Next Phase Rugby Player of the Month: Kayla Robinson

Kayla Robinson out of Doylestown, Pa., is the Next Phase Rugby High School Player of April. At 15 years old, the inside center knows about state championships, select sides, USA Pathways, as well as the legacy that the Dragons represent in-state. She has been working toward all of those objectives this past month, hence the hearty endorsement from Doylestown head coach Stacy Mancuso for the shoutout. [lead photo: Joseph Way @desktopjoe]

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“Kayla Robinson’s journey is all about growth, grit and commitment,” the coach enthused. “She first came to me at just 11 years old from a flag program, stepping into the much tougher world of tackle rugby. The transition wasn’t easy at first, but Kayla never backed down. She showed up to optional contact boot camps, put in the extra work, and trusted the process.

“Now at just 15, Kayla has developed into one of the top tacklers on the field,” Mancuso continued. “She plays with confidence on both sides of the ball, combining strength, athleticism, and a fearless mindset well beyond her years. Her work ethic and dedication continue to set her apart, and it’s clear she’s only getting started.”

Robinson’s rugby story isn’t exactly a “love at first sight” situation. The soccer player followed some teammates to a Blackthorn flag rugby practice in 2017 and she enjoyed the non-contact version of the game. In 2021, Kayla’s older sister, Noelle, now a junior, wanted to switch to tackle.

“My dad made me go to a practice,” Robinson confessed. “I did not want to play tackle. I was so scared that I would not even get out of the car. Some of the senior players had to drag me out of the car.”

 

It was those same Doylestown teammates, however, who kept her coming back to training.

“I did debate quitting,” Robinson said. “But honestly my teammates were super nice and welcoming, and I started to love it.”

There was no easing into the game for the gifted athlete, as coach Mancuso started the 11-year-old Robinson at flanker for her first game with the high school side.

“It was terrifying,” Robinson said. “The first tackle I tried to make, I bounced off a girl and started crying.”

“It was Neasa McLaughlin,” Kayla’s dad, Wayne, said of the Morris, N.J. product and current DI Harvard prop. “So that was probably going to happen anyway. She did commit and try to tackle Neasa with a full head of steam, so I give her credit for that.”

 

Robinson was not deterred and continued working on her game, leaning on the stellar talent and leadership as resources. In particular, Liz Johnston remains an important mentor. She was a graduating senior when Robinson joined the Dragons and committed to the NCAA DII varsity rugby program at West Chester University. Grooming the next generation is an important tenet that knits Doylestown together, and Johnston invested in Robinson, still in junior high.

Rugby really gripped Robinson once she started playing outside of the state. Mancuso recommended her to the Atlantis outfit, and in 2023 the then-7th grader made her first trip to Tropical 7s. The Florida tournament continues to be a favorite, most notably the 2025 iteration when Robinson and Atlantis won the U14 division.

“I like 7s more,” said Robinson, who has played 7s and 15s with Atlantis and Elite Girls Rugby League (EGRL). “I really like the fast pace. It’s just mostly sprinting, honestly. I feel like it’s more fun for me.”

Doylestown is the reigning Rugby Pennsylvania Fall 7s Championship titleholder and Robinson was an important piece to that campaign. She still plays soccer so she doubles up in the fall for an always busy time of year.

Springtime is for 15s and the main championship season in Pennsylvania. Doylestown is the reigning champion and currently undefeated in-state and in the EGRL. CHDECK. But the Dragons weren’t always the heavy favorites, and those rebuilding seasons have stuck with Robinson.

“In 2024, the spring 15s season, we had a bunch of injured players,” she remembered. “I got injured in one game, too. A lot of our starters were out so we stopped winning games and didn’t make it to states.

“This year, we’re losing a bunch of seniors, but I really don’t think we’re going to drop off too much because we still have a bunch of underclassmen that can step up,” the sophomore said. “I just want to keep our team up after all the seniors graduate, which will be really hard to keep up with, but I’m looking to apply my leadership to the team and help all the younger players out.”

 

Robinson is currently playing inside center and has the DI Sacred Heart-committed Siena Accardi at flyhalf and either Mac Aluise or Jocelyn Terry at outside center. It’s a formidable combination on a team with a lot of weapons. The Rugby PA postseason begins next weekend for Division I, and the state championship is May 17. Then the EGRL final and Showcase occurs June 6-7 in Lebanon, N.J. Robinson will then join EGRL’s Eastern Storm for the Buckeye Invitational, attend a player I.D. camp at Quinnipiac University, and then head to the USA Pathways 15s camp in July.

The EGRL Showcase in particular is a huge college recruitment venue. Robinson is too young to participate in the process just yet, but her older sister, Noelle, is a high school junior and breaking trail for Kayla. Noelle utilizes the full version of the Next Phase Rugby app and Kayla is building her profile so she’s ready for those conversations once she’s eligible.

“My older daughter has made quite a few contacts through [Next Phase Rugby],” Wayne said of the family’s education around the college rugby recruitment process. “She’s had a few meetings with the coaches and filled out some questionnaires.

 

“We’ll get an email saying a coach has requested your contact information and she can accept or decline it,” he continued. “She’s been accepting all of them so far, because why not? Why not see what they’re talking about, what they have to offer? Because you never know until you speak to them.”

Kayla still has a lot of rugby ahead of her but she’s following her sister’s journey with an eye toward the future. Fortunately for any college-bound rugby player, Doylestown participates heavily with Next Phase Rugby and has sent many quality players to the varsity space and other high-level programs. The Rugby PA league is also a hotbed for college-ready athletes.

“I kind of idolize Bella Vogel,” Robinson said of the Knightmare product, current Life University student-athlete and recent USA 15s-capped Eagle. “I played against her in high school and now she’s an Eagle. It’s cool to say, ‘Hey, I tackled her.'”

 

Robinson confirmed that she would love to represent the USA one day, and coach Mancuso can see that potential as well.

“Kayla Robinson is without a doubt on a path that will put her on the radar for Division I programs,” the coach confirmed. “A standout player with a bright future, she represents exactly what it means to commit, improve, and compete at the highest level.”

For more information on Next Phase Rugby, visit https://nextphaserugby.com for more information. To download the app, visit the Apple App Store or Google Play and search “Next Phase Rugby.” Questions? E-mail greg@nextphaserugby.com. Have a recommendation for a High School Player of the Month? Contact Jackie Finlan at editor@therugbybreakdown.com.