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Georgia
The Rugby Radar
A ball's eye view from the scrum.
Issue 13 / Vol. 2026 / July 21, 2026
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📣 Issue 13 • What's Inside
The Hotlanta 7s arrives Saturday, the fall season wakes up across Georgia, and the Radar opens a home on the web.
Issue 13 catches Georgia rugby right at the turn. The biggest summer sevens weekend lands Saturday, July 25 in Canton, and at the very same time the fall game is switching on: new coaches walking in, new girls sides forming, free clinics running from Red Top to Alpharetta. The pitches never really emptied. Now they are filling back up.
Also in this issue:
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The Hotlanta 7s arrives Saturday, July 25: 34 teams at Union Hill Polo Club, free to watch, and a full spectator guide. Lead Story below.
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The fall season wakes up: new coaches at UGA and Exiles, new girls programs, and clinics on the calendar. The Season Wakes Up below.
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The Club Spotlight heads to the coast: the Savannah Shamrocks. Club Spotlight below.
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Where the summer pitches are still open, Atlanta to Augusta. Summer Play below.
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A girls residency camp in Marietta, July 23 to 29, run by the reigning 2026 women's national champions. College Corner below.
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Fresh whispers from Lady Trydown. Whispers below.
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📡 Now Live
The Radar Now Has a Home on the Web
Thirteen issues in your inbox, and now a fixed address. Browse every club in Georgia, sort by division and region, dig through the archive, and send in your own club, events, and photos, all in one place. The Radar finally has a front door, and it is open.
Explore the Radar →
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🏆 Lead Story
THE HOTLANTA 7s ARRIVES SATURDAY
For one Saturday a year, a polo club in Canton becomes the center of Georgia rugby. The 16th annual Hotlanta 7s runs Saturday, July 25, 8 AM to 5 PM at Union Hill Polo Club, 430 Roper Rd, Canton (the organizers are emphatic about this: not Roswell), and it arrives at full stretch: 34 teams across four brackets, men's and women's, ten vendors deep, a DJ on the pitch. Playing? Registration is long closed. Watching? The gate is open, and it costs nothing.
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Sat July 25 • 8 AM to 5 PM • Union Hill Polo Club, Canton
THE SPECTATOR'S GUIDE
The day is free to watch, runs morning to evening, and makes an easy first look at sevens rugby at full speed. A few things worth knowing before you go. Parking is limited, so carpool if you can: cars park in the arena lot, trucks on the grass, and nobody parks on the entrance road. If it rains, parking shifts to Antioch Christian Church, 3595 Sugar Pike Rd. Dogs are welcome on a leash, and concessions are for sale on site.
On the food: Hyde Brewing, Big Toko BBQ (the Polynesian plate that sold out by the end of the day last year), UgalimanKitchen, and King of Pops. Rounding out the vendor row: iCryo recovery, BallsOut Rugby gear, Point South Sports Media, Progressive Medical Center, Marietta Physical Rehab, BridgePoint Wellbeing, and the Carr Group. An ambulance and three athletic trainers are on site all day.
When the last whistle goes, the post-party lands at Hyde Brewing in Milton, with DJ Armageddon Sound on the Pitch Party. Full details at atlantarugby.com/hotlanta7s.
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For the Teams
Registration is closed and the field is set at 34 teams, with Mike Ryan directing. Still hoping to squeeze a side in? The waiting list runs through hotlanta@atlantarugby.com. And alongside the tournament, a skills-evaluation combine run with Warfield Sports gives players a chance to be seen: $25 in advance, $30 day-of.
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Who's Coming
Sides are rolling in from around the Southeast. In the men's field, watch for NOLA Rugby and Safari Select 7s; in the men's social bracket, Apex 7s and Birmingham Rugby; and in the women's social bracket, Gainesville RUFC Women and a Georgia select women's side. On the home front, the Atlanta Renegades and the Gwinnett Lady Lions have both confirmed they are making the trip to Canton. That is a snapshot, not the full 34. Is your club in? Tell the Radar and we will add you to the grid.
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🏉 The Season Wakes Up
FALL IS ALREADY MOVING
The summer sides are still training, but look closer and the fall game is switching on. New coaches are arriving, new programs are opening their doors, and one throughline runs through all of it: girls rugby is expanding across the state.
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New on the sideline
Up in Athens, the UGA men's club has a new head coach. In the club's own words, “former Bulldog Jesse Posnansky has come back to Athens to step into a head coaching role for the dawgs this season.” The fall slate is posted, with the opener set for Saturday, August 22. @uga_rugby
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Girls rugby is opening doors
Exiles in Alpharetta are launching a U19 Girls program: high-school ages 14 to 18, from any school, led by World Rugby-certified women coaches, no experience required. First training is Thursday, August 6, 7 PM at the Innovation Academy Lower Field. Sign up at join@exilesrugby.org.
