PRFC Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes place each year at Friends & Family day in late spring. In early spring the Hall of Fame committee will accept nominations. Qualifications and committee guidelines can be found at the bottom of this page.
2011 - Angie Clark Rapalyea and Betsy Tomlinson
2012 - MA Sorenson and Gary Manear
2013 - Michelle “Beast” Taft Morris
2014 - Lucy Shanks-Rickard
2015 - Kristin “MAC” McCarthy
2018 - Travis Blasi and Angie Marfisi Nagle
2019 - Rachel Kenyon
2022 - Janine Wright
2022
Janine Wright
“I just wanted to say how great Janine is and what an integral part of the team she was..she was the president for years and the foundation of everything that was Philadelphia Women at that time. She did so much work behind the scenes and organized so much, that all we had to do was show up, practice and play. I have never met anyone as selfless and giving as her- not before or since. She never played a minute of any game, but she gave her all for the team and helped forge our future and our success. Every team should be lucky enough to have someone like Janine Wright at the helm.. I am so fortunate to have known her!” -MA Sorensen
“Janine was amazing. She did everything and anything. The ability to play without having to run things is so different…In hindsight, we all were able to truly concentrate on the game. We did nothing but practice and play. Leaving the rest to Janine. Janine took care of all of us. She also grew the game. Involving us in the community. We attended community events as a team. She got us press. She found us support of all types. She made us a family. Like a proud parent she supported us. Presented us. We wanted her to be proud of us. Worked hard to make that happen. It was evident in who we were and how we played. I was never closer to a team than I was to the one she created. Yes she. Her quiet confidence was contagious. Confident in her skills but also confident in us. There has never been anyone like her. Someone who never played but managed an entire organization and roster of players. I still remember those events. Those I attended with her. With that team. Dancing at the prom at the Newport. Playing rugby with pumpkins on the back patio, Going to Henri David’s Halloween Ball, the PGN awards, Pride, and so many more…That smile. Kind and loving. I miss that time period. Her care. That team. That time. She deserves our thank you. That team. The team before and all the teams after. They built on her legacy. Whether they knew it or not. She laid the foundation. So thank you. For helping me learn the sport I would grow to love more than any other For creating life long friendships. For taking care of us and always making us better. Love you. Both now and then.” -Leslie Mason
2019
Rachel Kenyon
PWRFC Playing Experience: 1992 - 1999, Coached until 2002~
Positions played: 2nd Row, Coach
Rachel was a guiding leader on and off the field during a time of big transition and rebuilding
East Select Side player
MARFU Player during the first year of selections when MARFU was created as a smaller territory in 1996.
She was an important asset on many PWRFC 7s teams over the years and was a member of the Philly-heavy "select" team that won the National All Star Invitational Tournament in 1997.
USA Pool Player
Rachel was a true team player - opening her DC house and sharing her family with the team whenever we traveled to the capital region (for matches or Ruggerfest).
“She was my first club coach out of college and I’ll always remember how warm and welcoming she was towards the “new kid” . She stepped in during a very transitional time on the club and helped guide us through. I have continued to be in Rachel’s presence over the past 18 years and she still maintains a love for the game, attending many friends and family events and staying connected to alumni.” - Angie Marfici Nagle
“Rachel was the definition of a stalwart teammate - consistent and hardworking, and never complained, always the consummate Quaker - it's hard to dig up any real dirt on her! Barf bag stories and tuna hoagies notwithstanding, one of the most important lessons I ever learned from Rachel was to always - always - drive the team van myself on road trips” - Beast
“What stands out for me was when she was a selector. Rachel is just so fair and so calm that she was always able to help take the emotion out of those meetings. You knew you could trust what she was saying, and she was great at helping us make decisions. As a younger player, she was someone that you didn't want to disappoint - and her facial expression let us know whether she found our antics amusing or appalling.” - Melissa Wagamon
2018
Travis Blasi
PWRFC Playing Experience: 2000-2008
Positions played: Flyhalf, Fullback
PWRFC Coach 2014 - 2016, 2018
Alternate Captain for many seasons
Selector for many seasons
Field Chair 2000- 2005
Kutztown University rugby alum
Met her wife, Meredith Hegg, on the team and together they have two children
“One of my favorite people to play with. No matter what team or situation, I never doubted Travis' ability to handle it. She was a fearless, gritty, and smart competitor. Travis is one of the best teammates and friend I have ever had and I always knew she supported me both on and off the field.” - Mancini
“So, I think it’s important for us to talk about how they both embody leadership, selflessness and passion for not only the game of rugby but for Philly Women. We have all shared in hugs, huddles and tears, both on and off the pitch." - Patti
angie marfisi nagle
PWRFC Playing Experience: 2002 - 2010
Positions played: Loose-head prop, Hooker, Eightman, flanker
Served as PWRFC Captain for many years
Played for Temple in college
Coached Temple Owls
MARFU Senior All Star 2006
2007 USA - A (non-traveling side) Eagle - played against Canada
Assistant Coach USA Rugby Collegiate All American 2010
“Since college Angie had a deep commitment and devotion to rugby both as a player and an administrator and that never wavered through her years with Philly. She was a player who motivated the team with her tough and tireless play. If it weren't for Angie, I would not have played 7s my first summer after college with Philly. I can not imagine what my life would have been like without this family and for that I am forever grateful." - Mancini
- There were no nominees for 2016 and 2017 -
2015
Kristin "Mac" McCarthy
PWRFC Playing Experience: Spring 1996-fall 2001 (retired due to injury);
Positions played: Outside Center, Fullback, Lock, 8-Man.
