2022 Players of the Year
We're proud to announce our inaugural list of the Ruggette RFC players of the year. Read more about these amazing athletes and their contributions to the rugby community and beyond below!
Catherine (Monty) Montgomery
Santa Monica Women's Rugby
An often unsung position, Monty goes above and beyond for Santa Monica as their “kick ass gear person”, making sure everything the team needs gets to both practices and games.
She’s also known as one of those classic wingers no one ever wants running at them - you’ll either get run over or stepped immediately and watch helplessly as she runs by.
Both a star on and off the field, her energy and spirit continue through the third half, and she’s a true inspiration to her teammates and us as well.
Taylor Beachham
Ventura County Outlaws Women
As the newest player to the Ventura County Outlaws, Taylor has not only impressed with “regular passes, smart offloads, and fearless tackles”, but already embodies the spirit of rugby in just her first two months playing.
Her nomination comes from teammates who champion her humility, respect, and eagerness to absorb information like a sponge.
A true teammate who inspires confidence and trust in those around her, we are thrilled to include her on this list, and can’t wait to see what comes next.
Abigail Smith
SCSU Women's Rugby
A member of the exec board as Match Secretary, Abby’s dedication to SCSU and the wider women’s rugby community could never be questioned.
She not only helps organize matches, but she’s scheduled socials and regularly volunteers with the local community - leading up this season’s Toys for Tots with the Marines in New Haven.
While all of this is impressive on its own, she’s led from the front despite adversity. Recently, she persevered through a post-Covid heart inflammation recovery and the passing of her brother, Steven.
We’re honored to have you a part of the women’s rugby community, Abby, and you deserve to be recognized for your hard work!
Kiana Curl
Houston Athletic Rugby Club - Women (sHARCs)
Kiana (or KC as her teammates like to call her) plays with heart and passion every chance she gets on the pitch.
A natural fly half and captain, she elevates her phenomenal talent by working hard both inside and outside of training to improve. Not only are her passes consistently accurate and well-timed, she “hits like a bullet and will come out of nowhere to make tackles”.
On top of improving her individual skills, she’s always looking for a way to create team cohesion to raise the level of everyone around her.
A dedicated, loyal, and fierce athlete, we welcome her to our list of players of the year.
Robyn Oliveri
Tampa Bay Krewe
Need someone to do extras with before training? You can always count on Robyn to arrive early, getting in her tempo runs or practicing her kicks.
And all of that practice has paid off - last year she led the state in points from all of her conversions.
Not only does she go above and beyond with her skills, she’s also the field/equipment manager for the club.
As an integral part to keeping Tampa Bay Krewe successful, we’re excited to name this “excellent player, exemplary board member, and even better friend” on our list of top players.
Willow Jarvis
Sirens RFC - Eckerd College
The current forwards captain at Sirens RFC, Willow dedicates her time and energy to the sport.
Not only will you find her running people over on the field, but she’s the first to run to your help off of it.
Speaking of running, she’s always motivating others to push their fitness. A truly amazing captain and friend, we love this type of motivation from our teammates!
Jordan Senger
University of North Dakota Women's Rugby Club -- Sweet Demons
In her first year playing rugby, Jordan slotted in seamlessly to both scrum half and fly half - a feat that’s not easy to do.
Even in her inexperience, she showed an impressive ability to read the field, make good passes, and call the right plays. Her coach credits her as a quick learner, never afraid to ask questions and improve, whose confidence sparked the more comfortable she became with leading the team.
Her leadership continued off the field, becoming known as “team Mom”. Thanks to her consistent presence and understanding with teammates, as well as impressing on the pitch, we’re thrilled to include her on our list.
Chelsea Garber
Raleigh Rugby Club
As team captain for almost a decade, Chelsea’s talent and leadership with Venom has helped them become one of the top D1 rugby teams in the country.
She’s dedicated countless hours to practice plans, weekly fitness challenges, documenting playbooks, and more. However, as captain, she’s always the one picking players of the match for awards.
This year will be her last with the club, and we agree with her teammates - it’s time she gets the recognition she’s long deserved for all of her hard work.
Fiona Dunn
Winnipeg Wasps Rugby Club
Representing our Canadian outfit, Fiona is the “go-to teammate” for the Winnipeg Wasps.
Not only does she put in the graft at every game and practice herself, she’s eager to lend a helping hand with others. You’ll often find her coaching up the newbies, making sure they feel welcome and up to speed.
Her teammates love her energy and credit her for being the fun-loving heart of the club needed to succeed.
Sydlo
Union County Lady Mudturtles
Extremely dedicated and hard-working, you can always count on Sydlo to keep her teammates at the top of their game.
Whether that’s keeping everyone organized as captain or making sure they’re enjoying the social, she’s a true star on and off the pitch.
In 2022, she juggled being a mom to adorable new puppy, Dezi with a brand-new job that saw her traveling all over the world (plus she’s topping the leaderboards as a Peloton baddie).
The true all-around athlete, she embodies the energy we love to see.
Congrats to all players!