At the University of North Georgia, the women's side says “a brand new season is officially on the way,” and is running a try-rugby day on Sunday, August 16 in Dahlonega. No experience needed.
And in Roswell, Rebels Rugby just announced its high-school girls coaching team: “Our girls just got a coaching team,” with Coach Timmy Swanson as Girls Head Coach and Coach Damon Duncan alongside him. Between Exiles, North Georgia, and the Rebels, the girls game is opening more doors this fall than it has in years. (More on the Rebels in their card below.)
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Exiles men's XVs
Exiles have also named Erik Saxon as their new men's XVs coach, joining head coach Marcus Hall and assistant Eric Hellman. The men's fall opener is Saturday, August 29, away at the Augusta Maddogs, with the full slate on the club's site. @exilesrugbyclub
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Clinics coming up
Atlanta Youth Rugby is running a set of half-day clinics: Rugby 101 on Friday, July 24 at Red Top and again Sunday, July 26 in Alpharetta, plus a Half-Day Kicking Clinic on Saturday, July 25 in Alpharetta. All three run 9 AM to noon. Register at PlayAYR.com.
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🏉 Club Spotlight
SAVANNAH SHAMROCKS
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Four hours southeast of the Atlanta traffic, rugby is thriving on the coast. The Savannah Shamrocks are back-to-back champions in 2025 and 2026, and this summer they have turned themselves into a welcome machine. Their calling card is the Rookie Day: free, no-experience-needed intro sessions running all summer long at Daffin Park, the kind of low-pressure front door that turns a curious newcomer into a player.
The sessions keep coming: Sunday, July 26 (10:30 AM to noon), Saturday, August 1 (2:30 to 4 PM), and on through August, including Sunday, August 23. The club also hosts the Shamrock 7s at Daffin Park on Saturday, August 15 (details with the club).
Big following, open door, and a summer spent saying yes to newcomers: the Shamrocks are a model for how a club grows itself. Follow along at @savannahshamrocks, or find them at rugbysavannah.com.
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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. A snapshot of what the clubs have re-confirmed to the Radar directly:
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Where to play
Atlanta Harlequins (Atlanta): Summer 7s practices Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:30 to 9:00 PM at Walker Park. Their invitation, verbatim: "All are welcome." The women's side took silver at the Vulcan 7s in Birmingham, a run that leaned on first-time sevens players. Their 15s season opens Saturday, August 29 at home against Atlanta 2.0, with a preseason meeting Sunday, August 2. @ahwrfc |
High Country (Atlanta): practices Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 to 9 PM at Coan Park, and every session is open. The men's side trains the same nights. New to rugby, back after years away, or just curious: show up and you will get reps. @highcountrywrfc |
Augusta Furies (Augusta): practices Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00 to 7:30 PM in Augusta. Newcomers welcome, and a DM is the best way in. @augusta.furies |
Macon Love (Macon): practices Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30 to 8:00 PM at Carolyn Crayton Park, and the club is recruiting for the season. They are Hotlanta-bound on Saturday, July 25 too. @maconloverugby |
Southern Touch (Marietta): the next Sunday Touch session is Sunday, July 26, 11 AM to 1 PM at Fair Oaks Park. For the one after that, check the Atlanta Touch Rugby group on Facebook. |
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New to the game? The directories at the bottom of this issue run the full state, youth to college to adult. And a note for families: at the youth level, girls play coed at most Georgia programs, so the door is open there too.
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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
AROUND THE SENIOR GAME
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Beer City 7s. The Beer City 7s wrapped in Asheville, and the organizer has now named the champions: the Hot Dawgs took the men's title and Select 2.0 the women's. No score was published anywhere, so that is exactly as much as the record supports. The Atlanta Renegades, who made the trip, described themselves as "scoreless defensively going into the final," a good note to end a long weekend on.
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Atlanta Copperheads. Georgia's rugby league side called time on 2026 with an awards banquet at Gate City Brewing on Monday, July 20, sweat-equity award and all. Eyes now firmly on 2027. copperheadsrlfc.com
Atlanta Bucks. The Bucks, Atlanta's gay and inclusive club, are Brisbane-bound: the side is preparing for the 2026 Bingham Cup in Australia, the biggest stage in inclusive rugby, with a merch and fundraiser push running to help get them there.
