La Salle Women’s Rugby Team Starts Off a Great Year With a Nike Grant of $20,000

Thanks to Britni Buffalino for emailing this in, I have seen it pop up over the web a few times, great use of the Ruckosphere Britni!

La Salle Women’s Rugby Team Starts Off a Great Year With a Nike Grant of $20,000

(Philadelphia, PA) The 2008 fall Rugby season has yet to start and La Salle University’s Women’s Rugby team is already having one of their best seasons ever.

On July 3, the team was notified that they had received a grant for $20,000 toward Nike merchandise from the Let Me Play foundation, a global movement by Nike that caters specifically to female projects that promote “human potential through sport.” A freshman member of the team saw this opportunity online during the spring semester, and jumped on it right away.

“We fit the description perfectly,” said junior Maria Muscara. “Our team does tons of community service opportunities, and is always looking to recruit new teammates who have never played rugby before. This opportunity was ideal.”

Muscara emailed the team about the opportunity, and her teammates sent back essays for her to compile, explaining why they should receive the grant. Let Me Play is “dedicated to inspiring, engaging, and supporting women’s sports,” and so is La Salle Women’s Rugby.

“This grant will not only provide us with additional money for uniforms and equipment, but it will allow us to be recognized by the University and potential players as an up-and-coming team that is committed to the sport and their community,” says senior Captain and Rugby Union President, Britni Buffalino.

In the past, the team, consisting of around 25 undergraduates of all majors, have attended neighborhood clean ups with local elementary schools, formed a team of walkers for AIDS Walk Philly, and has even taken time out during finals week to wrap gifts at Christmas time at St. Jude’s hospital in Center City. The women have not limited their service just to Philadelphia, however. Nine of the women volunteered on service trips organized through the University last year – seven to Kentucky and two to Mexico.

The team also has a solid mission statement, which describes the “vision” of La Salle Women’s Rugby: “La Salle Women’s Rugby is a community of young women of varying athletic skills and commitment levels: every single member of the club has a purpose and a home on this club. As such, every player who commits to this team will be treated as an integral element to building a fun, rewarding, and highly successful program.”

La Salle Women’s Rugby has been nothing but successful since their start in 2002. Starting in Division IV in 2002, through the years the women have moved up to Division III, and finally secured their spot in Division II last fall. Although only a club sport, the determination and commitment on the team is noticed throughout the University. For more information on La Salle Women’s Rugby, head to www.lasallewomensrugby.org.