3"|2020–2023

| rowspan="3"|Paladin Sports

| rowspan="2"|Barbour Orthopedics and Spine

| None

Terrapin Beer Co.
Body Armor Sports Drink

Roster

{{for|player movements before and during the 2024 season|List of 2023–24 Major League Rugby transfers#Los Angeles}}

The Los Angeles squad for the 2025 Major League Rugby season is:{{Cite web|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2025-major-league-rugby/mlr-2025-rfc-los-angeles/|title=RFC Los Angeles|work=Americas Rugby News|access-date=12 January 2025}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=HK | name=Mike Sosene-Feagai}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=PR | name=Alessandro Heaney}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=PR | name=Franco van den Berg}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=LK | name=Reegan O'Gorman}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=LK | name=Jurie van Vuuren}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FIJ | pos=BR | name=Semi Kunatani}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ARG | pos=SH | name=Gonzalo Bertranou}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ISR | pos=SH | name=Omar Levinson}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=SH | name=Cristian Rodriguez}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SAM | pos=FH | name=Christian Leali'ifano}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=WG | name=Christian Dyer}}

Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
* denotes players qualified to play for the {{nrut|United States}} on dual nationality or residency grounds.
MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

=Head coaches=

{{flagicon|USA}} Scott Lawrence (2020-2022)
{{flagicon|NZL}} Stephen Brett (2022–2024)
{{flagicon|AUS}} Stephen Hoiles (2025-)

=Assistant coaches=

{{flagicon|NZL}} Stephen Brett (Attack, 2020–2021){{cite web|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2020/12/31/rugby-atl-adds-stephen-brett-to-coaching-staff/ |title=Rugby ATL adds Stephen Brett to coaching staff |publisher=Americas Rugby News |date=2020-12-31 |accessdate=2022-02-24}}
{{flagicon|RSA}} Blake Bradford (2022–)

=Captains=

Matt Heaton (2020–present) (co-captain)
Ryan Nell (2020–present) (co-captain)

Records

=Season standings=

rowspan="2"\|Season ! rowspan="2"\|Conference ! colspan="10"\|Regular season ! colspan="8"\|Postseason
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%"
{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
border=1 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0 ! style="width:20px;"\|Pos ! style="width:20px;"\|Pld ! style="width:20px;"\|W ! style="width:20px;"\|D ! style="width:20px;"\|L ! style="width:20px;"\|F ! style="width:20px;"\|A ! style="width:25px;"\|+/− ! style="width:20px;"\|BP ! style="width:20px;"\|Pts ! style="width:20px;"\|Pld ! style="width:20px;"\|W ! style="width:20px;"\|L ! style="width:20px;"\|F ! style="width:20px;"\|A ! style="width:25px;"\|+/− ! style="width:30em; text-align:centre;"\| Result
colspan="19"\|Rugby ATL
2020{{efn\|name=COVID\|2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.}} \| Eastern \|5th	5	2	0	3	116	110	+6	4	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	Cancelled
2021 \| Eastern \|2nd	16	11	0	5	420	321	+99	13	57	2	1	1	27	40\|
13	Won East Conference Final (Rugby United New York) 10–9 Lost Major League Rugby final (LA Giltinis) 17–31
2022 \| Eastern \|2nd	16	11	0	5	468	340	+128	11	57	1	0	1	19	26	-7	Lost East Conference Eliminator (Rugby New York) 19–26
2023 \| Eastern \|5th	16	5	1	10	355	428	-73	6	28	-	-	-	-	-	-	Did not qualify
colspan="19"\|Rugby Football Club Los Angeles
2024 \| Western \|6th	16	5	1	10	367	473	-106	10	32	-	-	-	-	-	-	Did not qualify
align="center" ! colspan="3"\|Totals !! 69 !! 34 !! 2 !! 33 !! 1,726 !! 1,672 !! +54 !! 38 !! 158 !! 3 !! 1 !! 2 !! 46 !! 66 !! -20 !! 2 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.404rugby.com/schedule/|title=Schedule}}

=2019 roster=

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=HK | name=Alex Maughan}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=HK | name=Barrington McNutt}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=N8 | name=Marthinus van Zyl}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=FH | name=Lucas Baistrocchi}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SAM | pos=CE | name=Martini Talapusi}}

=2019 season=

All games in the 2019 season were exhibition games and did not count in the MLR standings.

