Old Glory DC is the professional rugby union club representing the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in Major League Rugby (MLR). The team was founded in 2018 by Chris Dunlavey and Paul Sheehy, and the club’s name and logo were unveiled together in February 2019 ahead of its first MLR season in 2020. The visual identity combines a shield form with distinctly American and Washington-specific imagery.
Design and History
Old Glory DC revealed its name and logo on February 6, 2019. The announcement followed a fan-driven naming contest that drew close to 1,000 submissions, from which the club selected “Old Glory DC” as a name that “could only really work in Washington” and was inclusive of the region’s diverse community, according to co-owner Paul Sheehy. Co-owner Chris Dunlavey described the deeper meaning behind the choice: “Yes, it’s a flag, but Old Glory has been places. It’s battle-scarred. It’s weather-beaten. But still it flies proud.” [1]
The original logo features a shield design with a silhouette of the Capitol Building and a stylized US flag. [2] The team’s announcement stated that the final name and logo were selected because they speak to the region’s patriotism and the unique role of the city as the nation’s capital. [3]
The club was originally unveiled in May 2018 as an associate member of MLR and was confirmed as a full member for the 2020 season that November. [2] In 2019, the Scottish Rugby Union joined the partnership, committing both financial investment and operational support to the organization. [4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The club has published detailed explanations of the symbolism behind its identity. The shield is meant to represent “the most defining characteristic of our region: service to our country,” reflecting the military, federal agency, and government contractor workforce that comprises much of the greater Washington economy. [5]
The American flag depicted in the shield is not a generic flag but specifically Old Glory, the historic flag kept at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The club describes it as “weather-beaten and war-torn,” having “been places and seen things” around the world, and states that “it reflects the spirit of rugby.” The name itself traces to Captain William Driver, who named his flag “Old Glory” in 1824 and later added an anchor to it to commemorate his voyages to countries that today embrace rugby traditions. [5]
The club’s jersey also carries a Scottish flag or Saltire, described as “a reminder of the strength we draw from our partnership with the Scottish Rugby Union.” [5]
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