Gray and the swarming Penn State defense /// Photo: Jackie Finlan
If you feel like you’ve been hearing Jordan Gray’s name for years, you’re not deceived. Since arriving in Provo, Utah, in fall 2011, Gray has defined the ultra-physical style of play for which BYU rugby is known. The versatile athlete was in top form during her final year as a Cougar and earned our College Player of the Year award.
“She is a one of a kind,” BYU coach Tom Waqa praised his graduating senior. “Any college coach would have loved to have her on their team. I feel honored and thankful that she spent her college years at BYU.”
Gray came to BYU with solid rugby experience, having earned Athlete of the Year her senior year as a member of Centennial (Calgary) High School’s basketball and rugby teams. That was a luxury in those days – inheriting a player with prior rugby knowledge – and speaks to some of Waqa’s gratitude. Gray was ushered into the USA age-grade system quickly, and as she entered her senior year at BYU, took her final step out of the Women’s National Team pathway. Gray was one of seven collegians selected to the 2015 Super Series team and earned three caps at No. 8.
Fall 2015 became a hallmark season for another reason. After years existing as an operation independent of BYU, the team formerly known as Women’s Cougar Rugby was inducted into the university’s sports club family. That status afforded loads of school support, and it came just in time for the first-ever DI Elite competition, which aimed to united the eight best college teams in the country.
The uninitiated got a glimpse of the six-foot inside center (Gray has played both No. 8 and inside center throughout her career) during the Round of 8 at Central Washington. Crowds took note of a big, strong, mobile athlete who always seemed to be on the attack, regardless of whether she was on offense or defense. With ball in hand, she ramped up to speed quickly, could spin out of contact, drag three defenders, or fend her way to the try zone. If she was wrapped low, then she leaned on those basketball handling skills to find a teammate in support. On defense, she snapped into the tackle so hard that the contact was unnervingly audible.
“She is a team leader, a captain who leads by example,” Waqa added. “She comes with a good attitude and is always willing to perform and cover other players’ limitations as far as skills and strength. She brought that to the team.”
There were some memorable performances in the DI Elite final, which Penn State won, but if any player emblematized their team, it was Gray for BYU. She had the power to incite a momentum change, and on more than one occasion led the Cougars from their own end into scoring position.
Both BYU and Penn State played cohesive team games behind well skilled rugby players. But the DI Elite final was special for the Cougars; it was their first trip to any national championship, and they were doing it as a first-year sports club. Despite the different pressures to perform, Gray became the standard of BYU rugby.
“Jordan Gray has anchored the BYU Women’s Rugby program as a leader for all her years playing rugby at BYU, and excelled at it, too,” Waqa concluded. “But she was at her best during the DI Elite final. I could not have asked for anything more.”
Fortunately for the rugby-watching world, Gray will continue to grace screens this summer. The loose forward has returned to the Super Series squad, which will play France, Canada and England on July 1, 5 and 9 in Salt Lake City.
For more on Jordan Gray, check out this BYU Magazine feature that speaks to sports and family.
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