Rugby Legend Blaine Scully Joins Old Glory DC as Advisor

A rugby legend who captained Team USA at the World Cup is now working to give the next generation of American players a clearer shot at the big leagues.

Old Glory DC announced that Blaine Scully has joined the professional rugby team as a senior advisor. In his new role, the former national team captain will focus on building stronger pathways for young athletes in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region.

Scully knows firsthand what it takes to reach the top of American rugby. He represented the USA for nearly a decade, earning 54 international caps and serving as captain 23 times, including at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Before that, he won two collegiate national championships at UC Berkeley and played professionally in the UK for teams like Cardiff Blues, where he won the 2018 European Challenge Cup.

Since retiring from professional play in 2020, Scully earned an MBA from Oxford and built a career in business. But rugby kept calling him back.

Now living in Reston, Virginia with his wife and two children, Scully will work directly with the Greater Washington Rugby Foundation's Young Glory program. The nonprofit creates development opportunities for youth players who dream of going pro or representing their country.

The Ripple Effect

Scully's appointment comes at a crucial moment for American rugby. Major League Rugby is still young, and many talented kids don't know how to progress from local clubs to professional teams or national squads.

By connecting Old Glory DC with USA Rugby and World Rugby, Scully can help create the kind of structured development system that exists in traditional American sports. Young players in the DMV will have mentors, clear goals, and proven pathways instead of having to figure it out alone.

Old Glory DC co-owner Paul Sheehy praised Scully's unique combination of playing experience and business acumen. Co-owner Chris Dunlavey highlighted Scully's extensive network across both American and international rugby communities.

For Scully, the opportunity means supporting the sport that gave him so much while staying close to home. He sees Old Glory DC as critical not just to the region but to rugby's growth across the entire country.

The partnership signals something important: American rugby is maturing, building infrastructure that will help homegrown talent compete on the world stage for generations to come.