Atlanta Women's Premier Rugby has awarded its first and second caps and is actively recruiting, with a registration form in the club's bio. (Not to be confused with the long-dormant Georgia Women's Premier Rugby: different club.)
A milestone: the High Country men's side turns 50 in 2026. Est. 1975, and still running out on Tuesday and Thursday nights at Coan Park.
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🎓 College Corner
A RESIDENCY IN MARIETTA, AND THE FALL WINDOW AHEAD
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Thu July 23 to Wed July 29 • Marietta • Girls 13 to 17
LIFE UNIVERSITY GIRLS SUMMER RESIDENCY
Life University's women's program, the reigning 2026 women's national champions, hosts a residential development camp on its Marietta campus from Thursday, July 23 to Wednesday, July 29, for girls 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 closing and spots are limited.
Residency $1,500 or commuter $850. Questions to Director Ryszard Chadwick at ryszard.chadwick@life.edu. Details at liferunningeagles.com.
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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 July 25, Hotlanta 7s, Union Hill Polo Club, Canton. The full story is the Lead above. Spectators free, 8 AM to 5 PM. atlantarugby.com/hotlanta7s
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Sat Aug 1, Beerfoot Beach 7s, DiamondHead Beach Resort, Fort Myers Beach, FL. The Gwinnett Lions and Lady Lions are making the trip. beerfoot7s.com
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Sat Aug 15, a two-front Georgia Saturday. The Shamrock 7s runs at Daffin Park, Savannah, hosted by the Savannah Shamrocks (details with the club), while Macon Love and the Atlanta Renegades both tell the Radar they are taking the beach trip to PCB 7s in Panama City Beach, FL the same day.
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Sat Nov 7, Palms & Pines Cup, Round 1: Exiles RFC away at the Hilton Head Gators, Hilton Head SC. And on the world stage, the Atlanta Bucks are Brisbane-bound for the 2026 Bingham Cup.
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Wherever Georgia clubs travel, the Radar wants the itinerary. Taking your side on the road? 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 summer air is thick, the kit bags are being reopened after their long hibernation, and the material, dear reader, has never been riper. This Author simply reports what floats to her window on the warm evening breeze.
The Gear Bag Archaeologist. Word reaches me of a gentleman who, upon finally emptying his kit bag ahead of the new season, discovered three odd socks, a mouthguard of unknown provenance, and a permission slip dated 2019. My correspondents assure me the bag has since been declared a protected historic site. The mouthguard, I'm told, has been returned to the wild.
The Voluntary Beach Session. It has come to my attention that a certain captain's "optional" beach conditioning session drew precisely two attendees: the captain, and a labradoodle named Biscuit who outperformed him in the shuttle runs. Biscuit has been offered the captaincy. Negotiations continue over treats.
The Raffle Basket. My spies report a club fundraiser raffle whose grand prize basket contained, among other delights, a bottle of wine donated by the same gentleman who won it back, for the third consecutive year. The wine remains unopened. The system, gentle reader, is undefeated.
The Laminated Playbook. Word arrives of a coach who laminated his new season playbook against the elements, only to discover that dry-erase markers do not survive an afternoon in a Georgia July. The season's opening move is therefore a mystery to all, including, my correspondents whisper, the coach himself.
And to the gentleman who returned the team tent with one pole missing: I know where it went. You know who you are.
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.
