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Georgia
The Rugby Radar
A ball's eye view from the scrum.
Issue 11 / Vol. 2026 / July 7
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📣 Issue 11 • What's Inside
Exiles RFC announces an expanded 2026-27 fixture schedule, the Hotlanta 7s moves to a new home in Canton, a women's club keeps the gate open all summer, and rugby league's run-in gets real in Roswell.
The thread running through Issue 11 is one word: more. A club voting itself more Saturdays. A tournament trading up to a bigger ground. Doors propped open from Walker Park to Wood Street. Georgia rugby is not coasting through July.
Also in this issue:
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Exiles RFC will play 10 to 12 Men's XVs fixtures in 2026-27, with more home rugby for North Fulton. Lead Story below.
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The Hotlanta 7s has a new ground: Union Hill Polo Club in Canton, Saturday, July 25. Registration steps up to $500 on Monday, July 13. Tournament News below.
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High Country WRFC, the women's club that never locks the clubhouse. Club Spotlight below.
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The Copperheads close the regular season with a home date on July 18 and a community banquet on July 20. Adult Club Updates below.
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The summer sessions roundup: where to train, from Alpharetta to Augusta to Savannah. Summer Play below.
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A fresh whisper from Lady Trydown. Whispers below.
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🏉 Lead Story
EXILES RFC ANNOUNCES AN EXPANDED 2026-27 FIXTURE SCHEDULE
North Fulton is getting more rugby. A good deal more. Exiles RFC will play a board-approved slate of 10 to 12 Men's XVs fixtures in 2026-27, with additional home dates in Alpharetta and Milton, and the short version writes itself: more matches, more of them at home. The news comes from the club's announcement, posted to Instagram on Monday, July 6, 2026.
Alongside the expanded slate, the club confirmed it will not enter the state's qualifying competition for the National Championship Series this season. The club says the decision was its own choice, explaining that the competition's requirements are too restrictive for its long-term growth and player-retention plan. In the club's words, Exiles is "first and foremost a traditional rugby club," and the fuller fixture list is built to deliver more chances to play, stronger rivalries, visiting clubs on home turf, and revived traditions around match days.
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The Long View, In Their Words
The club's stated long-term vision: multiple Men's XVs sides, a full Women's XVs program, and a thriving Exiles Rugby Academy. The through-line is a club where players and families can stay for life.
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The announcement closes graciously, with the club wishing every side in the competition a successful season, and it signs off the way Exiles always do: "We are Exiles. Come Belong."
Fixture dates will land on the club's channels as the schedule firms up: exilesrugby.org • @exilesrugbyclub
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🏆 Tournament News
NEW GROUND: THE HOTLANTA 7s MOVES TO CANTON
The state's marquee summer sevens has a new home. The Hotlanta 7s, Saturday, July 25, moves to Union Hill Polo Club, 430 Roper Rd, Canton, a new and improved ground for 2026 per the organizers. If your club is entered, or you were planning to come watch, update the map pin: this one is not where it used to be. And yes, that means sevens on a polo ground. The turf has no idea what is coming.
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Sat July 25 • 8 AM to 5 PM • Union Hill Polo Club, Canton
THE ESSENTIALS
Men's and women's divisions, competitive and social, USA Rugby sanctioned with CIPP registration required and competitive rosters capped at 13 players. Check-in opens at 8 AM. Team registration is $450 now and steps up to $500 on Monday, July 13, so any side still deciding should lock it in before then. Athletic trainers will be onsite, drinks are available for purchase, and the post-party lands at Hyde Brewing in Milton.
Enter or learn more at atlantarugby.com/hotlanta7s.
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Who's In So Far
Confirmed entries the Radar is tracking: the Gwinnett Lions, Macon Love, the Atlanta Harlequins, and High Country WRFC (this issue's Club Spotlight, below). That list will grow. Taking a side? Tell the Radar and we will add you to the grid.
And the first team entry announced on the tournament's own feed: the Clamdigger Selects, in the Men's Social division.
