NERFU Champions! Next stop Atlantic Super Regionals /  by Allie Brouckman

Boston is New England’s #1 Division 1 Women’s team!

The team is excited to finish the 2022-23 regular season with a great result, but our work isn’t over. We’re on to playoffs and will have a chance to compete at Atlantic Super Regionals with other competitive D1 teams including Raleigh, NOVA, and Providence. The winner of ASR will be advancing to USA Rugby National Club XVs Semi-Finals, and it’s sure to be a nail biter.

The excitement is palpable as the rugby team gears up for their upcoming game. Every player is putting in their all to ensure they are prepared and ready to bring their A-game. But preparing for a rugby game is not cheap. There are equipment costs, transport expenses, and other associated fees that must be taken into consideration.

That's where you come in. You can make a difference by donating to help offset the costs of travel for the rugby team. Your donation will not only help the team get to their game but will also give them the necessary support to perform at their best.

Inaugural Women’s Trailblazers Trophy Tournament hosted by New England FreeJacks /  by Allie Brouckman

The New England Free Jacks continue to support the local club rugby community and on April 22 they hosted the first ever Women’s Trailblazers Trophy Tournament. An amazing opportunity for local women’s teams to play in front of their loved ones, and showcase the caliber of the region’s local rugby scene.

Teams - Trailblazers Trophy Tournament

  • Portland vs Shamrocks

  • Hartford Roses vs Burlington

  • Beantown vs Boston

Photos courtesy of New England Free Jacks

Game highlights

Beantown opened the match with a beautiful chip and chase, but Boston didn’t let that shake us. Throughout the first half Boston found a majority of the offensive possession. Quick balls from the ruck were necessary as Beantown came in with strong ruck and jackal techniques. Boston maintained composure and finished the first half leading. Second half, Boston’s highlights were the defensive wall, back-3 counterattack, and composure. At the final whistle, Beantown came out on top leading 22-20.

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RECAP Nash Bash: Boston goes down south to the land of sweet tea and Southern charm. /  by Allie Brouckman

The team put in the work during pre-season, brushed up on fundamentals, and conditioned our bodies in the Forge with the New England FreeJacks. In early March, Boston transitioned outside and welcomed the field space to practice full team run throughs, tackling, and set piece plays.

Going into Nash Bash, every player was looking forward to playing new competition and executing what we’ve been doing at practices into match play. After delays to the tourney schedule due to weather, Boston came away with a huge win beating out St Louis Sabres 69-5.

2 games on Day 2, and Boston came up short for both. Though the weekend wasn’t wins across the board we know what went well, where we need to improve, and have an action plan moving forward. Rosters below:

The team has landed safely back in the Northeast, and we look to use the week to continue to build. This will be a match that’s no joke! Next game away at Hew Haven Saturday April 1, 2023. 

Investing in the Future of Rugby: How Boston WRFC is Supporting Youth Development in the New England Region /  by Allie Brouckman

Boston WRFC is passionate about growing the game in the New England region, especially at the youth level. Current and former Boston players continue to have an impact on youth players and our hope is to provide young players with access to quality coaching, training, and playing opportunities that help them build their skills and confidence on and off the field.


This past fall season, Boston joined MIT Women’s Rugby who is coached by alumni Lisa Dobbs. And to start the spring season, we joined alumni Soprano & captain Stacey at Boston College WRFC.

Rugby Team Coach(es) Location
Belmont High School Kate, Stacey, Denise Belmont, MA
Boston College Soprano, Stacey Chestnut Hill, MA
Brookline High School Court Brookline, MA
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Sarah G, Maggie Sudbury, MA 
Northeastern University Maggie, Tara Boston, MA

It’s our hope we continue to grow the game of rugby, create a pipeline of talented players, and have a positive impact on young people who can face life challenges with confidence and reassurance.

Alumni Katy Augustyn running in Boston Marathon again! /  by Allie Brouckman

For the second year in a row, Alumni Kit Kat is running in the 127th annual Boston Marathon! This year is for DetecTogether, who helps people learn early cancer detection steps and become advocates of their own healthcare if diagnosed. We have lost some amazing ruggers to cancer and she’d like to honor their memory, along with so many others who have been taken too early by cancer.

