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The Rugby Breakdown reports on girls and women's rugby in the U.S. Learn more: http://bit.ly/TRBSubscribe.
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Jackie Finlan is the editor-in-chief and relies on reader subscriptions to keep the full-time operation churning.

07/05/2024

This one's a heart warmer 🥰

The Columbia Central High School Lady Lions have graduation the night before HS 15s nationals kicks off, and head coach Brian Vance didn't want to ask his large senior class to choose between attending the ceremony & traveling for rugby. That's when an AP & three teachers stepped in to get the whole team from Tennessee to Wisconsin. Read more from Vance:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/columbia-central-hs-faculty-enable-nationals-trip/

20/04/2024

Lagniappe captain Sarah Foster wants eyeballs on Louisiana rugby & the New Orleans team’s DIII True South championship run last weekend did well to draw attention. Read more from Foster, who lauds the player leadership and new head coach Jenn Sever:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/lagniappes-foster-take-notice-of-louisiana-rugby/

20/04/2024

The College Rugby Association of America Division I Spring 15s competition now knows its semifinalists for Sunday.

Temperatures in Phoenix reached the low 90s but teams absolutely showed out. Two QFs had lead changes in the final 10 minutes!

Sunday’s winner advance to the final in Houston. For more weekend scores:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/girls-womens-rugby-scores-april-19-21-2024/

17/04/2024

The 2024 Women's Premier League kicks off next Sunday, and the reigning national champions, Colorado Gray Wolves, are ready to get back on the pitch and play. Head coach Jamie Burke talks about the squad (which includes 2 high schoolers!), the focus on depth, and the impending Women's Elite Rugby era:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/co-gray-wolves-ready-for-2024-wpl-rugby-beyond/

17/04/2024

Virginia Women's Rugby is readying for its second 15s post-season this year and makes the trip from Charlottesville to Phoenix, Ariz., this Friday for CRAA DI Spring 15s regionals. Read more from head coach Nancy Kechner:

Virginia Women's Rugby is making its second trip to 15s regionals this year, competing in both NCR and CRAA post-seasons -- a setup unlikely to repeat next year

15/04/2024

Life University Women's Rugby Head Coach Ryszard Chadwick talks about the team's first-ever DI Elite National Championship title, what it means to the players new and "old," and the game as a product for collegiate rugby in the U.S.:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/lifes-chadwick-di-elite-final-shines-as-rugby-showcase/

Photo: USA Rugby

12/04/2024

Sunday, April 14 @ 7 p.m. MST is the DI Elite National Championship between Life University & Lindenwood University. It's the 6th-straight iteration of this match-up but that doesn't dilute the stakes or the anticipation for one of the year's best games. Little preview:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/sunday-is-the-di-elite-national-championship/

The Rugby Network has the FREE live-stream so be sure to tune in!

Looking for more girls and women's rugby games (championships!) & results? Check out the weekly round-up: https://therugbybreakdown.com/games-scores-april-12-14-2024/

05/04/2024

Looking for games & scores this weekend? Keep checking this post:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/girls-womens-rugby-scores-april-4-7-2024/

Photo: Alex Ho, hoiho.net,

04/04/2024

USA Falcon Makell Edwards was surprised, nervous, then totally immersed in the opportunity to coach with the USA Rugby South Panther Academy at Tropical 7s. It was the K-5 teacher’s first coaching stint & it ended with a Girls’ U16 Elite trophy.

Read more from Edwards, who is now eager to take steps deeper into the coaching world:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/edwards-south-u16-elite-tropical-7s-trophy/

02/04/2024

Cal Women's Rugby is looking good in terms of numbers, healthy bodies and ever-increasing rugby IQ -- and it's good timing. This Saturday, the Pacific Mountain West runner-up heads to Bellingham, Wash., to face Univ. Oregon for a chance to compete at College Rugby Association of America Spring 15s Regionals (April 19-21, Phoenix).