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Two more notes. Alongside the tournament, a skills-evaluation combine run with Warfield Sports gives players a chance to be seen: $25 in advance, $30 day-of. And for families, the day is free to watch, runs all day, and makes an easy introduction to sevens rugby at full speed.
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🏉 Club Spotlight
ALWAYS OPEN: HIGH COUNTRY WRFC
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Some clubs guard the gate. High Country WRFC props it open. The Atlanta women's club, straight from the club to the Radar, trains Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 to 9 PM at Coan Park, and every session is open. New to rugby, back after years away, or just curious: show up and you will get reps.
The summer road is real, too. High Country travels to the Beer City 7s in Asheville, NC on Saturday, July 11, then lines up at the Hotlanta 7s on Saturday, July 25 at its new Canton ground. A fall 15s schedule is in the works, and the reveal will hit their Instagram first.
A women's side with a standing invitation and a summer calendar to match. If you have been waiting for a sign to try rugby, this is a friendly one. @highcountrywrfc
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🏉 Summer Play Is Open
OPEN PITCHES, MIDSUMMER EDITION
Tournaments are the headline, but the open sessions are the door in. The barrier is low, the sides are small, and beginners are welcome at most of what is running. Confirmed with the clubs directly, or fresh off their own feeds:
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Where to play, confirmed by the clubs
Atlanta Harlequins (Atlanta): Summer 7s practices Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:30 to 9:00 PM at Walker Park, 200 Memorial Terrace SE. Their invitation, verbatim: "All are welcome." The Quins arrive fresh off a run to the women's final at the Vulcan 7s in Birmingham, so the standard is high and the welcome is real. @ahwrfc |
High Country WRFC (Atlanta): practices Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 to 9 PM at Coan Park, always open. The full story is in the Club Spotlight above. @highcountrywrfc |
Augusta Furies (Augusta): the womxn's club is calling 2026 a rebuild year and making no apologies for it. Practices run Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00 to 7:30 PM at 100 Wood St, Augusta, and the comeback date is already booked: September 13 at home against Exiles Women, per the Augusta clubs' posted fall openers. Until then it is training, teaching, and rebuilding, and as the club puts it, "any little bit helps a lot." A DM is the best way in. @augusta.furies |
Exiles RFC (Alpharetta): the whole week runs through Innovation Academy. Kids Touch (ages 5 to 12) Tuesdays at 6 PM, Men's 7s Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 PM, and Community Touch Thursdays at 7 PM. @exilesrugbyacademy |
Southern Touch (Marietta): Sunday touch at Fair Oaks Park, with the next session Sunday, July 12, 1 to 3 PM. |
Gwinnett Lions (Lawrenceville area): Open 7s Thursdays at 6 PM and Saturdays at 2 PM, plus free youth summer sessions (ages 10 to 16) Thursdays 4 to 5:30 PM, all at Tribble Mill Park. @gwinnettlionsrfc |
Macon Love (Macon): Skills and Drills Tuesdays plus practice Thursdays, both at 6:30 PM at Carolyn Crayton Park. @maconloverugby |
Atlanta Renegades (Dunwoody): summer 7s Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 PM, split between Peachtree Middle School and Brook Run. @atlrenegadesrfc |
Savannah Shamrocks (Savannah): an Intro-to-Rugby session Saturday, July 11, 10:30 AM to noon at Daffin Park, built for first-timers, with more dates on July 26, August 15, and August 23. The club also runs Thursday community touch at Forsyth Park. @savannahshamrocks |
Beyond the metro: rugby does not stop at the perimeter. There are sides in Columbus, Savannah, Macon, Augusta, Gainesville, and beyond, and if you are anywhere in Georgia there is a club closer than you think. Find your nearest in the Adult Club directory below. |
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And a note from the east: the Athens Eagles men's side is taking a quiet summer by design, regrouping behind the scenes with an eye on possible tournament appearances. The women's side, the SHEagles, is anything but quiet: they host a recruitment Day at the Park on Saturday, July 11, 10 AM to 5 PM at Sandy Creek Park in Athens. The men will resurface on their own feeds when they are ready. Athens is not asleep, it is loading.
