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.