Kit Kat’s story:

Well, I went and did it again. I’m happy to announce that I will be running the 127th Annual Boston Marathon for a wonderful foundation called DetecTogether. I know some of you think I’m crazy for loving to run long distances (tight five forwards I’m looking at you), but I was a hockey goalie after all, so you should have known I was a little out there anyway!

So why run the Boston Marathon in support of DetecTogether?

Their mission is to save lives by teaching people how to detect cancer early and be active partners in their healthcare. It was founded to address an unmet need in the cancer world: no one was teaching people how to identify early warning signs of cancer.

In consultation with doctors from top cancer centers, founders Jim and Nancy Coghlin and their family set out to provide people with this life-saving education. Now in their second decade, the mission of DetecTogether is to save lives by teaching people how to detect cancer early and be active partners in their healthcare. Please visit DetecTogether, to learn more for yourself and family.

Since joining the team I learned a crazy statistic – that 40% of us will get a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. FORTY PERCENT. Maybe it’s just the way my brain works, but when I think of that stat as 4 out of 10 of my teammates or friends and family at a party receiving a cancer diagnosis, it makes me that more motivated to run and promote this cause.  

In memory of Kathy Flores, Timothy Powers, and Kanidis Ruiz, as well as anyone you miss for the same reason(s), I ask that you please consider donating to this incredible organization to save and improve lives for the 40% of us who will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime.

Boston is the leader in the North - Fall 2022 Recap /  by Allie Brouckman

We started the fall season with a restructured path to qualifying for playoffs (aka 2023 Atlantic Super Regional (ASR)) with the goal of reducing costs like flying for games, thus splitting our original conference into North vs South. Women’s Division 1 spans the following rugby unions: Capital, EPRU, Empire, and NERFU.

We welcomed new teammates to Boston, as we beefed up our schedule with plenty of developmental matches to work on rugby fundamentals, new combinations or tactics, and get new players time on the field. 

Fall 2022 Scores:

  • (L) 0-38. Sept 10 Beantown B - home

  • (W) 49-5. Sept 17 Providence - away

  • Sept 24 bye weekend 

  • (W) 41-31. Oct 1 Philly - home

  • (W) 68-0. Oct 22 Providence - home

  • (L) 5-21. Nov 5 Beantown B - away

Boston #1 Seed in the North!

Photo courtesy of Your Scrumhalf Connection.

Concluding the Fall season, Boston sits as seed #1 in the North, with Providence as North seed #2. Some teams competing into Spring 2023 season, so matchups to be determined by April 2023. More information about 2023 Atlantic Super Regional (ASR) here.

End of Season Awards

It’s always bittersweet ending the season. For weeks we've worked together, tackled for each other, and went through the up’s & down’s together. Our wins are done as a team, as well as the losses. Time to celebrate everything we’ve accomplished together as well as our individual achievements. We celebrated at Dorchester Brewing with players, alumni & coach Kate, friends & family. 

Awards:

  • MVP: Sophia Nieves

  • Best Back: Tiff Arce

  • Best Forward: Greek Ieraci

  • Most Improved: Brie Splits Mcgowan

  • Rookie of the season: Mia Daoust

  • Most Team Spirit: Tara Watson

BWRFC Adopts a Child For The Holidays /  by Allie Brouckman

BWRFC adopted a child for the holidays through the Butterfly Effect Project. The Butterfly Effect Project provides a safe space for young girls to find confidence and success within themselves. Through their organization we had been given a wish list of a young athlete, age 14, who was asking for simple things like socks, clothes, books and a soccer ball so she can practice on her own.

Last year, our Boston alumni and network raised over $700 . This year we were able to raise over $500 to purchase gifts for the young athlete we were assigned to for the holidays. We were able to not only get all the items on the list, but some additional sporting equipment for her to keep practicing her skills at home.

Supporting young girls is crucial as it helps empower them to become confident, independent, and strong people in the future. Boston WRFC is committed to the development and empowerment of youth!