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This is a snapshot, not the full list. Running open sessions we missed?
Tell us →
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🏉 Adult Club Updates
THE COPPERHEADS' RUN-IN, AND A BANQUET FOR EVERYBODY
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Rugby league (the 13-a-side code) hits the business end of its first Atlanta summer. The Copperheads travel to the Sarasota Bullsharks on Saturday, July 11, then close the home regular season on Saturday, July 18 against the Tampa Mayhem at Roswell Area Park. The home date is free and family-friendly, and it is the last guaranteed chance to see the 13-a-side game in Roswell before the postseason picture sorts itself out.
About that postseason: the league's playoff ladder is posted, win-and-advance. Conference finals land Saturday, August 1 (venue TBD), with the national semifinals on Saturday, August 15 and the national championship on Saturday, August 29, both slated for Roswell Area Park. If the Copperheads advance, August playoff rugby lands right in their backyard. copperheadsrlfc.com
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Mon July 20 • 6 to 9 PM • Gate City Brewing, Roswell
END-OF-SEASON AWARDS BANQUET + PLAYOFF FUNDRAISER
The club caps the regular season with an awards night at Gate City Brewing in Roswell, Monday, July 20, 6 to 9 PM, open to fans and the community, with proceeds funding playoff travel. If you have been curious about the league crowd, this is the easy way in: no boots required.
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🎓 College Corner
A RESIDENCY IN MARIETTA, AND THE FALL WINDOW AHEAD
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Jul 23 to 29 • Marietta • Girls 13 to 17
LIFE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S GIRLS SUMMER RESIDENCY
For girls who want a real step up, Life University's women's program, the reigning 2026 national champions, runs a residential development camp on its Marietta campus July 23 to 29, for ages 13 to 17 at all skill levels. Technical and tactical work, strength, and leadership, with on-campus housing and meals, led by Director Ryszard Chadwick, a World Rugby Coach Educator, alongside current Life U players.
Registration is open, and spots are limited, per the program's July 7, 2026 post. Campers stay on campus at The Commons.
Residency $1,500 or commuter $850. Register through HomeTown Ticketing; questions to Director Ryszard Chadwick at ryszard.chadwick@life.edu. Details at liferunningeagles.com.
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UGA's men have posted their Fall 2026 schedule. The season opens Saturday, August 22, and the slate includes Auburn in Atlanta on Friday, October 30, and Clemson on Saturday, November 7. The full card is on the club's channels. @uga_rugby
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Elsewhere it is a quiet college summer, but the real recruiting window is almost here. When students land on campus in August, most college rugby clubs set up at the student activities fair, the club-rush tables where the majority of college players actually sign up, no experience required. UGA, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, UNG, and Life University all take walk-ons that way every fall. If your player is heading to one of these schools, the move is simple: find the rugby table in week one.
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Recruiting tool: collegerugbyportal.com is free, lists 900-plus college programs (men's and women's, D1 through club), and lets players filter by state and message coaches directly. Treat listings as a starting point and confirm details with the school.
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🏆 Tournament Watch • Georgia Clubs on Tour
WHO'S GOING WHERE
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Sat Jul 11, Beer City 7s, Asheville, NC. High Country WRFC makes the mountain trip. The Copperheads are also on the road the same day, away at the Sarasota Bullsharks.
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Sat Jul 18, Atlanta Copperheads vs the Tampa Mayhem, Roswell Area Park. Rugby league at home, free and family-friendly, last home date of the regular season.
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Sat Jul 25, Hotlanta 7s, Union Hill Polo Club, Canton. NEW VENUE. The state's biggest summer sevens; registration steps up to $500 on Monday, July 13 (the full story is in Tournament News above). atlantarugby.com/hotlanta7s
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Sat Aug 1, Beerfoot Beach 7s, DiamondHead Beach Resort, Fort Myers Beach, FL, a new beachfront venue for 2026. The Gwinnett Lions and Lady Lions are making the trip. Divisions for men (premier and social) and women, plus a cornhole tournament, a pub crawl, and a 5K, because beach rugby does not do things halfway. beerfoot7s.com
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Sat Aug 15, Shamrock 7s, Daffin Park, Savannah. The coast's summer sevens, hosted by the Savannah Shamrocks. Registration open.