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Location	Result
class="wikitable"
style="background:#cfc;" \| September 7	Mystic River	Away	Pine Banks	50–25
style="background:#cfc;" \| September 14	Old Blue	Home	Lupo Family Field	45–6
style="background:#cfc;" \| September 28	New York Athletic Club	Away	Travers Island	42–17
style="background:#cfc;" \| October 5	Life University	Away	Lupo Family Field	22–21
style="background:#cfc;" \| October 12	New Orleans	Away	Gretna Park	55–24
style="background:#fcc;" \| October 19	Old Blue	Away	Columbia Soccer Stadium	17–25
style="background:#cfc;" \| November 2	New York Athletic Club	Home	Lupo Family Field	66–7
style="background:#cfc;" \| November 9	Life University	Home	Lupo Family Field	30–18

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.[https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-suspends-2020-season-for-30-days/ Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020] It was cancelled the following week{{cite news |date=March 19, 2020 |title=Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/major-league-rugby-cancels-remainder-2020-campaign-144516941--spt.html |work=Yahoo! Sports |agency=AFP |access-date=March 19, 2020}}

=Regular season=

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Location	Result
class="wikitable"
style="background:#cfc;" \| February 9	Utah Warriors	Home	Life University Running Eagles Stadium	Won, 28–19
style="background:#cfc;" \| February 16	New Orleans Gold	Away	Gold Mine	Won, 22–10
style="background:#fcc;" \| February 23	Rugby United New York	Home	Life University Running Eagles Stadium	Lost, 19–22
style="background:#fcc;" \| March 1	Toronto Arrows	Home	Life University Running Eagles Stadium	Lost, 18–28
style="background:#fcc;" \| March 8	Old Glory DC	Away	Cardinal Stadium	Lost, 29–31
style="background:#ccf;" \| March 22	New England Free Jacks	Home	Life University Running Eagles Stadium	Cancelled
style="background:#ccf;" \| March 28	Austin Gilgronis	Away	Round Rock Multipurpose Complex	Cancelled
style="background:#ccf;" \| April 5	New Orleans Gold	Home	Life University Running Eagles Stadium	Cancelled
style="background:#ccf;" \| April 10	Rugby United New York	Away	MCU Park	Cancelled
style="background:#ccf;" \| April 19	Toronto Arrows	Away	Lamport Stadium	Cancelled
style="background:#ccf;" \| April 26	San Diego Legion	Home	Life University Running Eagles Stadium	Cancelled
style="background:#ccf;" \| May 2	Colorado Raptors	Away	Infinity Park	Cancelled
style="background:#ccf;" \| May 10	Seattle Seawolves	Home	Life University Running Eagles Stadium	Cancelled
style="background:#ccf;" \| May 17	Old Glory DC	Home	Life University Running Eagles Stadium	Cancelled
style="background:#ccf;" \| May 23	Houston SaberCats	Away	Aveva Stadium	Cancelled
style="background:#ccf;" \| May 30	New England Free Jacks	Away	Union Point Sports Complex	Cancelled

2021 season

=Regular season=

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
class="wikitable"
style="background:#cfc;" \| March 20	Toronto Arrows	Home	Won, 21–14
style="background:#fcc;" \| March 27	Old Glory DC	Away	Lost, 23–30
style="background:#cfc;" \| April 3	San Diego Legion	Home	Won, 41–22
style="background:#fcc;" \| April 11	Rugby United New York	Home	Lost, 17–27
style="background:#fcc;" \| April 17	Austin Gilgronis	Away	Lost, 15–17
style="background:#cfc;" \| April 24	New Orleans Gold	Home	Won, 38–28
style="background:#cfc;" \| May 9	Toronto Arrows	Away	Won, 33–29
style="background:#cfc;" \| May 15	New England Free Jacks	Home	Won, 33–18
style="background:#cfc;" \| May 23	Seattle Seawolves	Away	Won, 25–6
style="background:#cfc;" \| May 29	LA Giltinis	Home	Won, 17–12
style="background:#cfc;" \| June 5	New Orleans Gold	Away	Won, 8–7
style="background:#fcc;" \| June 13	Rugby United New York	Away	Lost, 24–31
style="background:#cfc;" \| June 19	Houston SaberCats	Home	Won, 33–15
style="background:#cfc;" \| June 26	Old Glory DC	Home	Won, 32–12
style="background:#cfc;" \| July 10	Utah Warriors	Away	Won, 41–31
style="background:#fcc;" \| July 18	New England Free Jacks	Away	Lost, 19–22

