Rugby players turn to crowd funding to help advance their training

Crowdfunding has been popular in the music, tech, and film worlds for a few years — and now athletes are getting in on the action. All of our Women’s National Team Athletes have started campaigns as well, view them all here.

Following that trend other  female rugby players have also launched various campaigns with Dreamfuel, a crowd funding site for competing athletes:

Phaidra Knight was the first to join up, and she is using her campaign to help fund her training to try to compete at the Olympics in 2016. Knight almost didn’t play rugby; it was only a chance encounter at a school party that led her to try to sport. She was hooked from the first game, though, and has a real shot at representing the USA in Rio. Her campaign is at http://www.dreamfuel.me/athletes/7/campaigns/10

Jinnie Pratt was the next to join up, and the Oklahoma University star is a force to be reckoned with. Pratt is tough as nails off and on the field — she survived being kicked out of her family home when she came out of the closet as a teen, and is working almost full time and taking a fill course load in addition to her rugby career. Her campaign is at http://www.dreamfuel.me/athletes/38/campaigns/28

Lastly, Gioanna Cruz joined up and represents the young face of the sport. At only 18, she’s already attracted national attention; she started playing at 15 and used the sport to escape a chaotic childhood in the South Bronx. To support her, head to http://www.dreamfuel.me/athletes/54/campaigns/36

Dreamfuel is a female-founded start up that works with competing athletes of all levels to help them raise money from family, friends, fans, and followers. To apply, head to the site and fill out the athlete application form.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We know there are other ruggers out there that are using crowd funding, send us a quick statement about what you are trying to do and your link and we will update this post!

USA Rugby Women’s National Team Members
All of our Women’s National Team Athletes have started campaigns as well, view them all here.