Underdogs Conquer the World: How the U.S. Women's Rugby Team Defied the Odds in 1991

Thirty-four years ago, in 1991, the inaugural Women's Rugby World Cup took place in Wales, and an unlikely champion emerged – the United States. At the time, the U.S. was not considered a traditional rugby powerhouse, and the team had barely trained together before the tournament. Many of the players had never even met each other prior to the event.

The journey to Wales was equally fragmented, with some players traveling by train and others crammed into vans. Their head coach, Kevin O'Brien, joined the team just days before the tournament began. Despite the challenges, the U.S. squad embodied their team motto, proving to be "harder, faster and stronger" than their opponents.

The tournament was organized by a determined group of women known as the Founding Four – Deborah Griffin, Susan Dorrington, Mary Forsyth, and Alice D Cooper. They faced significant obstacles, including threats of legal action from the International Rugby Board, which initially opposed the idea of a women's World Cup. However, the Founding Four persevered, and the tournament went ahead.

In the final, the U.S. team, led by the formidable duo of Tam Breckenridge and Tara Flanagan, known as the "Locks from Hell," defeated England 19-6 to claim the inaugural title. The victory was celebrated by local fans, who cheered on the American underdogs, but back home, the team's historic triumph received little recognition.

Despite their success, the U.S. players faced a harsh reality upon returning from Wales. There was no press coverage or fanfare, and they had to quickly return to their regular lives and jobs. The lack of support and investment in the women's rugby program in the United States was a disappointment for the team, who had hoped their victory would lead to greater recognition and resources for the sport.