84 FACTBOOK 2021
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Members of Rugby ATL wave to the crowd after winning their first regular
season game. - File
“bigger and better than ever before.” During the canceled season,
Killebrew and the MLR staff explored new opportunities to grow
the league.
Killebrew, a former Dallas Mavericks executive, became the
Major League Rugby commissioner in December 2019.
The 2020 roster featured 35 players, 21 of which were forwards
and 14 of which were backs. The team is led by head coach Scott
Lawrence, and he is joined on the coaching staff by defense and
forward coach Blake Bradford, skills and backs coach Valenese
Malifa and director of athlete performance Matt Dallow.
In August 2020, Rugby ATL announced that team co-captain
Matt Heaton was awarded the Rugby Canada Men’s XVs Player
of the Year. That same month, the team introduced the “RATLERS”
logo, a snake head in greys, white and red.
Rugby ATL unofficially debuted in Major League Rugby in
2019, the league’s second season of play. That season, Rugby
ATL’s eight games were all exhibitions and did not count in the
league rankings. Rugby ATL posted a 7-1 record, with its lone
loss coming against Old Blue at Columbia Soccer Stadium in
New York City.
In September 2018, Major League Rugby revealed Atlanta as one
of its new expansion franchise locations to join the league in 2020.
The team announced its name — Rugby ATL — in February 2019.
The online Rugby ATL shop features caps, T-shirts, hooded
sweatshirts, jerseys, flags, branded coffee, backpacks, rugby
balls, team socks and more apparel.
Rugby ATL dropped its third straight game in a 31-29 loss to Old Glory DC. - Special