Cory and Brady Daniel, two brothers from Fulton, Maryland, have carved out impressive rugby careers with Old Glory DC, transitioning from wrestling and football into professional rugby. Their journey highlights the growing appeal of rugby for athletes from other sports and the development of the sport in the United States.
Cory, born in 1995, attended River Hill High School, where he played football and wrestled. He went on to wrestle at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for five years before considering a return to football. However, his college wrestling coach suggested he try rugby, leading to an invitation to a combine in Glendale, Colorado, and eventually an academy placement. “I fell in love with it,” Cory said. “Rugby provided a pathway for college athletes like me to try something new.” He joined Old Glory DC in 2020, while Brady played in Colorado before joining him in 2023.
Brady, born in 1999, started his high school years at River Hill High School before transferring to Good Counsel in Olney, where he graduated in 2017. He was a standout athlete in football, and wrestling, competing in national tournaments. He later wrestled at Arizona State University but shifted his focus to rugby in 2021. “I got into rugby because of my brother,” Brady said. Instead of finishing at Arizona State, he moved to Glendale, Colorado, where he joined the American Raptors, a team designed for crossover athletes. His football and wrestling background translated well to rugby, and he ultimately joined Old Glory DC, where he has continued to develop his skills.
Both brothers emphasize rugby’s unique appeal. “Rugby is a game for everyone—any age group, skill level, or size,” Brady said. “It’s fast-paced, high-impact, and technical. When you watch at home, you see the physicality, but being in the crowd lets you see everything up close.” Cory echoed that sentiment, saying, “Even if you don’t know the sport, it brings the hard hits of football with the nonstop action of soccer—no timeouts, no stoppages.”
Old Glory DC competes nationwide, traveling to cities like Seattle and Los Angeles, and is currently in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-2 record, recently defeating the reigning champions at home. The team is also invested in developing future talent through Young Glory, its pathway program for middle school, high school, and some college athletes. “The great thing about Young Glory is that coaches from the pro team train the next generation of players—potential prospects five years down the road,” Cory said. “We also step in to help train them.”
Old Glory DC plays its home games at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown. Tickets are available at www.OldGloryDC.com.
As rugby continues to grow in the United States, Cory and Brady serve as examples of how athletes from other sports can successfully transition into the game. Their journeys underscore rugby’s accessibility and the opportunities it provides for crossover athletes looking for a new challenge.
