Rugby FC Los Angeles (RFCLA) is an American professionalrugby union team based inLos Angeles, California, that competes inMajor League Rugby (MLR). The team began play in2020 asRugby ATL, based inAtlanta, Georgia, but announced they would relocate to Los Angeles for the 2024 season, under new ownership.
On September 21, 2018,Major League Rugby announced that Atlanta was one of the expansion teams joining the league for the 2020 season.[1] The team name "Rugby ATL" was revealed on February 26, 2019.[2] The team was unofficially known as the Rattlers and in 2021 an alternate logo with a rattlesnake was unveiled.[3] Rugby ATL played its first three seasons at Lupo Family Field on the campus ofLife University in the Atlanta suburb ofMarietta. The field was damaged by flooding in September 2021 and the team moved toSilverbacks Park ahead of the 2022 season.[4]
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.[5]
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.[5] On August 17, it was announced the team would relocate toLos Angeles. On December 21, it was announced that the team would be renamed toRugby FC Los Angeles, abbreviated to RFCLA.[6][7] This marked the return of Major League Rugby back to Los Angeles since the removal of the formerLA Giltinis in October 2022. On the same day, it was announced that RFCLA would play out ofDignity Health Sports Park inCarson, CA.
Rugby ATL started with an exhibition side, called404 Rugby. From September to November 2019, 404 Rugby played exhibition matches againstMystic River,NYAC,Old Blue, and USA Rugby men's club championsLife University.[10]
On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic.[11] It was cancelled the following week[12]
Scott Lawrence (2020-2022)
Stephen Brett (2022–2024)
Stephen Hoiles (2025-)
Blake Bradford (2022–)
