Penn State Rugby Milestones
The Milestones display recalls significant events in Penn State Rugby history:
In 1962, the Penn State Rugby Football Club was founded by two students familiar with the sport from far-away lands: Ivan Jackson from New Zealand and Pat Denny from England. The first match was a 39-3 loss against Villanova, but the team won 2 of their next 4 matches.
In 1966, Penn State Rugby put on a halftime exhibition match during a football game at Beaver Stadium, attended by 50,000 people. That year, it also hosted its first tournament, called the Bartoletti Cup.
In 1979, the women’s team was founded and coached by Richard Devon.
In 1987, the men’s team became a collegiate sport for undergraduates only.
In 1989, the men’s team reached the Final Four playoffs for the first time.
In 1992, the women’s collegiate side was founded in 1991 and coached by Charlie Smith.
In 1993, the women’s team made their first Final Four appearance.
In 1997, the women’s team won their first National Championship. The Mathias Rugby Endowment was announced on the evening before the match.
In 2022, eight alumnae participated in the World Cup in New Zealand; seven as players with the USA National Team, and one as an assistant coach. A ninth was named as a non-traveling reserve.
Fun Fact: The Penn State Women have won a total of twelve National Championships: 1997, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Did you play rugby at Penn State?
Help us tell more of Penn State Rugby’s history and keep our displays up-to-date! The information we’re featuring at the Kabala Family Rugby Hall is only as strong as we’re able to retell history.
If you see any errors in the display descriptions, names, or dates, please let us know. We will research, verify, and make changes. Likewise, if you have information, articles, or photos that could add important context to any element of Penn State Rugby’s history, we want to hear it! We will be aggregating new information and updating the “tour” quarterly.