Roy Calvert Appointed Head Coach of the Atlanta Copperheads for NRL Vegas 9s

Announcing Roy Calvert as Copperheads Head Coach for the 2026 LV 9s Sides

The Atlanta Copperheads have appointed Roy Calvert as Head Coach for the upcoming NRL Las Vegas 9s tournament, entrusting him with leadership of the Men’s Premier, Men’s Community, and Women’s Community squads on one of rugby league’s most visible international stages.

For those who understand the sport’s emerging markets, the appointment feels inevitable.

Calvert is the embodiment of grit in modern rugby league. As Head Coach of the Jamaica National Rugby League Team, he has spent decades helping grow the game in a country where rugby league has had to fight for oxygen, a reality not unfamiliar to Atlanta. Long before he was coaching from the sidelines, Calvert was one of Jamaica’s earliest national representatives, wearing the halfback jersey and helping lay foundations that would eventually see the Reggae Warriors qualify for the Rugby League World Cup.

Nothing about that journey came easily.

Over more than twenty years in the national setup, Calvert earned every inch of progress through persistence, resourcefulness, and a willingness to solve problems others avoided. His coaching education reflects that same hunger. A devoted student of the game, he has studied the philosophies of Trent Robinson, Craig Bellamy, and Wayne Bennett, absorbing lessons from the sport’s most disciplined environments. Yet he has never been rigid in his thinking.

Las Vegas, he insists, is not about imposing a system. It is about adapting.

The Copperheads roster heading west represents one of the most diverse player pools assembled in the club’s short history. Young American football converts, former Major League Rugby union players navigating a shifting domestic landscape, USA 7s athletes, collegiate union standouts, and seasoned USARL thirteen-a-side veterans all sit under the same tent. Rather than force a singular blueprint, Calvert has built his squads around athleticism first, rugby league experience second, and transferable skill sets third a process-driven approach designed to maximize results in a condensed 9s format where there is space to run.

Splitting the men’s squads between Premier and Community proved one of the most difficult decisions of the preseason. Internally, there is quiet confidence that the Community side carries just as much firepower and perhaps even a slightly stronger chance of lifting its division. That speaks less to labels and more to depth.

While Calvert is known for empowering assistant coaches and delegating responsibility, he has invested equal hands-on time across all three programs in the run up to the event. Through coordination with tournament officials, he will be positioned on the sideline for every Copperheads match in Las Vegas, ensuring unified standards and in-game adjustments across the board.

“Vegas is a platform,” Calvert said. “But more importantly, it’s an opportunity to build belief. The Copperheads are building something special, and I’m here to help create standards that last beyond one tournament.”

Beyond rugby league, Calvert serves as a manager at Jamaica’s largest bank a role that demands strategic clarity, organizational discipline, and leadership under pressure. Those who know him well believe that combination of professional rigor and sporting passion is precisely what makes him effective in high-variance environments like 9s tournaments.

“Roy represents who we are,” said Curtis Goddard, President & CEO of the Atlanta Copperheads. “We’re not looking for shortcuts. We’re building something that lasts. His grit, his intellect, and his global perspective make him the perfect leader for this moment and team our Advisory Board put countless hours into recruiting.”

The stated objective in Las Vegas is simple: surprise people.

Not with theatrics, but with discipline, tempo, and cohesion.

Calvert thrives in growth environments, programs willing to challenge assumptions and commit to disciplined rebuilding. Many believe it is only a matter of time before he receives an opportunity at the highest levels of the game.

For now, his focus is Atlanta.

Full tournament details and event information are available on the club’s website, where supporters can also contribute to the Copperheads’ journey. Donations through the event page allow fans to participate in the club’s Community Ownership Class C equity pool scheme, reinforcing the model that has defined Atlanta’s rise.

Las Vegas is a stage. For Roy Calvert and the Copperheads, it is also a statement.