Women's+
WhenTuesdays and Thursdays
Time7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
WhereMott Haven Educational Campus, Bronx
Fifteens rugby
Women's+ 15s
Since 2000More than a quarter century of Women's+ rugby in New York, and still growing.
About the side
Spring 2000 saw the Lions launch a women's team on the backs of Jennifer Lightbody, Jessica Houser, Gretchen Doughty, Rachel Liberatore and other pioneers. In that first season they were happy to have 15 players turn up on a Saturday and a men's player to lead practice.
Momentum built quickly, and the Leonas had a meteoric run of success under the coaching of Greg Parsons, Mary Holmes and Mike Barry. From 2002 to 2008 the side earned a spot in the Division II National Championship every year, winning the national title in 2002 and adding third-place finishes in 2005 and 2008. Several Division II Northeast Championships came alongside those trips, and preceded the move up to the top division in 2009.
The side now competes in Division III of the Empire Geographic Union, with players featuring for select sides like the Northeast Academy and the Empire All-Stars. A good share of the squad had never picked up a ball before joining.
The side trains mostly at Mott Haven Educational Campus in the Bronx, with East River Park in the East Village as the alternate ground, and plays its matches on Randall's Island. A player joining can expect an inclusive environment suited to seasoned veterans and beginners alike. Lions rugby is winning rugby.
Training
Training is free. Turn up, train, meet the club.
East River Park
FDR Drive at East 6th Street, New York, NY 10009
Our alternate ground, in the East Village. We train here when Mott Haven is unavailable, and some home matches move here when Randall's Island is not.
Get directionsFixtures & results
Come support the Lions. Home matches are free to attend.
Upcoming
Lions v Queens Rugby
Time to come
Details to comeHome
Lions at Hudson Valley
Time to come
Details to come
Lions v Morris Lions
Time to come
Details to comeHome
Lions at Long Island
Time to come
Details to come
Lions v NYRC
Time to come
Details to comeHome
No fixtures listed for this side yet. Follow @villagelions for announcements.
League table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Island | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | +148 | 2 | 15 |
| 2 | Morris Lions | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +59 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Union County Lady Mudturtles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Village Lions | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -59 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Princeton | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -75 | 1 | -8 |
| 6 | Hudson Valley | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -112 | 0 | -18 |
EGU Women's Division III. Table as of Sep 21.
Coaching staff
Full club staff on the coaches page.
Head coach
James Johnston
James has been playing rugby since 2009, when he joined his high school team after being cut from lacrosse. He played 15s and 7s in college at Elon University, including a trip to the National Collegiate 7s tournament. Before joining the Lions in 2016, he played with the Maryland Exiles.
He played for the Lions through 2022 and served as men's vice president, then retired from playing that year and began as an assistant coach with the Women's+ side. He took over as head coach later that spring.
James also runs the Deep Fried Sevens tournament, and tours socially with the NY Pizza Rats, Bodega Cats and Hermanos de Leche.
Assistant coach