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Also logged from the road: the 2.0 Selects, an Atlanta women's select side, have been touring the summer circuit too, including the Gulf Coast 7s down in Florida in June, per the club's own recap. @2.0selects
This is a snapshot, not the full grid. Taking your club to a tournament? Tell the Radar and we will track it.
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💬 Whispers from the Touchline
Lady Trydown
The anonymous dispatch on Georgia rugby. All rumor, all hearsay, all in good fun.
Dearest Reader,
The holiday smoke has cleared, the pitches sit quiet in the July heat, and quiet, as every reader of this column knows, is precisely when the best material walks in unannounced. This Author has been at her window.
On the tan-line honors list. Summer's truest trophy is not a medal but a jersey tan line sharp enough to slice a lime, and the honors list runs long indeed. The recipients wear sleeveless to the pool with the quiet dignity of the decorated, and this Author salutes every last one of them.
On white linen at the cookout. A certain gentleman, at a holiday cookout, declared "one quick game of touch" while dressed head to toe in white linen. The linen did not survive. The marriage, this Author is assured, is fine.
On the social visitor. A player has lately been spotted at another club's open summer sessions, "purely for the fitness." This Author observes only that loyalty, like sunscreen, requires reapplication in July.
On peaking in August. Several gentlemen are reportedly "saving themselves for the late-summer tournaments," a training regimen indistinguishable from a hammock. This Author admires the discipline. Also the hammock.
xo, Lady Trydown
Need to get something off your chest? Whisper it to Lady Trydown: Email Lady Trydown • @LadyTrydown on Instagram. All sources remain anonymous. Obviously.
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🎓 Train Up
GET CERTIFIED
Every club needs more refs and more coaches. No Georgia courses are on the calendar as of this issue, but the region has real options within driving distance, plus fully online routes. Register for all of them through the USA Rugby Learning Center via Rugby Xplorer. And remember: GA Youth Rugby reimburses certification costs for active referees and coaches, so the only thing between you and a badge is the sign-up.
| Sun Jul 12 • World Rugby Level 1 Referee, Charlotte, NC. The soonest in-person option. |
| Fri Jul 17 • World Rugby Level 1 Referee, Knoxville, TN. |
| Mon Aug 10 • Intro to Coaching, online, open nationally. Later runs on Sep 14, Oct 19, and Nov 9. |
| Sat Aug 29 • World Rugby Level 1 Coach, Tampa, FL. The nearest in-person L1 Coach course currently listed. |
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📅 Mark Your Calendars
DATES THAT MATTER
🏆 Tournament 🏕 Camp 🏉 Club program 🎓 Course
| 🏉 Tuesdays + Thursdays (weekly) • Atlanta Harlequins Summer 7s practice, 7:30 PM, Walker Park, Atlanta. All are welcome. |
| 🏉 Tuesdays + Thursdays (weekly) • High Country WRFC practice, 7 PM, Coan Park, Atlanta. Always open. |
| 🏉 Tuesdays + Thursdays (weekly) • Augusta Furies practice, 6:00 to 7:30 PM, 100 Wood St, Augusta. Rebuild year, newcomers welcome. |
| 🏉 Tuesdays + Thursdays (weekly) • Exiles RFC summer sessions, Innovation Academy, Alpharetta. Kids Touch Tue 6 PM; Men's 7s Tue & Thu 7 PM; Community Touch Thu 7 PM. |
