Calling all rugby enthusiasts! The 7th Annual Mary Graham All Stars returns on December 2-3, and we’re excited to announce that this year’s event will be hosted in Austin, TX, alongside the Austin Huns at Nixon Lane. The defending champions from the Pacific NW will be vying for glory, while the South Panthers move up to Tier 1 and the Midwest White team shifts down to Tier 2. Stay tuned for more updates as additional teams will be confirmed in the near future.
We’re raising the stakes this year in response to growing interest from Unions and LAUs. The tournament will now feature three competitive tiers, with space for a total of 12 dynamic teams. Each tier will engage in fierce competition within its bracket, culminating in a Cup, Plate, and Bowl winner. The top team will be awarded the esteemed Cup, while Plate and Bowl winners will earn a promotion to the next tier. Meanwhile, the fourth place teams in the Cup and Plate brackets will face relegation.
Our previous tournament saw the successful filling of Tier 1 and 2 with all GU and LAU teams, an improvement from past years when we supplemented with club teams. Our mission to foster high performance rugby players and All Star teams remains as strong as ever. We’re equally devoted to promoting women in the sport: we continue to seek female referees to further their development and, this year, we’re actively scouting for aspiring female commentators to learn more about broadcasting.
If you can’t join us in person, you’re still part of the action. Our partner, Nutmeg Sports Media, will broadcast all matches live on the TRU Youtube page. So, save the dates and prepare for an electrifying rugby spectacle!
For more information about the 2023 Mary Graham All Stars, including details about the event schedule and updates, please visit https://texasrugbyunion.com/2023-mary-graham-all-stars/. If you’re part of a team that is interested in participating in this thrilling tournament, don’t hesitate to contact Traci at traci@texasrugbyunion.com. We’re excited to hear from you and welcome your team to this incredible rugby extravaganza!
About Mary Graham All Stars
The Mary Graham All Stars tournament showcases the top women rugby players in the U.S., featuring Geographic Union (GU) All Star teams from across the country. It serves as a key scouting event for the USA Rugby Eagles Women’s National Team. The tournament has evolved into more than just an annual rugby event; it is a platform for championing women in rugby. We continue to prioritize the development of female referees and commentators, playing a pivotal role in the growth of women’s rugby.
The Mary Graham All Stars was established in 2014 as the Texas Rugby Union (TRU) All Star Challenge, filling the void left by the National All Stars Competition (NASCs) in 2011. In 2021, the event was renamed to honor TRU Hall of Fame member Mary Graham, who founded the first U23 Texas Rugby Union All Star team in 2001.