Denver

Boston

Chicago

New York

Twin Cities

Bay Area

Denver Boston Chicago New York Twin Cities Bay Area

WER Names Inaugural Head Coaches

WER is has announced the head coaches for the inaugural 2025 season, showcasing a seasoned group of individuals determined to lead the charge as a new chapter of women’s rugby begins in the United States this Spring.

“We are ecstatic to announce our roster of experienced head coaches who are committed to bringing professional women’s rugby teams to new heights in the United States,” said WER President Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf.

“After an extensive candidate search, we identified these individuals because of their excellence in leadership and decades of experience with the sport. By assembling this group of highly skilled coaches we are committed to fostering an environment where athletes can pursue their dreams, maximize their potential, and make an investment in the future of the sport.”

WER Head Coaches

  • Kittery Ruiz

    Head Coach WER Boston

  • Hannah Stolba

    Head Coach WER Bay Area

  • Bryan Colbridge

    Head Coach WER Chicago

  • Sarah Chobot

    Head Coach WER Denver

  • Diego Maquieira

    Head Coach WER New York

  • Sylvia Braaten

    Head Coach WER Twin Cities

2024 Legacy CUp Champions

The trophy

The 2024 Legacy Cup trophy represents the evolving state of women’s rugby, embodying both its history and its future.

Its unique shape resembles an unfinished rugby ball and symbolizes the ongoing transition from the amateur to the professional game. This incomplete form highlights both the significant progress has been made and the work still to be done.

Designed in a brutalist art style, the trophy mirrors the raw, intense, and physically demanding nature of rugby itself. The minimalistic, industrial aesthetic captures the sport’s inherent toughness and resilience, reflecting the athletes’ strength and determination as they pave the way for future generations in women’s+ rugby.

The trophy is created by sculptor Amy Root who played for over a decade with the Colorado Olde Girls and Glendale Merlins before transitioning to coaching. The trophy, like the Legacy Cup itself, honors the pioneers who built the foundation for this league.

Leadership & Honors

  • World Rugby Coach Educator

  • Premiership Scholar

  • Founder, Blackyardigans

  • WPL All-Star

  • Referee

  • WPL Athlete, Beantown Rugby

  • Commissioner, Northeast D1

  • Vice Commissioner, Rugby Northeast

  • Clinics Coordinator, Beantown Rugby

  • 7s Program Director, Beantown Rugby

  • Tournament Coordinator, Beantown Rugby

  • Senior Club Council Committee Member

  • Head Coach, Brandeis University Women’s

  • Assistant Coach, Free Jacks Academy

  • President, CRAA Women’s Div 1 and 2

  • Secretary, ACRA

  • Head Coach, St. Mary’s High School Girls

Kathy flores Heart of the wpl awardee

OLIVIA BENZAN-DANIEL

Olivia Benzan-Daniel “OBD” exemplifies what it means to support and grow women’s rugby in the US. She is an inspiring leader who pushes those around her to grow and strive to be the best they can be every single day. Her exemplary work benefits all levels of the rugby community from WPL to Youth and High School.

OBD is always growing her knowledge of the sport and constantly encouraging others to do the same. She is a force on and off the field, and an asset to any organization that she is a part of.

The U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation, WER, and her WPL colleagues are proud to honor Olivia Benzan-Daniel for her many contributions to the sport of rugby.

About Kathy Flores

Kathy Flores was a true pioneer in women's rugby.  Kathy's journey spanned an impressive 45 years, during which she shattered glass ceilings, inspired countless individuals, and left an indelible mark on the sport we all love. Her legacy is not just one of personal achievement, but of opening doors and paving the way for generations of women in rugby.

 Kathy truly made history; she was a woman of many firsts:

  • First woman to coach a national rugby team

  • First woman of color to coach a national team

  • First woman to coach a Rugby World Cup team

  • First captain of the USA Women's Rugby Team

Kathy's impact on the sport has been recognized at the highest levels. She has been posthumously awarded the Kathy Flores Coaching Chair at Brown University - the first and only coaching chair established for women's rugby. This honor ensures that her legacy will continue to shape the future of the sport for years to come. Kathy was induction into the World Rugby Hall of Fame cemented her status as a true icon of the game.

USWRF helps girls and women develop access, voice, and agency to leverage the benefits of rugby and be part of a healthy community on and off the pitch and is committed to the growth of girls’ and women’s rugby through the advancement of coaches, referees, and administrators.

USWRF is honored to continue the work Kathy started, through the Kathy Flores Memorial Fund, where people can donate in her honor, and that these funds are available for aspiring coaches.

The 2025 Markets

WER FIT

WER TOUGH

WER EVOLVED

WER STRONG

WER BOLD

WER SPIRITED

WER FIT WER TOUGH WER EVOLVED WER STRONG WER BOLD WER SPIRITED

Professional Women’s Rugby

coming to the u.S.

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