=Post season=

class="wikitable"
Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
style="background:#cfc;" \| July 24	Rugby United New York	Home	Won, 10–9
style="background:#fcc;" \| August 1	LA Giltinis	Away	Lost, 17–31

class="wikitable"

Date

Opponent

Home/Away

Result

style="background:#cfc;"

| July 24

Rugby United New York

Home

Won, 10–9

style="background:#fcc;"

| August 1

LA Giltinis

Away

Lost, 17–31

2022 season

=Regular season=

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
class="wikitable"
style="background:#cfc;" \| February 5	Old Glory DC	Home	Won, 55–22
style="background:#cfc;" \| February 12	New Orleans Gold	Away	Won, 14–9
style="background:#fcc;" \| February 19	Rugby New York	Home	Lost, 31–36
style="background:#cfc;" \| March 5	Houston SaberCats	Home	Won, 29–22
style="background:#cfc;" \| March 12	Austin Gilgronis	Home	Won, 29–14
style="background:#cfc;" \| March 20	Old Glory DC	Away	Won, 27–13
style="background:#fcc;" \| March 26	New England Free Jacks	Home	Lost, 27-41
style="background:#cfc;" \| April 2	Toronto Arrows	Away	Won 20-14
style="background:#cfc;" \| April 9	New Orleans Gold	Away	Won, 34-17
style="background:#cfc;" \| April 24	San Diego Legion	Away	Won, 30-17
style="background:#fcc;" \| April 30	LA Giltinis	Home	Lost, 19-31
style="background:#fcc;" \| May 7	Utah Warriors	Away	Lost, 26-44
style="background:#fcc;" \| May 13	New England Free Jacks	Away	Lost, 10-15
style="background:#cfc;" \| May 22	Rugby New York	Away	Won, 38-3
style="background:#cfc;" \| May 28	Toronto Arrows	Home	Won, 34-23
style="background:#cfc;" \| June 3	New Orleans Gold	Home	Won, 45-19

=Postseason=

class="wikitable"
Round	Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
style="background:#fcc;" \| East Eliminator	June 11	Rugby New York	Home	Lost, 19–26

class="wikitable"

Round

Date

Opponent

Home/Away

Result

style="background:#fcc;"

| East Eliminator

June 11

Rugby New York

Home

Lost, 19–26

2023 season

=Regular season=

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Location	Result
class="wikitable"
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| February 17	Toronto Arrows	Home	Silverbacks Park	Won, 17–10
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| February 24	Seattle Seawolves	Away	Starfire Sports Complex	Lost, 28–22
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| March 4	NOLA Gold	Home	Silverbacks Park	Won, 29–16
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| March 18	San Diego Legion	Home	Silverbacks Park	Lost, 10–35
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| March 25	Houston SaberCats	Away	SaberCats Stadium	Lost, 40–28
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| April 2	New York Ironworkers	Away	Memorial Field	Lost, 31–20
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| April 8	Old Glory DC	Home	Silverbacks Park	Won, 35–27
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| April 15	NOLA Gold	Away	The Gold Mine	Won, 23–7
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| April 22	New England Free Jacks	Away	Veterans Memorial Stadium	Lost, 23–13
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \| May 6	Chicago Hounds	Home	Silverbacks Park	Won, 27–12
bgcolor="#FFFFCC" \| May 12	Toronto Arrows	Away	York Lions Stadium	Draw, 34–34
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| May 20	Dallas Jackals	Home	Silverbacks Park	Lost, 27–19
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| May 27	Utah Warriors	Away	Zions Bank Stadium	Lost, 28–12
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| June 2	New England Free Jacks	Home	Silverbacks Park	Lost, 35–14
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| June 10	New York Ironworkers	Home	Silverbacks Park	Lost, 39–24
bgcolor="#FFCCCC" \| June 17	Old Glory DC	Away	Segra Field	Lost, 36–28

Notes

References

External links

{{Official website}}
[https://www.rugbychampagneweb.com/Noticia/mlr-las-fotos-de-rugby-united-new-york-31-24-rugby-atl_6469 Rugby United New York 31-24 Rugby ATL (photo gallery)] at Rugbychampagneweb

Category:Major League Rugby teams

Category:Rugby clubs established in 2018

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Los Angeles

Category:Rugby union teams in California

Category:2018 establishments in California