The Atlanta Rhinos are an American professional

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

team based in

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

. 2014 was their inaugural season in the

USA Rugby League The USA Rugby League (USARL) is the official governing body for rugby league, a code of rugby football, in the United States. The organization also runs the national amateur competition for club teams in the US. The league consists of six te ...

. Starting in 2021, the club turned professional, and became founding members of the

North American Rugby League The North American Rugby League (NARL) is an unsanctioned rugby league club competition in North America. At launch, the league announced fourteen teams; twelve from United States and two from Canada. An inaugural season was planned for 2021 ...

. They play all their home games at

Atlanta Silverbacks Park Atlanta Silverbacks Park is a sports complex in unincorporated DeKalb County, just outside Atlanta, United States that is currently used primarily for soccer. It was formerly the home venue of the Atlanta Silverbacks soccer club, from which th ...

History

2014-2020: Foundations and USARL

Atlanta were founded in early 2014 and joined the

USARL The USA Rugby League (USARL) is the official governing body for rugby league, a code of rugby football, in the United States. The organization also runs the national amateur competition for club teams in the US. The league consists of six te ...

Southern Conference. By March, it was announced that Atlanta would share a partnership with British Super League club

Leeds Rhinos The Leeds Rhinos are a professional rugby league club in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The club was formed in 1870 as Leeds St John's and play in the Super League, the top tier of English rugby league. They have played home matches at Headi ...

. The Rhinos stated they will help bring a professional approach to the Atlanta club by sharing information and playing talent. Following the announcement of the partnership with Leeds, Atlanta announced they would adopt Leeds' Rhinos moniker, colours and similar club crest. The clubs first season in the USARL was positive winning two of their six Conference games and losing their first playoff game. They built on their positive first season by winning the 2015 Southern Conference and making it to the Grand Final, eventually losing 44-12 to

Boston Thirteens The Boston Thirteens (officially written as Boston 13s RLFC) are a professional rugby league football team based in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. The team previously played in the USA Rugby League, before turning fully professional in 2021 and be ...

. The Rhinos failed to build upon their success the following season finishing third however still qualifying for the playoffs and making the semifinals eventually losing to

Jacksonville Axemen The Jacksonville Axemen are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They currently play in the USA Rugby League (USARL). They play their home games at the North Practice Soccer Fields at the University of North F ...

. The 2017 season was another successful one for the Rhinos, winning the Southern Conference without losing having won five and drawn one game. They faced Northern Conference champions New York Knights in the Grand Final who they beat 32-18 to win their first major Championship. They were semi finalists again in 2018 losing again to eventual Champions

. In what would be their final season in the USARL the club were deducted two points for forfeiting a game in round 8 which lead to them finishing third in the Southern Conference and missing out on the playoffs.

2021-present: NARL

It was announced in March 2021 that the Rhinos would withdraw from the

to compete in the professional

. The club also changed their logo, and colours to gold, white and black .

Current Squad

Nick Newlin Nicholas Newlin is an American rugby league footballer who has represented the United States national team. The captain of the Hawks' domestic-based team, Newlin was named as co-captain of the side for the 2017 World Cup. Early life Born and r ...

* Fotukava Malu *

John Talisa John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

Pita Godinet Pita Godinet (born 21 December 1987) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Dapto Canaries in the Illawarra Rugby League. Background Godinet was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Early years Godinet is a Syde ...

* Harry Higgins * Maciu Koroi *

Frederick Henry-Ajudua Frederick may refer to: People * Frederick (given name), the name Nobility Anhalt-Harzgerode * Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670) Austria * Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198 * Frederic ...

* Sean Hunt *

John Scotti John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

Honours

League

: ::Winners (1): 2017, ::Runners up (1): 2015,

References

External links

Official website
{{Georgia Sports USA Rugby League teams Rugby clubs established in 2014 Sports teams in Atlanta 2014 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) Rugby league in Georgia (U.S. state)