The unique international partnership aims to grow rugby in the United States while offering an opportunity to study at a top world university.

ATLANTA, GA–July 6, 2023–Rugby ATL, Atlanta’s Major League Rugby team, has partnered with The University of Wollongong (UOW), one of the world’s leading universities outside of Sydney, Australia. This partnership is part of UOW’s Global Rugby Program which enables students to study at UOW’s south coast Wollongong campus while receiving training from the most successful club in Super Rugby and the top rugby union in the South Pacific—the New Zealand Crusaders.

This program will officially begin in  July 2023 and is open to Rugby ATL’s Rugby Academy student-athletes who will be or are currently enrolled in college. It is also open to eligible student-athletes participating in the Pathway 404 program, which is the Southeast Regional Development Program of Rugby ATL.

This unique partnership also aims to serve as a guiding light in attracting more athletes to the sport of rugby. “We hope this partnership between Rugby ATL and The University of Wollongong drives more student-athletes to consider taking up rugby or taking their play to the next level. With the ability to study at a top world university while honing one’s rugby skills, this opportunity is second to none,” says Rugby ATL President Amanda Windsor White.

Working with one of the top teams in Major League Rugby in Rugby ATL will help to advance the University of Wollongong’s objective of promoting rugby in the United States. “We will look to assist them in developing the up-and-coming rugby talent in Atlanta by offering players at the Club and in the wider community an opportunity to study and progress their rugby skills in one of the top Rugby programs in the world in Australia,” says Professor Alex Frino, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at The University of Wollongong.

About Rugby ATL: Founded in 2020, Rugby ATL is Atlanta’s professional rugby team and part of Major League Rugby. Led by the values of PACE—People, Accountability, Create Change and Execution—Rugby ATL aims to develop leaders and citizens in the community and champions on the pitch. The team is part of a strong rugby culture in Atlanta, including their partnership with 404 Rugby, a community exhibition program designed to develop excellence in the sport. Rugby ATL is headquartered in Marietta and plays matches at Silverbacks Park. For more information please visit, https://rugbyatl.rugby/.

About The University of Wollongong: The University of Wollongong (UOW) is a leading global university powered by its people, partnerships and communities. UOW is globally recognized for delivering impactful research that drives positive change and is proud to be among the top 1% of universities in the world. UOW ranks 70th among the world’s universities for social and economic impact in the 2022 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which are benchmarked against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to the research impact, UOW produces some of the world’s most employable graduates, by anticipating emergent industries and future jobs to prepare them for the future of work. UOW graduates are ethical, mobile, technologically literate, and ready for multicultural workplaces. With campuses established globally in Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and soon in India, UOW has expanded its footprint to offer a truly international educational experience.  UOW has also formed partnerships with several international educational institutions in China and Singapore to deliver twinning programs. As of 2023, UOW has over 33,000 enrolled students and employs more than 2,400 staff members.