Old Glory DC is excited to welcome Sam Cusano and D’montae Noble to the Old Glory 2021 squad. On January 29th, Major League Rugby held a Supplementary Draft to reallocate eligible Dallas Jackals players, due to the team’s delay of its inaugural season. The Draft also included six collegiate rugby players who were granted a waiver from participation in the MLR Collegiate Draft 2020, due to COVID-specific extenuating circumstances.  Old Glory DC held the 10th spot in the 12-team order.  Similar to athletes drafted during the MLR Collegiate Draft 2020, teams will retain the rights to draftees until midway through the MLR season (May 17th, 2021).

About Sam Cusano

Hailing from Sacramento, CA, Cusano is a product of the California player pathway. The back attended and played both varsity rugby and football at Granite Bay High School. In 2016, Cusano won the Boys High School Club national championship with the Granite Bay rugby club.

Continuing his national championship appearances, Cusano also helped raise gold in college on the Cal Rugby squad during the 2017 Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC), the highest-profile college rugby tournament in the US.

Cusano has been in USA Rugby’s sights and was named to the 12-man roster representing the Collegiate 7s All-Americans in August of 2019 at the RugbyTown 7s in Glendale, Colorado. While the Cal Rugby team’s season was unfortunately canceled due to COVID-19 in 2020, Cusano finished his collegiate career as a 4-time Collegiate All-American in both 7’s and 15’s and was honored as the Most Valuable Player during the Rugby National Sevens Tournament in 2017.

“I am very excited to be joining Old Glory this season and grateful for the opportunity to continue my rugby career in the MLR,” said the back. “The team and coaching staff have been extremely welcoming and have made me feel at home since I’ve been here.  It’s awesome to be joining an organization with such a great team culture and to be able to train and compete in a high-performance environment every day.”

Sam Cusano leaves the sun-soaked west coast to join ranks with former Cal Rugby teammate Jack Iscaro, this spring on the pitch.

“I am most looking forward to experiencing the new city. Having lived my whole life on the west coast, there’s something really special about being in the nation’s capital and having access to the museums, monuments, and historical buildings that have been around since the foundation of this country.”

About D’montae Noble

Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Noble will return to Greater Washington to play for Old Glory and add depth to the team’s backline.  A known 7s speedster mixed with 15s endurance, Noble started playing rugby at just eight years old.  He attended George Mason High School in Falls Church, Virginia, and played varsity football and basketball.

Enrolling at Kutztown University, Noble made the switch back to rugby, solidifying his ambitions within the sport. The wing caught notable rugby press for his lethal steps, speed, and his elusiveness at 7s and 15s collegiate tournaments all around the country.  Catching the eyes of USA Rugby coaches, Noble was invited to attend several developmental tournaments and don the USA 7s gameday kit during the US Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

Noble will join the Old Glory DC squad in 2021 with high spirits. The back is over the moon to be back in Washington, DC.

“It feels like I won the lottery in my head because I’m from the area and my family is here,” said the wing. “Family is everything to me!”