PWRFC Club Officer 2001
When a second team was created in the Philadelphia area, Mac made sure to keep PWRFC running smoothly and provided great leadership through this time
MARFU Administrator
Level II USARFU coaching certification.
2001 - ? - Drexel University Women's Rugby Head Coach: View Coaching Philosophy
“Mac loved Philly Women so deeply. I remember the night we came up with the name "Lola" for the image of the woman running with the ball that was used on so much of our stuff. That was just one of many nights we sat in Dickens Inn laughing our butts off.” - Lisa “Huff” Heinrich
In 1999, there was a successful spoken word song released by Bax Luhrmann known as The Sunscreen Song. Mac adapted it for rugby and it made its way around the rugby world, onto many teams' web-sites, etc.
2014
Lucy Shanks-Rickard
While Lucy’s time with Philadelphia Rugby was brief, her impact to the club lives on today. A ruddy-faced, ginger-haired Brit with an infectious personality, Lucy embodied all of the best ideals of rugby. Lucy set the standard for Friends and Family Day in terms of donations and fundraising, one which will be hard pressed to ever replicate. Her tireless efforts established Friends and Family Day as a premier event for the club. Even after returning to England, Lucy continued visit and stay involved with her PRFC family. Sadly, Lucy passed away far too soon, but we are privileged to honor her with induction into our hall of fame.
2013
Michelle “Beast” Taft Morris
Played with Philly from 1992 to 2003, and served as president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, vice captain and assistant coach...but not all at once! Even after retiring as an active Philly player, she rounded out a decade of making Pumpkinfest a huge success as the tournament chair. A role which she says mostly made her “cry and drink a lot.” After the hall of fame induction, Beast joined in with other dedicated alumnae to make sure the beer didn’t outlast the party and shared these words of wisdom the current team: “You don't get inducted into the PWRFC Hall of Fame for leaving the party early!”
2012
Gary Manear
Believed in women when no one else did
Mentally and physically prepped the team for the first nationals
Worked behind the scenes with statistics to ensure PWRFC qualified
Led the team to the first ever women's nationals where we got 8th place
Played for: Chesapeake, Whitemarsh
Coached: Hibernians
Ma Sorenson
A coach once told her "Some people treat rugby like a game, but you treat it like your love, and that will be your hardship"
1975 began rugby at College of William and Mary
19 years with PWRFC, 1978-1999
EXCEPT 83-85 with Maulie Maguires in Bethlehem
Went to Nationals in '81 (8th place), '97, '98
Select side: EPRU, Eastern Rugby Union, MARFU, USA Eagle 1990-2000
25 international caps
Played in inaugural world cup '91, 1st place
Played in Wales, Canada, Scotland, Australia, Fiji, Amsterdam, and New Zealand
USA Rugby International Athlete 96-99
Coached PWRFC: 2002-2007
Assistant MARFU coach: 2003-2007
Scrum/forward coach at USA Women's Camps
2011
Angie Clark Rapalyea and Betsy Tomlinson
Angie and Betsy met in the fall of 1975. Betsy knew some women in the Doylestown-area and Angie knew women in the Philadelphia-area who were interested in playing rugby. Neither had enough for a full side so they combined forces and, in the spring of 1976, founded Philadelphia Women's Rugby Club.
Philly's first match was at University of Delaware, which Philly lost 13-0. But next season's home rematch against Delaware ended in a win and Angie had the honor of scoring Philly's first-ever try!
Angie played pretty much every position in the pack until her retirement in 1983, but found her home at tight-head prop. She and Betsy ran the club for several years.
Betsy is still very involved in the rugby community and her children and grandchildren currently play for Doylestown RFC.
Inductees will be announced each year at Friends & Family Day. A new selection committee will be selected following the announcement. To volunteer for the selection committee please contact president@philadelphiarugby.org.
Selection Criteria
Inductee must display at least one of the following characteristics:
Membership on USA team, Territorial or Union all-star squad
Membership on Philadelphia Rugby championship teams
Acknowledged superiority of skill relevant to positional category
Lofty display of sportsmanship
Production of an extraordinary playing record
Longevity of participation in the game of rugby
Overall contribution to Philadelphia Rugby in the capacity of administrator, manager, coach, referee or other recognized personality of the game
Inductee must display all of the following characteristics:
Member of Philadelphia Rugby for a minimum of 3 total years
Retired for a minimum of 2 years
Exceptions to aforementioned criteria:
In the case of the death of an active member, or a member who retired fewer than 2 years ago, the deceased member is eligible at the time of the next election, immediately following death.
Any player, administrator, manager, coach, referee or other personality who has been elected to the Hall Of Fame, and and who later brings the game and/or the Hall of Fame into disrepute, can be expelled at the discretion of the Selection Committee.
Induction procedures
Inductees will be chosen by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee and honored at Philadelphia Rugby’s Annual Friends and Family Day in spring each year
The 5-member Selection Committee will be appointed prior to Friends and Family Day by the current board (see details below), and no one can serve on the Selection Committee for more than 3 consecutive years
The Selection Committee will make a call for nominations to the current and retired members
All nominations will be considered and the Selection Committee will make the final appointments
There will be a maximum of 2 inductees per year
If there are no viable candidates, the Selection Committee reserves the right not to induct anyone
Selection Committee Framework
One Philadelphia Rugby Board Member, who is also a current player. If there are no viable options, the Philadelphia Rugby Board will select a current player at their discretion.
Four retired players, each representing a different decade in Philadelphia Rugby’s history.