USWRF Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Women’s Rugby in the U.S.

2022 is the 50^th anniversary of women’s rugby in the United States. The US Women’s Rugby Foundation (USWRF) celebrates this milestone and champions the future for the next generation of women in rugby.

The U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation (USWRF) kicked off a year-long campaign to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of women’s rugby in the United States and invites the entire women’s rugby community to join us by taking their place in history.

Since its beginnings in 1972 in Colorado, women’s rugby has grown into a vast national network of players, coaches, referees, administrators, journalists, and fans, engaging women in all levels of play from youth to the national team. Today there are over 2.7 million women and girls involved globally and over 20 thousand in the US.

Some milestones achieved over the 50 years include the first women’s international match (1987), the first Women’s Rugby World Cup (1991), Kathy Flores appointed as the first woman and woman of color to coach the National Team (2002), Dana Teagarden selected as the first woman to referee a men’s international match (2010), and the addition of women’s rugby as an Olympic sport (2016).

In addition to memorializing this landmark, USWRF will continue working towards the goal of full equity and inclusion for women in rugby.

“While the 50th anniversary gives us an opportunity to elevate awareness of our sport, this is a pivotal moment in the future of women’s rugby. It is time for our rugby family to join together and truly champion a future of equity and inclusion.”, said Danita Knox, Board Chair and President, USWRF.

USWRF 50^th anniversary – Celebrate the Past. Champion the Future – will include:

• Online History Museum with facts, photos and videos
• Stories about history-makers
• Features on the 50 Greatest Games
• 50th anniversary celebration events, including an in-person WRCRA Conference in Jan 2023
• Opportunities for community involvement

For more information about how you can participate by sharing your history-making stories and photos, or to donate, please visit www.USWRF.org/celebrate50

About USWRF
Founded in 2005, the US Women’s Rugby Foundation is committed to fostering and sustaining the growth of girls and women’s rugby. USWRF is a non-profit organization and is proud to operate solely with a volunteer board of seven women directors. For more information, visit www.uswrf.org or contact USWRF Chair Danita Knox, dknox@uswrf.org.

About WRCRA
USWRF formed the Women’s Rugby Coaches & Referees Association (WRCRA) in 2017, as the professional home for women’s rugby coaches, referees, administrators, journalists, players, and fans at all levels of play.

Media Contact:
Mary Money, VP US Women’s Rugby Foundation
mmoney@uswrf.org
(203) 650-6958
www.uswrf.org