Major League Rugby Introduces the “S. Marcus Calloway Community Impact Award”

New postseason award honors MLR player who has made a positive impact in their community while exuding the values of the sport of rugby

(DALLAS) May 25, 2022 – Major League Rugby (MLR) today announced the introduction of the “S. Marcus Calloway Community Impact Award”.

The award, named for the late S. Marcus Calloway, former chairman and majority owner of Rugby ATL, will be awarded to the player who shows passion, excellence and integrity on and off the field, inspires others to action, shows strength in character, aids those less fortunate, and embraces the core values of rugby, while displaying solidarity, discipline and respect. 

Each Major League Rugby team will nominate one player each year for the award, with a committee made up of MLR Commissioner George Killebrew, Deputy Commissioner Bill Goren and Marcus’ widow Clea Calloway, selecting the winner from the 13 nominees. The winning player will be presented with a commemorative trophy and a $5,000 donation to the non-profit of their choice at the MLR Championship Final.

“The goal of the S. Marcus Calloway Community Impact Award is to honor Marcus’ leadership and legacy in Major League Rugby while celebrating our players that are committed to making a positive difference in the communities they live in,” Commissioner George Killebrew said. “With this award, Marcus’ commitment to helping his community and inspiring others’ lives on forever through his passion – Major League Rugby”.

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About S. Marcus Calloway: The award is named for the late S. Marcus Calloway, former chairman and majority owner of Rugby ATL. Calloway was an attorney who practiced real estate law for nearly 50 years, but his true love was Rugby. He was dedicated to expanding the footprint of Rugby in Atlanta and the greater southeast area of the United States. In 2017, Calloway felt Atlanta needed a world-class Rugby team. Calloway founded Rugby ATL and under his ownership, Rugby ATL won the Eastern Conference Championship in 2021. Calloway passed away in December 2021. 

About Major League Rugby:  Major League Rugby is a professional sports league in its fifth season and represents the highest level of rugby competition in North America. The League evolved from seven teams in 2018, to 13 teams in 2022, featuring 12 from the United States and one from Canada. Matches are televised on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2, among other national and local market platforms. Select matches are available to stream live in North America on The Rugby Network, and all matches are available to stream live on The Rugby Network for international fans. MLR prides itself in fostering intense and high-stakes competition, while bringing together a passionate community built on the values of Respect, Inclusivity, and Tradition. For more information about MLR, visit www.MajorLeague.Rugby.