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Women's Committee Award

Named in honor of the original governing body of women's rugby, the USWRF Women's Committee Award annually recognizes 2 outstanding administrators.

 

To nominate an administrator or for more information please contact KHeffernan@uswrf.org

 

2025 Administrator Award Winners:

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Amanda Cox​

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Amanda Cox began her rugby career with Virginia Tech in 1996. She enjoyed a long career with the Raleigh Venom and subsequently contributed to 4 national championship titles. Amanda transitioned to refereeing in 2011. In her capacity as a referee Amanda had an opportunity to be a Television Match Official (TMO) for several international events and also performed TMO duties for Major League Rugby.

 

Demonstrating a sustained commitment to the growth of women’s rugby, she mentors a cohort of young women referees for USA Rugby and also oversees a group of High Performance referees. She served for five years as the Referee Manager for the Women’s Premier League, where she developed a comprehensive program for the league modeled on other professional pathways. She currently holds the position of Referee Manager for Women’s Elite Rugby, through which she continues to support and advance high-performance officiating development.

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Amanda considers her most meaningful accomplishment to be her role as the mother of three teenage daughters.

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Ali Gillberg​

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Playing:

• UW-Eau Claire Women's Rugby 2009-2010,
• T.I.T.S Rugby Captain 2010-present,
• Wisconsin Senior Selects 2010,
• MN U24 All-Stars 2011,
• Twin Cities Amazons 2011-2024,

• 2014 WNT top 60 pool,
• 2017 WNT top 100 pool,
• 100 WPL matches played,
• WPL All-Star player (2017, 2018, 2019, 2023),
• Midwest Senior Thunderbirds 2024,

• TC Gemini player 2025

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Rugby Admin/Coaching:

• University of Minnesota Women's Rugby Assistant Coach, 2014-2019

• Minnesota U23 Assistant Coach, 2014-2022

• Twin Cities Amazons e-board member, 2011-2015, 2022

• Started helping with WPL website/marketing, 2012

• WPL Director, 2016-2022

• WPL Advisor to the Board, 2023

• WPL League Operations, 2023

• Integral part of the WPL's transition to professionalization (WER)

2024 Administrator Award Winners:

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Kirby Gordon​

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At age 30, Kirby is the President of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union.​ She is the first Black President and just the 3rd female President in EPRU history. In addition to serving as President she is the Division 3 Women's Competition Coordinator and serves on the EPRU Board of Directors. Prior to that she was the Disciplinary Chair, and member of the EPRU Executive Committee.

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Kirby was instrumental in developing the Club All Star Program and created and manages the EPRU 7s series. She created EPRU Red and White day, an intra-union All Star day featuring men's and women's matches. She manages the Dana Bateman Memorial Program which funds the ongoing education, training, and development of EPRU members.

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It’s not an exaggeration to say that nobody has been more essential to the growth, development, and success of the EPRU than Kirby. She is actively involved on a day to day basis with Men's Division 1-4 and Women's Division 1-3. In addition to her administrative work, Kirby plays for the Philadelphia Rugby Club and the Blackyardigans. She is a member of the Eastern Penn Rugby Referee Society and a RugbyPA Professional Match Official. All while managing her duties as a full time public defender.

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Erin Kennedy​

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Erin Kennedy has worked in sports administration for over 14 years, focusing most of that in rugby development and administration. She is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Founder of Girls Rugby and is currently the Regional Development Manager for Rugby Americas North. She’s worked in development and management for both USA Rugby and Rugby Canada, on Rookie Rugby and Try on Rugby.

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Erin has also worked for the North American Caribbean Rugby Association, developing youth rugby and women's rugby programs in the Caribbean and Mexico. She coordinated programs for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Switzerland, focusing on the Youth Olympic Games. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Denver, a World Rugby Trainer, has played for multiple teams in the US and abroad, as well as coached at the youth, high school, and adult club levels.

 

Erin holds a Master's degree in Sport and Performance Psychology and is a passionate advocate for the growth of youth and women's rugby in North America. She is also the author of The Value of Rugby, a children’s book aimed at teaching the core values of rugby.

2023 Administrator Award Winners:

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Katherine Aversano

  • Program Director and Head Coach, Howard University Women’s Rugby

  • Program Director and Head Coach, Howard University Women’s Rugby

  • Former Coach, NOVA 15s, (2017-2021)

  • World Rugby Level 3 Coach Certification (in process)

  • Co-Director, USWRF Women’s Rugby History Project

  • Competitions Coordinator, Premier Rugby 7’s (PR7s)

  • Founder and Commissioner, Chesapeake Rugby Conference, Mid-Atlantic Division and the Collegiate Clinic Series (2016-2019)

  • Member, USAR’s Nominations Committee, DEI Committee and Discipline Committee (2020-present)

  • International Rugby Advisory Board Member, Old Glory (2020-present)

  • Board Member, James Robertson and Clive Sullivan Rugby Foundation

  • Board Member and the Region 6 Director, USA Youth and High School Rugby (2020-present)

  • Girls Tackle Commissioner, Rugby Maryland (2020-present)

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Angela Smarto​

  • Head Coach, Robert Morris University (2013-present)

  • Director and Division I & II Commissioner, National Collegiate Rugby (NCR)

  • Collegiate Coordinator, Allegheny Rugby Union

  • Executive Officer, Allegheny Rugby Union (former)

  • Executive Officer and President, Pittsburgh Forge Rugby Club

  • Director and Fundraising Chair, Steel City 7s (2014-2017)

  • World Rugby Level 2 Coach

  • Assistant Coach, Allegheny Women’s Select Side Program (2017-2022)

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