The 2024 Mary Graham All Stars Rugby Tournament is set to take place at the in Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex at an upgraded facility—Grand Prairie Mountain Creek Soccer Complex on December 7-8. Hosted by Grand Prairie RFC, this marks the ninth edition of the tournament, bringing together elite women’s rugby players from across the country.
Midwest Green will be returning as the defending champions, aiming for an impressive three-peat in the Cup competition. Joining them in the Cup are Southwest, who moved up this year, along with TRU Toast and USA Rugby South. In the Plate competition, we have Midwest White, Capital and Mid-America, and South Selects.
Join us for a thrilling weekend, as we continue to develop high-performance rugby players, coaches, referees, and Announcers by showcasing the talents of women in the sport. Can’t make it in person? Don’t worry, all matches will be live-streamed on the TRU Youtube page by our partner, Nutmeg Sports Media. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable rugby experience!
Schedule
Saturday kicks off with high-stakes semi-final matches at the Mountain Creek Soccer Complex (3730 S Belt Line Rd, Grand Prairie 75052), running from the early morning through the day. Teams will need to bring their best if they want a shot at the Championship matches.
But the excitement doesn’t end there. Sunday features the consolation matches, leading up to the intense championship showdowns. As the day progresses, all eyes will be on the final clashes where the Cup and Plate champions will be crowned.
Travel & Accommodation
Airport
Teams can choose to arrive at either Dallas Fort Worth International Airport or Dallas Love Field.
Hotel
Contact Scott Poland (spoland@gptx.org) with the Grand Prairie’s tourism department. He can help secure a block of rooms for all your team’s needs.
Also recommend checking out Epic Central (https://epiccentral.com).
- Hilton Garden Inn Grand Prairie at EpicCentral
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Grand Prairie at EpicCentral
- Courtyard Dallas Grand Prairie
- Residence Inn Dallas Grand Prairie
Supporters
We take great pride in the sponsorship and support extended by these fantastic organizations.:
- Texas Rugby Union
- USA Rugby Senior Club Council
- Nutmeg Sports Media
- USA Rugby High Performance Program
- Texas Rugby Referee Association
- USA Rugby High Performance Referees
- “The Mary Graham”
- Rugby Ninja
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.
Competition Format
The competition is broken into two tiers:
- The Cup features the top four teams.
- The Plate includes the next four teams.
The winners of Saturday’s semifinals in each tier will move on to the Championship matches on Sunday. The Plate Championship winner earns promotion to the Cup bracket for the following year, while the loser of the 3rd/4th place Cup Consolation match is relegated to the Plate competition next year. This format ensures continued competition and development for all teams.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
To help players, coaches, and fans better understand the format and expectations for both the Mary Graham All Stars competition and the TRU Toast All Stars team, we’ve put together this FAQ. Whether you’re new to the event or a returning participant, these answers will clarify key details and help you prepare for the upcoming season.