Maryland native Cory Daniel played in Major League Rugby between 2020-2025. He has represented his local MLR side, Old Glory DC for his entire MLR career, signing with them ahead of their inaugural season in 2020 but he did not appear at MLR level before the season was cancelled after 5 games due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Daniel earned his MLR debut in 2021, and finished the season with 8 caps (5 starts) and 3 tries. His impressive debut season and stand-out defensive work resulted in his selection to a 9-week development academy for the USA Men’s High-Performance Pathways program after which he was selected for the USA Eagles’ American Pacific Challenge in Uruguay. Daniel is a regular in the USA Eagles squad, featuring in both the 2024 PNC and 2025 July Tests

Daniel’s 2022 season was even more impressive than his debut season. He appeared in 15 of DC’s 16 games, starting 13 and scoring an additional 4 tries. On defence, he finished as the highest tackler in MLR during the regular season, with 255 completed tackles. A high school and university level wrestler, Daniel’s reputation as a fearsome tackler was warranted. He only appeared in 4 games (all starts) during 2023 before being sidelined with injury, but still contributed another try and 61 tackles in those 4 games, as DC made the post-season for the first time in club history, making it to the Eastern Conference Final before being defeated 25-7 by the eventual Champions, the New England Free Jacks.

On September 26th, 2023, Old Glory DC announced the re-signing of Cory Daniel for the 2024 MLR season, where he would earn a personal best 15 starts in 15 games, adding 4 tries to his total and finishing as the league’s highest tackler for the 2nd time in his MLR career, with an enormous 276 (a new PB), over 50 ahead of 2nd place (Utah’s Frank Lochore on 221). Old Glory DC qualified for the post-season for the 2nd year in a row, where they ran the eventual champions (again) New England Free Jacks close in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but fell 33-29 on the road. Daniel was named to the All-MLR First XV team for his outstanding season. On December 24th, 2024, Old Glory DC confirmed the return of Cory Daniel for the 2025 season where he continued his excellent form, putting together two great seasons in a row for the first time in his career. Daniel scored 3 tries and started all 15 of his appearances in 2025, helping Old Glory DC to qualify for the postseason for the 3rd season in a row, where they fell to the Chicago Hounds in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. Daniel continued his incredible tackling that season, recording his 3rd 225+ tackle season and finishing with 237 in total. This put him 2nd league-wide behind Utah’s Frank Lochore on an incredible 301, setting a new MLR record previous held by Daniel (276 in 2024).

Mid way through the 2025 season, on April 22nd, 2025, Old Glory DC announced that Cory Daniel had signed a contract extension with the team and would continue for Old Glory DC for 2026 ‘and beyond’. While it unclear what ‘and beyond’ entails, NARDB takes this to mean that it is a multi-year contract through at least 2027.

Achievements

• 2nd in MLR Tackling: 2025 (237 Tackles)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 14
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 4
• 2024 All-MLR First XV Selection: Old Glory DC
• 1st in MLR Tackling: 2024 (276 Tackles)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 17
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 16
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 15
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 11
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 4
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 3
• 1st in MLR Tackling: 2022 (255 Tackles)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Round 18
• MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Round 10