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eagles.rugby — USA Rugby is thrilled to announce that Women’s Eagles legend, Jen Crawford, has been named to the World Rugby Hall of Fame Class of 2026. [lead graphic c/o USA Rugby]
Crawford joins a distinguished group of seven global inductees this year, including Abdelatif Benazzi (France), Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand), Sue Day (England), Diego Dominguez (Italy), Rochelle Martin (New Zealand), and Joel Stransky (South Africa). Her selection brings the total number of inductees to 182 since the Hall of Fame’s inception in 2006.
Honoring an Eagle on home soil, Crawford will be officially inducted alongside England’s record try-scorer Sue Day later this fall in New Jersey. The ceremony will take place ahead of the highly anticipated WXV Global Series match between the USA Eagles and England’s Red Roses at the Sports Illustrated Stadium on October 30. Tickets are available here.
Regarded as one of the finest players in North America, Crawford’s international career spanned from 1988 to 2000. Jen Crawford was a central player in USA Rugby history as part of the team that won the inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991, beating England 19-6 in the final.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said:
“On behalf of the global rugby family, I would like to congratulate Jen, Sue, Rochelle, Diego and Abdel on their richly deserved inductions into the World Rugby Hall of Fame, joining Joel and Zinzan in taking our class of 2026 to seven members.
“They have each made their mark on our sport, not only on the pitch but also off it. Jen was a trailblazer for women’s rugby in the USA, Sue is still the Red Roses’ record try-scorer and Rochelle won three Women’s Rugby World Cups.
Jen Crawford competed in three consecutive World Cup finals in 1991, 1994, and finally captaining the 1998 squad. A prolific Try-Scorer, she dotted down 24 test tries across 23 caps for the Women’s Eagles, retiring as the program’s all-time leading try-scorer.
Crawford Helped lead the Berkeley All Blues to nine consecutive USA Rugby National Women’s Club Championships alongside the fellow Hall of Famer Kathy Flores and continued to build the game in the United States co-founding the Piedmont High School Girls’ Rugby Club. She served as a Player Representative on the USA Rugby Board and was inducted into the USA Rugby Hall of Fame in 2019.
John Eales, Chair of the Hall of Fame panel and a Hall of Fame inductee, said: “This year’s inductees represent the very best of our sport with extraordinary talent matched by humility, leadership and an unwavering commitment to rugby’s values. From World Cup-winning moments etched in history to the quiet, tireless work many have done to grow and champion the game long after their playing days, each of them has shaped rugby for the better. On behalf of the Hall of Fame, I warmly welcome them into the fold.”
For more information on the World Rugby Hall of Fame, visit www.world.rugby/halloffame.
World Rugby Hall of Fame 2026 inductees
No. 176 – Joel Stransky (South Africa)
No. 177 – Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand)
No. 178 – Sue Day (England)
No. 179 – Jen Crawford (USA)
No. 180 – Rochelle Martin (New Zealand)
No. 181 – Diego Dominguez (Italy)
No. 182 – Abdelatif Benazzi (France)