| Mon Aug 10 • Intro to Coaching, online, open nationally. Later runs on Sep 14 and Oct 19. |
| Sat Aug 29 • World Rugby Level 1 Coach, Tampa, FL. The nearest in-person L1 Coach course currently listed. |
| Sat Sep 5 • World Rugby Level 1 Referee, Charleston, SC. |
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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 practice, 7 PM, Coan Park, Atlanta. Always open. |
| 🏉 Tuesdays + Thursdays (weekly) • Augusta Furies practice, 6:00 to 7:30 PM, Augusta. Newcomers welcome. |
| 🏉 Tuesdays + Thursdays (weekly) • Macon Love practice, 6:30 PM, Carolyn Crayton Park, Macon. |
| 🏕 Thu Jul 23 to Wed Jul 29 • Life U Girls Summer Residency, Marietta. Girls 13 to 17. |
| 🏉 Fri Jul 24 • AYR Half-Day Rugby 101, Red Top. PlayAYR.com. |
| 🏆 Sat Jul 25 • Hotlanta 7s, Union Hill Polo Club, Canton. Spectators free, 8 AM to 5 PM. |
| 🏉 Sat Jul 25 • AYR Half-Day Kicking Clinic, Alpharetta. |
| 🏉 Sun Jul 26 • AYR Half-Day Rugby 101, Alpharetta. |
| 🏉 Sun Jul 26 • Savannah Shamrocks Rookie Day, Daffin Park, Savannah, 10:30 AM to noon. |
| 🏉 Sun Jul 26 • Southern Touch Sunday Touch, Fair Oaks Park, Marietta, 11 AM to 1 PM. |
| 🏆 Sat Aug 1 • Beerfoot Beach 7s, Fort Myers Beach FL. Gwinnett Lions and Lady Lions traveling. |
| 🏉 Sat Aug 1 • Savannah Shamrocks Rookie Day, Daffin Park, 2:30 to 4 PM. |
| 🏉 Sun Aug 2 • Atlanta Harlequins preseason meeting. |
| 🏉 Thu Aug 6 • Exiles U19 Girls first training, 7 PM, Innovation Academy. |
| 🎓 Mon Aug 10 • Intro to Coaching course (online). |
| 🏆 Sat Aug 15 • Shamrock 7s, Daffin Park, Savannah. Details with the club. |
| 🏆 Sat Aug 15 • PCB 7s, Panama City Beach FL. Macon Love and Atlanta Renegades traveling. |
| 🏉 Sun Aug 16 • UNG Women try-rugby day, Dahlonega. No experience needed. |
| 🏉 Sat Aug 22 • UGA Men fall opener. |
| 🏉 Sun Aug 23 • Savannah Shamrocks Rookie Day, Daffin Park. |
| 🏉 Sat Aug 29 • Exiles men's XVs opener at Augusta Maddogs. |
| 🏉 Sat Aug 29 • Atlanta Harlequins opener vs Atlanta 2.0. |
| 🎓 Sat Aug 29 • World Rugby L1 Coach course, Tampa FL. |
| 🎓 Sat Sep 5 • World Rugby L1 Referee course, Charleston SC. |
| 🏉 Sat Sep 12 • Rebels Open House and Gear Exchange, Roswell Area Park. |
| 🏆 Sat Nov 7 • Palms & Pines Cup, Round 1: Exiles RFC at Hilton Head Gators, Hilton Head SC. |
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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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Just announced: the Rebels named their high-school girls coaching team, with Coach Timmy Swanson leading as Girls Head Coach alongside Coach Damon Duncan. And Summer Skills & Drills Camp is a wrap: the club ran camp Monday, July 6 through Friday, July 10 at Roswell Area Park, ages 5 to 14, all abilities. "Best. Camp. Yet." rebelsrugbyga.com.
Looking ahead: the Rebels Open House and Gear Exchange lands Saturday, September 12 at Roswell Area Park, the fall season's front door, ages K to 18. Registration alerts sign-up is live at rebelsrugbyga.com.
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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, so reach out over the summer. (And for the full national picture, see the College Rugby Portal callout above.)
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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, Savannah, 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
The Copperheads' 2026 campaign is a wrap. Now comes the rebuild: the club is recruiting for the 2027 season, players from any background welcome, no rugby league experience required. Details at copperheadsrlfc.com.
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| Atlanta Copperheads RLFC • Roswell • Rugby league, men's & women's copperheadsrlfc.com |
| Atlanta Old White RFC • Atlanta • Men's, Women's, 7s • Hosts the Hotlanta 7s atlantarugby.com |
| Atlanta Harlequins Women's RFC • Atlanta • Women's D1 • Founded 1984 @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 |
| Atlanta Bucks RFC • Atlanta • Gay and inclusive club • Mon/Wed 7:30 PM @atlantabucksrfc |
| High Country RFC • Atlanta • Men's (est. 1975), Women's • Hosts Peach Pitch • Tue/Thu, Coan Park @highcountrywrfc |
| Athens Eagles RFC • Athens • Men's & Women's, est. 2008 athensrugby.org |
| Macon Love RFC • Macon • Men's & Women's • Practice Tue/Thu 6:30 PM @maconloverugby |
| Columbus Cruisers RFC • Columbus • Men's • Tue/Thu 7 PM @cruisersrugby |
| Gainesville RUFC • Gainesville, GA • Est. 2017 @gainesvillerufc |
| Augusta Maddogs RFC • Augusta • Men's @augustarugby |
| Augusta Furies • Augusta • Women's, est. 1999 • 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: therugbyradar.com
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First TRY Discount
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That's about 23 issues left. Just a few dollars a week for a card that works every one of them. First come, first served.
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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.
Email the Radar →
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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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therugbyradar.com • @therugbyradar • @LadyTrydown
Issue 13 • July 21, 2026 • © 2026 The Rugby Radar
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