1975 Sexist OSU Newsletter
The Old Man, the newsletter of the Ohio State University Men’s Rugby club announced the formation of the Ohio State women’s team. Note the graphic illustration of a female player.
1977 The Pitch
The Tube and the Pitch, two different Ohio State Women’s team newsletters from 1977 show the grassroots organizing, bawdy nature of women’s rugby at the time.
Support us today!
When you contribute to the U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation you become part of a movement to support girls and women involved in rugby.
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We are a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.​
All donations made are tax deductible.
Support us today!
When you contribute to the U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation you become part of a movement to support girls and women involved in rugby.
​
We are a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.​
All donations made are tax deductible.
Who We Are
We work with the women’s rugby community to create professional development opportunities, build networks of support and connect generations of rugby enthusiasts.
While our initial focus was on providing much needed financial support to the Women’s National Team, we have subsequently expanded our efforts and advocacy to women at every level - youth, high school, college, club, and professional rugby.
How We Support
We provide professional development opportunities for players, coaches, referees, and administrators at all levels.
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We create an immersive experience, helping to identify career pathways and support for our rugby community.
We honor and recognize those who built the game and those who continue to advocate for change in the world of rugby.
Building a community is our foundation. Our members are local, regional, national and global influencers in the sport of rugby around the world. By leveraging these connections, we’re able to provide supportive resources, host annual events and bring athletes together – no matter where they reside.
Board of Directors
Danita Knox
Founder, Board Chair
USWRF President
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Danita Knox is a Global Product Specialist for Hitachi Energy, managing the Transformer Preventive Services and Commissioning service portfolio with degrees in engineering and international business. Danita has spent over 30 years rugby in leadership roles at club, local and national levels including USA Rugby Board & Congress, USA Rugby South and Georgia Rugby Union boards. She played for The Atlanta Harlequins and Clemson University. Her underlying passion and supporting work has been to support and drive the women’s game forward.
Lisa Durham
Board Vice Chair
Vice President
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Lisa owns and operates Three Dollar Cafe and 81 North Kitchen and Tap Restaurants, and is President & CEO of Lilly’s LLC, a restaurant development and venture corporation. She is also a Partner in 4th Street Construction Company. She served 10 years on the Board of Directors for the NFL Yet (Boys & Girls Club of Atlanta). She boasts a 20-year rugby playing career, much of that for the Atlanta Harlequins and former Atlanta Valkyries. She has a BS in Psychology from Georgia State University.
Kerri Heffernan
WRCRA Chair
Vice President
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Kerri is the chair of WRCRA and a USWRF Board member. She was the Director of Engaged Sport at Brown University, Associate Director of the Swearer Center for Public Service and Faculty in Education. She coached the Brown women’s team from 2001-2013, during which Brown reached the "Round of 4" four times, produced eight national team players, 19 All Americans and two World Cup players. Kerri played for Beantown RFC 1981-1990, Houston Heathen Hearts 1980-1981 and FSU 1977-1980. She was also a member of the US Women's National Team from 1987-1989. She has a BA from FSU and an Ed. D from Boston University. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
Suzi Rosen
Founder, Director
Treasurer
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Suzi owns Fit Forever Consultants, which specializes in the health and fitness needs of seniors. She was player/captain/coach of the National Champions FSU Women’s Rugby 1974-1983; Co-coach Beantown RFC 1989-1990; Head Coach of USA Rugby East Women’s Select Side 1985-1991; and a member of the WIVERN Tour. Her education includes: MPT from University of St. Augustine Health Sciences; MS in Leisure Services and BS in Physical Education both from FSU.
Mary Money
Director
Secretary
With a career in food & beverage, Mary is a consultant serving the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) industry. Mary was the first Hooker for US Eagles. She founded the Tufts University team in 1978 and played for/coached Beantown RFC 1980-1986 and Atlanta Harlequins 1987-1990. She was a member of the New England Select Side, the Eastern Rugby Union Select, WIVERN Tour and US Women’s National Team 1987-1990. She played for her beloved Olde Girls, from 1996 to 2019, but has now traded in her cleats for running shoes, doing marathons and triathlons. “Mamie” is now a grandmother of 1.5 ruggers in training.
Bev Armstrong
Director
Vice President
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Bev is Founder/CEO of Brazo Fuerte Artisanal Beer. She formerly was in senior management in the biotech industry, including CFO, CCO, GC and VP Operations-Administration. She has played for Beantown RFC, NRU Select Side and Atlantis 7s, currently playing for the Olde Girls. She also has been a member of US Women's National Team player pools and a reserve for 7s Hong Kong. Bev received a JD/MBA from Harvard University and was named to the Boston Business Journal’s “40 Under Forty” leaders list.
Amy Shopkorn
Director
Vice President
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Amy serves as the Vice President for Operations with NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. She has spent her professional career in business operations roles within organizations that serve higher education. Amy played rugby at Bowdoin College and co-founded the BWRFC Alumni Network. She also served as an assistant coach for the American University Women's Rugby Team 2006-2012 and co-coordinated the DC Furies Ruggerfest Tournament in 2009 and 2010. Finally, Amy has helped support the growth of organizations within the rugby community including The Rugger's Edge and Polar Bear Rugby Camp at Bowdoin College.
Jenn Stratton
Director
Vice President
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Jenn is an Associate Director with Sellers Dorsey, working in Medicaid financing. With almost
15 years of rugby administration experience, Jenn currently serves on the boards of National Collegiate
Rugby and Rugby Pennsylvania, and previously served as the President of the Eastern Pennsylvania
Rugby Union (EPRU). In 2022, Jenn also re-started the Cumberland Valley High School Girls Rugby Club.
She started playing at Penn State University in 2005 and played with the Keystone Women’s Rugby Club
and the Harrisburg Women’s Rugby Club through 2021.
MaryBeth Mathews
Director
Vice President
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MaryBeth Mathews has been a pioneer and leader for girl's and women’s rugby as a player, coach, and administrator for 40+ years. A player for Beantown and the ERU Territory, she co-founded Portland WRFC. A design career in active sports apparel at L.L.Bean overlapped her move into coaching at Bowdoin College. During her 29 year career as Bowdoin's head coach, MaryBeth led Bowdoin’s NCAA designation in 2002-03, while also serving in student affairs and coaching Maine U-23, NERFU U-23 and NRU U-23 teams. She served on the USAR Women’s Strategic Committee, Collegiate Board, and was President of ACRA, where the fall 15’s championship season was introduced in 2014. In 2012, Mathews launched and still runs the top-ranked Polar Bear Rugby Camp for girls and women hosted at Bowdoin College. Mathews holds a B.S. in Biology, an M.S. in Adult & Higher Education, and lives in Portland, Maine.