Vol. 16, No. 37	July 24, 1997

Senior rates top honors in rugby

Virginia Thompson, a senior from Hollywood, Md., has been selected for All American Honors by the United States of America Rugby Football Union. Thompson, who plays fly-half, was chosen from approximately 6,000 women who play the sport nationwide. She also was selected for the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union all star squad.

The women's rugby team at UD was organized by a group of players in the fall of 1993 and began playing matches the spring of 1995. Numbering approximately 35 players, the team is coached by Mike McClay, Academic Services Center, who played rugby at the University of Massachusetts and the University of Virginia. He serves as faculty adviser to both the women's and men's rugby clubs.

The women's rugby team has played against such schools as Bryn Mawr College, the University of Pennsylvania and Penn State and Princeton universities.

"Rugby is a rapidly growing sport for women. In the short time the UD rugby team has been in existence, it has become one of the top 10 nationwide, and I am very pleased and proud that Ginny has received this recognition," McClay said.