Read more from Cal head coach Katie Chou, who is eager to see what the Bears can do outside of NorCal:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/cal-confident-eager-into-pmrc-playoffs/

Photo: www.rudypics.com

UC Berkeley Recreation & Wellbeing Rugby Community Northern California

01/04/2024

Teams on the USA Club Rugby Super Regional pathway

01/04/2024

Quick visual for which DI clubs are heading to local finals and Super Regionals (features in the works):

30/03/2024

Every week, TRB puts together a games & scores page so you can track what's happening around the U.S. The weekend started Friday with a massive Tropical 7s showing & picked up early this morning with a USA 38-17 win against South Africa:

Scores for girls and women's rugby games occurring Friday-Sunday, March 29-31, 2024, in the U.S. or overseas if involving U.S. players

30/03/2024

When Central Washington University Women's Rugby plays Life University this evening, it’ll be the fourth-straight time these teams meet in the DI Elite national SFs. Life is undefeated vs the Wildcats, but CWU is ready to get that W:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/di-elites-central-washington-is-over-its-almost-status/

📸 Jacob Thompson Photograhy

28/03/2024

GCU Women's Rugby played a really tough fall friendly schedule vs. DI Elite teams & that experience of playing under intense pressure is paying off. Read more from HC Lindsey Mahoney, who is sharpening the Lopes for DI College Rugby Association of America Spring 15s Regionals:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/performing-under-pressure-grand-canyons-focus-into-di-playoffs/

📸 J. Dalton Photography

27/03/2024

Normally, I don't put these updates behind the pay wall, but there are some breaking news items as well as basic details (e.g., dates, locations) that aren't publicized anywhere else in a comprehensive form. In other words, the following is a valuable service and thus a subscriber perk:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/playoffs-update-craa-womens-di-dii-spring-15s/

If you support this type of attention and coverage for girls and women's rugby, then please consider a subscription (https://therugbybreakdown.com/register/). They keep TRB afloat & focused on the important stuff.

26/03/2024

Pasefika is in its third year of existence, and it's been a wild one. The girls' U18 team took its first international tour to New Zealand, won its first Hawaii Youth Rugby 7s Championship, played its first-ever 15s games for its first-ever home games -- and the season's not over!

Read more from Pasefika VP & Girls' U18 forwards coach Danny Afualo:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/pasefika-breaks-into-the-rugby-15s-sphere/

All photos c/o Pasefika Rugby Club

21/03/2024

Which Women's DI and DII clubs* are in good shape for a playoff berth? Has anyone secured a spot to the USA Club Rugby Super Regional Championships (SRCs)?
When & where are SRCs?

Graphics summarize those answers & the following provides more detail & context:

WOMEN'S DIVISION I:
https://therugbybreakdown.com/di-senior-club-super-regionals-filling-out/

WOMEN'S DIVISION II:
https://therugbybreakdown.com/one-more-month-then-dii-club-super-regionals-finalize/

*We are absolutely tracking Women's DIII competitions, but only the Atlantic SRC leagues & True South hold official championships for their DIII members.

20/03/2024

Life University Women's Rugby’s Alle English & AJ Haughey talk about the impact of beating Lindenwood in a regular-season 15s match:

https://therugbybreakdown.com/life-beats-lindenwood-but-job-isnt-done-yet/

MARCH 30: DI ELITE NATIONAL SF
BYU @ Lindenwood
Central Washington @ Life

APRIL 14: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
@ GCU, Phoenix, AZ

10/01/2024

The Midwest HS Thunderbirds make their 8th annual pilgrimage south to Florida on Feb. 17-18. There, the Midwest will face its HS counterparts from the South, Elite Girls Rugby League (EGRL) & Hawkeye Academy in a regional all-star 15s competition that draws the scouts.

The Thunderbirds are bringing 23 players from eight states (full roster below). Read more from Midwest head coach Garrett Fisher (link in bio):

https://therugbybreakdown.com/midwest-hs-t-birds-name-team-for-largest-winter-15s-tour/

MIDWEST HS THUNDERBIRDS
Chayse Barksdale – Grandville, MI
Mia Blocher – Warsaw, IN
Megan Chura – St. Joseph Academy, OH
Camryn Cook – Chicago Lions, IL
Drew Dauser – Sparta-Rock, MI
Asha Davis – Chicago Lions, IL
Akil Dougherty – Chiefs RFC, IL
Ava Estright – Moon Area, PA
Arielle Fotso – Carmel, IN
Olivia Graham – Grandville, MI
Josie Hause – Westside Revenge, IN
Anneliese Henrich – Orchard Park, NY
Madison Hinrichs – Waverly-Shell Rock, IA
Madelyn Hubbell – St. Joseph Academy, OH
Alexandra Morley – Perrysburg, OH
Raquel Muniz-Bermudez – Warsaw, IN
Alyssa Post – Sparta-Rock, MI
Cecelia Rose – Green Bay, WI
Lauren Sizemore – Hudson, OH
Ava Steed – Moon Area, PA
Isabella Stevens – Catholic Memorial, WI
Lilly Stough – Waverly-Shell Rock, IA
Ava Thayer – North Pitt United, PA