| 🏕 Mon Jul 6 to Fri Jul 10 • Rebels Summer Skills & Drills Camp, Roswell Area Park. Ages 5-14, 9 AM to 1 PM. |
| 🏆 Sat Jul 11 • Beer City 7s, Asheville NC (High Country WRFC traveling). Copperheads away at Sarasota the same day. |
| 🏉 Sat Jul 11 • Savannah Shamrocks Intro-to-Rugby, 10:30 AM to noon, Daffin Park, Savannah. Beginners welcome. |
| 🏉 Sat Jul 11 • Athens SHEagles recruitment Day at the Park, 10 AM to 5 PM, Sandy Creek Park, Athens. |
| 🏉 Sun Jul 12 • Southern Touch Sunday session, 1 to 3 PM, Fair Oaks Park, Marietta. |
| 🎓 Sun Jul 12 • World Rugby L1 Referee course, Charlotte NC. |
| 🎓 Fri Jul 17 • World Rugby L1 Referee course, Knoxville TN. |
| 🏆 Sat Jul 18 • Atlanta Copperheads vs Tampa Mayhem, Roswell Area Park. Rugby league at home, come watch. |
| 🏉 Mon Jul 20 • Copperheads End-of-Season Awards Banquet + Playoff Fundraiser, Gate City Brewing, Roswell, 6-9 PM. Open to all. |
| 🏕 Jul 23-29 • Life U Women's Girls Summer Residency, Marietta. Girls 13-17. |
| 🏆 Sat Jul 25 • Hotlanta 7s, Union Hill Polo Club, Canton. NEW VENUE. Registration $500 from Monday, July 13. |
| 🏆 Sat Aug 1 • Beerfoot Beach 7s, Fort Myers Beach FL. Gwinnett Lions and Lady Lions traveling. |
| 🎓 Mon Aug 10 • Intro to Coaching course (online). |
| 🏆 Sat Aug 15 • Shamrock 7s, Daffin Park, Savannah. Registration open. |
| 🏉 Sat Aug 22 • UGA men's fall opener. Full card on @uga_rugby. |
| 🎓 Sat Aug 29 • World Rugby L1 Coach course, Tampa FL. |
| 🏉 Sat Sep 12 • Rebels Open House, Roswell. Fall-season kickoff, come try rugby. |
| 🏉 Sep 13 • Augusta Furies comeback match vs Exiles Women, 100 Wood St, Augusta. |
| 🏉 Sat Oct 3 • Rebels on Parade, Roswell 76th Youth Day, 8 AM. Whole club marches, all ages. |
Playoff watch: the rugby league postseason runs Sat Aug 1 (conference finals, venue TBD), Sat Aug 15 (national semifinals), and Sat Aug 29 (national championship), with the semifinals and final slated for Roswell Area Park, an unusually short road trip if the home side keeps winning.
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Sponsored • Community Partner
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Rebels Rugby Youth GA
Every kid belongs on the pitch.
U6 to U18 coed • Greater Roswell, GA
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Summer Skills & Drills Camp is underway: about 19 kids took the pitch for day one on Monday, July 6, and camp runs through Friday, July 10, 9 AM to 1 PM at Roswell Area Park. Ages 5 to 14, all abilities, certified coaches: ball handling, kicking and bag drills, development and scrimmages, with special guest drop-ins. rebelsrugbyga.com.
Looking ahead: Rebels Open House, Saturday, September 12 (the fall season starts here), plus Rebels on Parade at Roswell's 76th Youth Day, Saturday, October 3 at 8 AM. The whole club marches, all ages, U6 to high school.
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🏉 New to Rugby?
FIND A YOUTH CLUB
Boys, girls, all ages. Every club below welcomes beginners. No experience needed.
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🎓 Heading to College?
FIND A GA COLLEGE TEAM
Georgia colleges with active rugby. Men's, women's, both. Most are club-level and welcome beginners. If your player is heading to one of these schools, the rugby team is a way in, and most are recruiting for the fall right now, so reach out over the summer. (And for the full national picture, see the College Rugby Portal callout above.)
