The Portland Women’s Rugby Football Club began playing in Spring 1977. The founders had been commuting to Boston for a fall season and wanted their own club. By spring, they had 25 women joining the PWRFC. That first team, with coaches from the established men’s team, went undefeated, winning the first of four consecutive New England Championships in Providence, R.I. Having qualified for the first-ever USA Rugby Women’s National Invitational Tournament in Chicago. PWRFC took home that National title in 1978.
Portland women joined the New England Women’s Touring Side (NEWTS) for a tour to England and Wales. Teammates also joined Beantown and Boston on tours to Bermuda and regularly participated in rugby tournaments in Montreal, Quebec City, and at Mad River, winning Mad River in 1986. Unable to sustain their membership, the Women’s Team ceased playing in the late 80s.