Invited but unavailable:
Kallie Baker – Highland, OH
Chloe de Leon – Noblesville, IN
Peyton Langworthy – Orchard Park, NY
Faith Smallwood – Perrysburg, OH
Lucy Wilson – Catholic Memorial, WI

The Midwest High School Thunderbirds take their 8th annual rugby tour to Florida in mid-February and face three other U18 all-star 15s teams.

22/12/2023

Added in the attendees' high school teams if applicable: https://therugbybreakdown.com/usa-u20s-focus-winter-camp-on-newcomers/

Women’s U20s Winter Camp set to take place December 27-31 at Life UniversityThu, Dec 21, 2023, 10:21 PM TDby Taylor DeanNeil KennedyThe USA Women’s U20s program will come together at the end of the year for a winter camp as the USA High Performance Pathways prepares for its 2024 tournaments and ...

21/12/2023

The US Women’s Rugby Foundation is pleased to announce the 2024 Kathy Flores Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award is named in honor of legendary player and coach Kathy Flores, who passed away in 2021. This annual award recognizes those in the rugby community who exemplify the collegial spirit, commitment to lifelong learning, vision, and generosity that defined Kathy Flores.

This award is further distinguished as it is the first award given to leaders in the women’s game by the women’s rugby community. Recipients must have a demonstrated record of extraordinary service to women’s rugby in the US for over 25 years. This year's four recipients include some of the most iconic figures in the women’s rugby community.

Please join us in celebrating and congratulating this year's Kathy Flores Lifetime Achievement Award recipients:

Anne Barry
Jamie Burke
Kathie Morrison
Jillion Potter

We will be celebrating these amazing women at the awards ceremony taking place at the annual WRCRA Conference Jan. 13 in Alexandria, VA. Visit our website to lock in registration and special hotel rates before prices go up on 12/23.

15/12/2023

Very cool!

10/12/2023

Great league match btwn & today! Great turf pitch, too

The Wolfpack held a 24-13 halftime lead then the Hornets rallied w/17 unanswered points in the second stanza: 30-24 the final to Sac State.

The DII West Coast is structured differently this year. Instead of all 10 teams playing each once, the field is now divided into North & South pools. Teams play their pool mates home & away through March. The Sac State vs UN Reno rematch is 2/10/24.

07/12/2023

In the fall of 1979, Jennie Redner, a Michigan State player and match secretary, created the first national women’s team directory. Jennie’s directory was a typed sheet with the names, phone numbers, or snail mail addresses of team representatives. "As the MSU WRC Match Secretary, I already had ...

04/12/2023

I *love* my job & I take pride in the fact that I created it. But I am so grateful to organizations like that not only pays for my travel to & accommodation at their events but treats me with so much respect that it makes me blush. Aaaaand the rugby was so good this weekend.
📸 Christine Varga

Thank you, NCR, for valuing TRB’s place in the women’s rugby world.

03/12/2023

There were five lead changes in the Division II 15s National Championship 🤩 .uwec had the final say with a 32-29 win vs
📸 Jackie Finlan / TRB

UWEC wing & co-captain Izzy Currie was named Championship MVP

Heart & Soul winners: Vassar flanker Asia Baker & UWEC flanker Greta Schnur

03/12/2023

What a final! wins the Small College 15s National Championship w/a 22-17 win vs
📸 Jackie Finlan / TRB

Championship MVP: Makenna Ramsey

Heart & Soul awards: SBU 15 Natalie Lamar & Platteville 8 Selena “Crusher” Bodendein

03/12/2023

keeps the Division I 15s National Championship trophy with a 33-17 win against
📸 Jackie Finlan / TRB

