FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — (Washington, DC – September 19, 2019) Old Glory DC is honored to announce that John Manson has been named Operations Manager, establishing him as the first full-time hire for the professional rugby team.
John Manson comes to Washington after serving as Rugby Operations Manager with Glasgow Warriors, one of Scottish Rugby’s two professional teams in the Guinness Pro14, the European rugby union competition. During his tenure at Glasgow, the team won the Guinness Pro12 league championship in 2015 and made it to the European Rugby Champions Cup quarterfinals in 2017 and 2019. Before Glasgow Warriors, Manson spent nine years with Scottish Rugby as Scotland U18 Manager, Scotland U20 Manager, and Scotland 7s Team Manager.
During Old Glory DC’s four-game exhibition season late spring of this year, Manson traveled to Washington, DC to evaluate and assist with team operations on behalf of Scottish Rugby. It was immediately apparent that Manson’s dedication to team culture and values aligned with the ownership team’s vision of rugby for Washington, DC and the Mid-Atlantic region.
“We’ve completed a thorough search for an Operations Manager, combing through candidates from the local market and our rugby community as well as around the world,” said chairman Chris Dunlavey. “Hands down, John was the best candidate we could have found.”
“If we’re going to build one of the great rugby organizations in the world, we’ll need to draw on all of rugby’s best practices and traditions, and John can help us do that” added owner Paul Sheehy. “This is another in a series of examples of how Old Glory’s partnership with Scottish Rugby will yield synergies that will work to the benefit of both organizations.”
“The opportunity to move to Washington, DC and continue to work within rugby was one that I really couldn’t turn down,” John Manson adds. “During my visit earlier this year I saw first-hand the genuine enthusiasm there is to bring professional rugby to DC. This along with the owners’ vision for the club and the huge potential the area has in terms of coach and player development made it an easy choice.”
John Manson’s hire further strengthens Old Glory DC’s transatlantic partnership with Scottish Rugby. “The support of Scottish Rugby and growing the link between Old Glory DC and professional rugby in Scotland was something that also made the role very attractive,” John Manson concluded.
Scottish Rugby’s Chief Operating Officer and Old Glory DC Board Director, Dominic McKay said, “I am delighted that someone with John’s calibre is going to be taking on the role of Operations Manager at Old Glory DC. It is going to be a really exciting season ahead and I am confident that John will thrive in this environment. I wish him all the best and look forward to working with him in his new role.”
A native of Tillicoultry in Scotland, Manson has been a life-long champion for rugby. In 1995 he was one of the first players to sign a professional contract with Scottish Rugby when the game went open, playing professionally for the Caledonia Reds and representing the Scotland National team before stepping into various managerial roles within the sport.
About Old Glory DC:
Old Glory DC is a professional rugby team based in Washington, DC that will enter league competition with Major League Rugby (MLR) in February of 2020. Playing its home games at Catholic University’s Cardinal Stadium, Old Glory will compete in MLR’s Eastern Conference against teams from Atlanta, New England, New Orleans, New York and Toronto, as well as play games against Western Conference teams Austin, Glendale, Houston, San Diego, Seattle, and Utah. For more information and to join our email list, please visit www.oldglorydc.com
About Scottish Rugby:
Scottish Rugby is the governing body for rugby union in Scotland. Our role is to grow the game and inspire Scotland through rugby in line with our values of respect, leadership, achievement, engagement and enjoyment. We are based at BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh and we administer Scotland’s international rugby teams, the country’s two professional clubs (Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors) as well as the domestic fixtures for clubs and schools across Scotland. For more information, visit scottishrugby.org.
About Major League Rugby:
Major League Rugby (MLR) is a professional rugby league that launched in April of 2018 and will entering its third season in February of 2020. It is an initiative driven by members of the North American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that North American Rugby can thrive at the highest levels: as an influential entity within international rugby; as a participation sport at the youth & senior levels; and as a commercial enterprise. MLR is the pinnacle of American rugby and provides a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes. For more information, visit https://www.majorleague.rugby