| Life University • Marietta • Men D1, Women D1, Club • 2026 national champions (women) liferunningeagles.com |
| University of Georgia • Athens • Men's club, Women's club ugarugby.com |
| Georgia Tech • Atlanta • Men's, Women's @gtrugby @gtwrfc |
| Kennesaw State • Kennesaw • Men's, Women's @ksuowlsrugby |
| University of North Georgia • Dahlonega • Men's Nighthawks, Women's @ungmensrugby |
| Georgia College & State University • Milledgeville • Men's Bobcats, Women's @brcgcsu |
| Valdosta State (men's) • Valdosta • On hiatus, working toward a Fall 2026 return @vsu_rugby |
| Georgia Southern University • Statesboro • Women's club active @georgiasouthernwomensrugby |
| Morehouse College • Atlanta • HBCU men's club @houserugby |
| Emory University • Atlanta • Women's club • Practice Tue/Thu 7-9 PM, SAAC field @emorywomensrugby |
| A college we missed? Tip the Radar → |
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🏉 Still Playing After 18?
FIND AN ADULT CLUB
Men's and women's clubs across the state. And rugby in Georgia is not just metro Atlanta: there are sides in Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Gainesville, Athens, and beyond. Whether you played in college, played as a kid, or never touched a ball, there's a squad for you.
Featured Club Listing
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ATLANTA COPPERHEADS RLFC
Rugby league has come to Atlanta.
Open men's & women's (13-a-side) • Roswell Area Park
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At home Saturday, July 18, vs the Tampa Mayhem. Recruiting now for the summer season. Training Tuesdays & Fridays, 6:30 PM at Roswell Area Park. Open to players from any union or gridiron background. Details at copperheadsrlfc.com.
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| Atlanta Copperheads RLFC • Roswell • Rugby league, men's & women's • Tue/Fri 6:30 PM copperheadsrlfc.com |
| Atlanta Old White RFC • Atlanta • Men D2/D3, Women, 7s atlantarugby.com |
| Atlanta Harlequins Women's RFC • Atlanta • Women's D1 • Only D1 women's team in the Southeast @ahwrfc |
| Atlanta 2.0 Selects • Marietta • Women's • Mon/Wed 7 PM, new players welcome @2.0selects |
| Atlanta Women's Premier Rugby • Atlanta • Women's • New players welcome, interest form in bio @atlwomens_premierrugby |
| Atlanta Renegades RFC • Atlanta • Men's • Summer 7s atlantarenegades.com |
| Exiles RFC • Alpharetta • Senior men's and women's • Tue/Thu 7 PM, Innovation Academy @exilesrugbyclub |
| Gwinnett Lions RFC • Lilburn • Men, Women • Open 7s Thu, Tribble Mill Park gwinnettlionsrfc.com |
| Atlanta Bucks RFC • Atlanta • Gay and inclusive club • Mon/Wed 7:30 PM @atlantabucksrfc |
| High Country RFC • Atlanta • Men's, Women's • Hosts Peach Pitch • Practice Tue/Thu, Coan Park @highcountrywrfc |
| Athens Eagles RFC • Athens • Men's & Women's, est. 2008 athensrugby.org |
| Macon Love RFC • Macon • Practice Tue/Thu 6:30 PM @maconloverugby |
| Columbus Cruisers RFC • Columbus • Men's • Hosts Hotter than Hell 7s • Tue/Thu 7 PM @cruisersrugby |
| Gainesville RUFC • Gainesville, GA • Est. 2017 @gainesvillerufc |
| Augusta Maddogs RFC • Augusta • Men's • Practice Tue/Thu 6:30 PM @augustarugby |
| Augusta Furies • Augusta • Women's • Practice Tue/Thu 6-7:30 PM @augusta.furies |
| Savannah Shamrocks RFC • Savannah • Men's, Women's • Hosts Shamrock 7s rugbysavannah.com |
More Georgia clubs: georgiarugby.org/clubs
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GOT A TIP? HOSTING AN EVENT?
Send us your events, corrections, news, and tips. Tournament results, club updates, coaching announcements, alumni news. If it's rugby in Georgia, we want to hear it.
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No club allegiance. No union politics. No hype. Just every level of Georgia rugby, U6 to pro, 85 clubs and programs tracked, free every week.
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THE RUGBY RADAR
A ball's eye view from the scrum.
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Issue 11 • July 7, 2026 • © 2026 The Rugby Radar
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