Michigan 14 Grace Codd is the Championship MVP

Heart of Soul awards: NDC 4 Alexa Piazza & Michigan 8 Maddie Bowers

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GCU Women's Rugby played a really tough fall friendly schedule vs. DI Elite teams & that experience of playing under intense pressure is paying off. Read more from HC Lindsey Mahoney, who is sharpening the Lopes for DI College Rugby Association of America Spring 15s Regionals: https://therugbybreakdown.com/performing-under-pressure-grand-canyons-focus-into-di-playoffs/ 📸 J. Dalton Photography

I talked Lola Unga early in the fall and then again in December after the @wolverines.girls.rugbyclub HS senior returned from New Zealand with the @usarjnt U18s. But it wasn’t until last Saturday that I got to meet Lola in person at the @rugbynorcal Kickoff Tournament (link in bio). Polite & demure on the sideline, on the pitch Unga was all about moving the ball to teammates and setting them up to shine. You’d almost forget that there was a WNT-radar player on the pitch, until you saw a 15-meter pass zip across the field, or caught the flyhalf cutting against a fast-up defense and confidently maneuvering through contact. Read more about the San Mateo star, who has eyes on the next level (link in bio): https://therugbybreakdown.com/lola-unga-goes-international/ #rugby #hsrugby #lolaunga #norcalrugby #rugby15s #rugby7s #usarugby

Check out the continually updated 2024 rugby calendar, which only features tournaments/championships/camps/etc. with girls and/or women’s divisions (link in bio): https://therugbybreakdown.com/womens-rugby-calendar-fall-2023/ To add your event, simply DM the name, date, location, division(s) served & info link. #rugby #usarugby #rugby7s #rugby15s #rugbycalendar #rugby2024

It’s a Frequent Flyer Miles type of season for the @belmontshorerugbyseniorgirls The SoCal U18 team has already competed in New Zealand this 23-24 season and played three NorCal 15s teams. Also on the calendar this spring: Hawaii, 2 Canadian teams and then of course @girlsclubrugbynationals in Wisconsin. Read more (link in bio) from Lead Ops Robert Pahulu & head coach Ray Pau, who talk about the incredible impact of the New Zealand tour, the desire to challenge their young player pool, and the overall goal of growing girls’ 15s rugby: https://therugbybreakdown.com/belmont-shores-building-international-15s-bridges/ #rugby #rugby7s #rugby15s #HSrugby #usarugby

@nationalcollegiaterugby All-Star 7s Championship MVP Telesi Uhatafe on Lone Star’s 14-0 trophy win vs Big 10 #rugby #rugby7s #collegerugby #allstars

Plymouth State sophomore Laryssa Landmesser was named @nationalcollegiaterugby Small College All-Star 7s Championship MVP after the @ccrc.rugby‘s 15-0 win vs Eastern Penn in the final #rugby #rugby7s #allstars #collegerugby

Carly Baker, head coach of the @nationalcollegiaterugby-winning Small College All-Star 7s Championship, completed the trophy trifecta today 🏆 #rugby7s #rugby #collegerugby #NCR

Massive THANK YOU to @nationalcollegiaterugby for sponsoring travel to this weekend’s All-Star 7s tournament in Texas ❤️ I *LOVE* taking in this cross-section of collegiate rugby — super-driven players from Idaho > Maine > North Carolina > Colorado. AND! All of the rosters have been pre-loaded on NCR’s site: https://www.ncr.rugby/teams/womens-all-stars-2024. Impressive, convenient, standard setting. Do introduce yourself if you see me (ID: big yellow pFriem hat). I love all the sideline interactions. #rugby #rugby7s #collegerugby #NCR #allstarrugby #allstar7s

The activity picks up with every week in January, but since it’s still relatively light, I’m collating all international, senior club, college & HS scores in one post (link in bio): https://therugbybreakdown.com/girls-womens-rugby-scores-january-2024/ #rugby #rugby15s #rugby7s #usarugby

@sydneycopeland didn’t play HS sports until senior year - when @carondeletrugby came to life. The wing then morphed into a scrumhalf at @wwuwomensrugby & pursued next-level opportunities with @pnwws_rugby & @paccoastgrizzlies. Last summer, Copeland started making trips to Chula Vista for USA 7s Academy camps & in December debuted with the @usarugby Falcons in Dubai. Read more about Copeland’s rugby journey & the Falcons’ first-ever appearance at the Dubai Invitational (link in bio): https://therugbybreakdown.com/copeland-steps-into-international-sphere-through-usa-falcons/ Copeland is a senior at Western Washington & the Vikings will resume @pacificmountainrugby conference play in Feb. #rugby #rugby7s #PNWrugby #USAFalcons #usarugby

