Shawn Lipman
2019
Inductee
Shawn Lipman’s career is marked with high accolades as both a player and coach. The South African born rugger played for the University of Witwatersrand from 1983 to 1985. He moved stateside and began to play for the Santa Monica Rugby Club in 1986, garnering seven MVP honors during his 11-year tenure with the club. Lipman’s appearances on representative sides included: Transvaal Under 20 (1984), South Africa Maccabiah (1985), Southern California Griffins (1987-1993), Grizzlies (1988-1993), United States Maccabiah (1989-2009), United States Cougars (1990), United States Classic Eagles (1998, 2009), and the United States National Team.
As a member of the U.S.A. From 1988 through 1991, he was capped nine times and represented the United States in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He was a legendary player for the United States in the Maccabiah Games, having captained the U.S. team in 1993 and 1997. As a player, he has medaled multiple times in the Maccabiah Games including gold in 1985, bronze in 1989, silver in 1993, and gold in 1997.
He served as the head coach of the gold medal U.S.A. Maccabiah Rugby Team in 2013 and 2017. He is the first person to ever win a gold medal for rugby at the Maccabiah Games as both a player and coach. He was inducted into the Maccabiah U.S.A. Rugby Hall of Fame in 2018.
“He is such a positive influence on other players, coaches, and administrators. He has worked so hard to be the best as all levels of his rugby involvement. As Chairman of Maccabiah U.S.A. Rugby and a former player with Shawn, I can’t say enough about what he has done to influence and inspire players and coaches in our program. He has helped establish Maccabiah U.S.A. Rugby as a competitive representative side within U.S.A. Rugby.,” said Dave Rudzinski.
Lipman also founded the West Valley Wolverines Youth Rugby Club in 2013 and served as both head coach and president. His contributions to the development of American rugby have made a significant impact on many and solidify his place in the United States Rugby Foundation Hall of Fame!