Nancy Fitz
2024
Inductee
Nancy Fitz, one of USA Rugby’s greatest locks that dominated play in the late 80s and into the 2000s, was an outstanding high school basketball player and cross-country runner from Chagrin Falls, Ohio. She continued her hoops career at Dartmouth College where she helped lead the Big Green to 4 Ivy League titles from 1985 to 1989. It was there that Nancy put on her rugby boots for the first time and began a Hall of Fame career at second row.
Following college, Nancy relocated to Washington DC, where she joined the DC Furies RFC in 1991. Over the course of the next 15 years with the Furies, she excelled at the sport and established a collection of team titles and individual awards. She also was selected to many MARFU 15s rep sides which she also captained. Hard, powerful, and with a deep understanding of the game, Fitz was the foundation upon which the DC Furies team was built in the 1990s and 2000s. “As seems to be the rule when you're talking about mean, physical locks, she was (and is) enormously nice off the field” notes US Eagles player/coach, Tam Breckenridge.
It didn’t take long for USA Rugby to recognize her talents and in 1996, she became an Eagle. Her stellar Eagle career spanned over six years from 1996 to 2002. A physically imposing and unflinching second row, Nancy was capped 21 times and captained the Eagles as well. She also played in two Rugby World Cup tournaments in 1998 and in 2002. “In many ways, Nancy was an extension of the coaching staff. She was a leader on the field as well. An intelligent player, she was deceptively quick, hard-hitting, and seemingly always in the right place to make the tackle or to support a teammate” remembers Breckenridge. Nancy also was a 7s standout and played on the USA’s first Eagles 7s Team in 1997 and 1999. Not very many locks match the speed and fitness required for a 7s match, but Nancy adapted well as a mobile, physical prop.
After retiring as a player and after coaching for a while, Nancy took up refereeing and earned her Level 1 status, allowing her to ref club, college, and high school games in the Potomac area.
As Nancy’s playing career ended, she became one of the most brilliant young 15s and 7s coaches in the country. She coached numerous teams including the Furies, Georgetown, Naval Academy, NOVA, Mid-Atlantic, and Capital All-Stars. She is currently a USA and World Rugby Coach Instructor and Course Leader, and deeply involved in the advancement of youth, high school, club 7s and 15’s programs. Matthew Robinette, the president of the Capital Rugby Union notes, “Nancy leads people with empathy and compassion combined with a wealth and variety of experience. Her inclusive approach embodies modern coaching principles while ensuring the athletes have fun.”
In 2023, Nancy was one of the recipients of the Kathy Flores Lifetime Achievement Award. This annual award recognizes those in the rugby community who exemplify the collegial spirit, commitment to lifelong learning, vision, and generosity that defined Kathy Flores. It was the first time the award was given to leaders in the women’s game and women’s rugby community. It truly sums up the essence and pedigree of Nancy Fitz. A true rugby legend.