Rugby ATL signed Harley Wheeler for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. The 22-year-old wing/center is 5’11” and 196 lbs.
Harley was born in Long Beach, California and raised in Knoxville, Tennesee. He began playing rugby at the age of 14 for South Doyle High School after his brother was involved in the sport. Following his graduation, he attended Life University and developed as a player under the direction of Life University Head Coach, Colton Cariaga. He attended Life University from 2016-2019, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Adminstration and Management.
He helped lead the team to three USA Rugby D1A XV National Championships and four straight appearances in the title game. In 2018 he was named the Rudy Scholz Award winner, USA Rugby’s award for the outstanding collegiate player.
Harley worked his way through the USA Rugby development pathway playing age-grade rugby with the
U20 Men’s XVs against Canada and played with the Men’s Collegiate All-Americans against the Glendale Raptors in 2018, as well as at the Rugbytown Sevens that year. He was a 2018 and 2019 1st team Collegiate All-American (XV & 7s).
Harley played for the USA Falcons in the South American tour to Uruguay and Chile. He also played with the Eagles Sevens in the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, the AF International Sevens in Germany and the Rugby X in England in 2019. Most recently he was named to Mike Friday’s USA 7’s Eagles roster for the HSBC Sevens Series in Dubai next weekend.
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