The Union County @ladymudturtles was actually the first women’s team to book a spot in the 2024 @usaclubrugby Super Regional Championships. The NJ team repeated as @egurugby champion & advances to the DIII Atlantic playoffs in April. Read more from co-captains Allison Bronander & Jenna Thorne (link in bio):

@rugby.uwec co-captain & championship MVP Izzy Currie on thw team’s 32-29 win v Vassar for the @nationalcollegiaterugby Division II title

@sbuwomensrugby head coach Meredith Pyke on the team’s 2023 @nationalcollegiaterugby Small College 15s National Championship

@plattevillewomensrugby co-captains Selena “Crusher” Bodendein (8) & Zoe Barnes (9) led their team to a @nationalcollegiaterugby Small College SF win vs SUNY Cortland & look ahead to Sunday’s title match v St Bonaventure. #rugby #rugby15s #collegerugby #nationals #championship

Don’t mistake @cfgirlsrugby‘s aversion to contact on attack for vulnerability on defense. Cedar Falls scores a lot of points through a lot of hands, and gave up just one try during the @iowayouthrugby Girls HS 7s Championship last Sunday. That’s 2-straight titles for Cedar Falls & head coach Brent Piper talks about the 35-player buy-in, teammates’ desire to see each other succeed, and 15s aspirations in the spring (link in bio): https://therugbybreakdown.com/unselfish-play-marks-cedar-falls-iowa-title-run/ #rugby #rugby7s #hsrugby #championship

It’s go time. The @cograywolves & @allbluesrugby will meet on the @atinfinitypark Turf this Saturday, Oct 14 @ 5pm MDT to determine the @wpl.rugby national champion. Entry is free & WPL YouTube is live steaming. TRB checked in with Gray Wolves HC Mose Timoteo & All Blues flanker Cassandra Tong ahead of Saturday’s clash (link in bio to interviews) … TIMOTEO: https://therugbybreakdown.com/co-gray-wolves-prepare-for-hometown-finale/ TONG: https://therugbybreakdown.com/berkeleys-tong-depth-fortitude-leadership-aid-sf-win/ #rugby #rugby15s #WPLrugby #nationals #nationalchampionship #trophytime #usarugby

Christine Varga is the Associate Director of @bwcampusrec & has expert knowledge on the challenges that club sports face, making her a great fit as @nationalcollegiaterugby Growth & Development Director. She’s identifying & cold-calling teams, learning about their struggles, and pointing them toward important resources - like readymade instructional manuals - so the pool of sustainable 15s programs grows. Read more (link in bio): https://therugbybreakdown.com/varga-digs-into-ncr-team-growth-development/ #rugby #rugby15s #collegerugby #usarugby

Big fan of @cmuwomensrugby & HC Mack Lewis. The DI Rocky Mountain conference leaders are of the take-charge-our-destiny ilk, despite the external challenges to the program’s growth. 📸 @studio13sports Lots of great insights from Lewis (link in bio) & LOVE the inspiration behind the “somehow” tattoos: https://therugbybreakdown.com/mesa-making-moves-in-di-rocky-mountain/ Mesa is positioning itself for a post-season berth; just waiting for word on what that looks like. #rugby #rugby15s #collegerugby #D1rugby #mavericks #rockymountain #craa #usarugby

@lifeuwrugby Head Coach Rys Chadwick is also the DI Elite commissioner this year & talks about changes to the league, this year’s team & the style of game it’s pursuing, & its part in growing women’s rugby (link in bio): https://therugbybreakdown.com/life-univ-banks-1st-win-in-different-di-elite-season/ 📸 Star Stevens #rugby #rugby15s #collegerugby #DIElite #CRAA #usarugby #liferugby

DII @aicrugby head coach T Fletcher added 3 DI NIRA matches to the Yellow Jackets’ schedule and is excited how the team is responding to the push. The DII varsity program has West Chester Quinnipiac & Davenport in October; read more (link in bio): https://therugbybreakdown.com/dii-aic-strengthens-with-di-ncaa-opposition/ 📸 Leon Nguyen #rugby #rugby15s #NIRA #NCAArugby #collegerugby #AICrugby #varsityrugby #usarugby

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