'Being the only woman isn't the headline': Old Glory DC appoint new skills coach

Major League Rugby’s Old Glory DC have appointed Fumie Reyes as the team’s new skills coach ahead of the 2026 season.

Reyes, who represented Saracens, Central Washington University and was an all-American, saw her playing career ended prematurely by a head injury.

Since she finished playing, Reyes has developed a strong reputation as a coach, first with West Potomac RFC and then with Washington Irish RFC.

It is with the latter that Reyes has enjoyed consistent success. She took the club’s Division I team to the Mid-Atlantic Conference play-offs for the first time ever, and their Division III side to knockout rugby for the first time since 2018.

She has joined Old Glory as the team’s skills coach and will focus on the elevation of technical skill execution and enhancing attacking efficiency.

Reyes is the third female coach in MLR history. Tiffany Faaee became the first female coach in 2019 with Rugby United New York and Elaine Vassie served as Assistant General Manager and General Manager of Dallas Jackals.

Upon her appointment Reyes said: “I’m excited to join Old Glory because it’s a high-performance environment with big standards, and that’s exactly where I do my best work.

“Being the only woman coaching a men’s professional team isn’t the headline for me; the work is.”

Last season Simon Cross’ Old Glory placed third in MLR’s Eastern Conference and were knocked out of the postseason by the Chicago Hounds 27-16 in the Conference semi-finals.

Ahead of the 2026 campaign the club has added USA Men’s Eagles Paul Mullen and Benjamin Bonasso to their roster, along with Olympic gold medallist Semi Kunatani.