Rugby World Cup Winners Honored Capitol Hill

The legendary 1991 USA Women’s National Team, inaugural Rugby World Cup champions, recently received a momentous Capitol Hill celebration for their 35th anniversary. Nine player representatives, including Tara Flanagan, were honored on the House floor as Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts read an official Congressional Record, commemorating their historic triumph in Cardiff, Wales, on April 14th, 1991. This recognition for a self-funded, self-organized team highlights three decades of women's rugby growth, a journey Flanagan likened to their initial grassroots efforts, and honored beloved deceased teammates Kathy Flores and Val Sullivan. For US rugby fans, this celebration of past glory, which included 32 flags flown over the US Capitol for the full squad, is a powerful reminder of the sport's ascent. Co-captain Barbara Bond further illustrated this progress, citing the 85,000-fan sellout for the 2025 Rugby World Cup final and the anticipated 10,000+ crowd for the upcoming Pacific Four Series match against Australia in Kansas City, stressing the need for professionalism and resources in the women's game.