Mary Swanstrom: Rugby’s Quadruple Threat – Player, Coach, Athletic Trainer, and Educator

Mary Swanstrom’s rugby journey began with a simple encounter during her college years when she met a group of men’s rugby players and fell in love with the sport. Not one to sit on the sidelines, Mary and a few friends decided to start a women’s team. That spark led her down a path of deep involvement in rugby. She is a player, coach, athletic trainer, educator, and administrator. Her journey is a testament to her commitment to community, development, and inspiring others to believe in themselves.

Mary’s extensive coaching history includes roles with several teams across various skill levels, from beginners to professional and Olympic-level athletes. As a coach, Mary has worked with many teams including the San Diego Armada, SoCal Griffins, Chicago Northshore, and Sacramento Amazons. Currently, she serves as the head athletic trainer and scrum specialist for the Bay Breakers.

Her technical impact with the Breakers speaks for itself. Last season, the team had 101 scrums on attack and won an incredible 100 of them. A 99% success rate in the scrum is nearly unheard of at any level of rugby. This flawless execution highlights her unique ability to blend tactical expertise with physical conditioning, ensuring the forward pack functions as a cohesive, dominant unit when the pressure is on.

Her approach to coaching is simple but impactful: the game belongs to those playing it, and her role is to support athletes in achieving their goals. She emphasizes fun as a core aspect of rugby, believing that players perform best when they enjoy the game.

One of Mary’s most memorable coaching moments came early on with the San Diego Armada. In her first game as head coach, she watched a player run past her wing on the sideline and instinct almost took over. She nearly tackled him herself! That moment made her realize her playing career was officially behind her and that her role had shifted to guiding and empowering players from the sideline.

Balancing the demands of coaching, athletic training, and administrative work hasn’t always been easy, but Mary is no stranger to resilience. After a significant neck injury ended her playing career, she naturally transitioned into coaching. Despite the challenges, Mary has found ways to contribute at every turn, whether by helping athletes directly or guiding new coaches through World Rugby’s Coaching Courses. Mary firmly believes that mistakes are vital to learning and growth. In her words, mistakes provide players the path to develop confidence and resilience, which is why she emphasizes creating an environment where players feel comfortable making them.

Her dedication to sport goes beyond the pitch. As an Athletic Trainer at UC Davis, Mary previously worked with the Track program but has since moved on to support Gymnastics and Beach Volleyball. Looking ahead to next year, she will be transitioning to work with Men’s Soccer and Beach Volleyball.

Her leadership role is also expanding in the academic space as she helps lead the Sports Medicine Student Internship Program at UC Davis. By teaching educational sessions for student interns, Mary is directly shaping the next generation of sports medicine professionals. She passes down the hands-on knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical skills required to keep high-level athletes performing at their peak.

Additionally, Mary leads the Sport Science and Critical Response Training Committees, focusing on athlete wellness and injury prevention. She believes that movement begins with healthy feet and stresses the importance of the foundation that strong feet provide. Her commitment to the health of rugby players extends to ensuring that her athletes stay healthy and available, embodying her motto that “the best ability is availability.”

For those aspiring to make their mark in rugby, Mary’s advice is simple: “There is a place for everyone in our game. If no one makes space for you, call me, and we’ll figure it out together.” Her belief in the sport’s ability to bring people together and empower them is reflected in her work on the field and off. Mary sees the future of rugby in the women’s game, which she believes will lead the growth of rugby in America.