USA Rugby’s 50th Anniversary Golden Gala, held on July 17 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., raised over $1.8 million in commitment over the next three years for the National Governing Body to bolster the future of the sport on all levels, leading to game-growth success during the 2028 Olympic Games, Men’s World Cup 2031 and Women’s World Cup 2033 on home soil.
Over 350 guests attended the sold-out dinner to witness the celebration of the past 50 years of USA Rugby, including USA Eagles icons and founding member of The United States Rugby Football Union, Bob Watkins. The evening also saw the honoring of Michele Kang and Jonathan Bobbett with the Eagle Honor Award and Enduring Impact Award, respectively, as well as the official live announcement of the 32 players who will represent the United States next month at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, who were led into the venue by local youth rugby players.
USA Rugby CEO, Bill Goren said, “The Golden Gala was a massive success, not only from a fundraising perspective, but also for awareness of USA Rugby’s potential. Being able to celebrate our past was an honor, while also looking towards the future with the official introduction of this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup squad. The celebration as a whole proved to be the motivator our community needs to continue pushing USA Rugby to the next level. We are greatly appreciative of the generosity and support shown during the special evening in Washington DC.”’
The evening concluded with over 55 donors participating in donations ranging from $100 to $400,000, representing the breadth of the audience and the support that USA Rugby has. The funds raised will help bolster multiple essential work streams across the USA Rugby community and high performance sectors.
“Words cannot describe my thoughts on how successful the Golden Gala was for everyone involved,” added Paul Sheehy, Co-Chair of the Golden Gala Organizing Committee, “I am so proud of how the Washington, D.C. community and rugby fans from across the world, came together to support this amazing organization and sport. The Gala, Youth Clinics and sold-out Audi Field were a prime example of the impact rugby can have on its community when we all align behind a common goal. The successes of today will go a long way in strengthening our sport and fueling the game’s potential to continue growing.”
The Golden Gala was made possible thanks to event and table sponsors, including Major League Rugby, Old Glory DC, Sheehy Auto Stores, Danny Walker, Michelob Ultra and Pool Rx. A complete list of event sponsors and table sponsors is below. Those interested in contributing to USA Rugby may do so by clicking here.
Major League Rugby
Old Glory DC
Sheehy Auto Stores
Danny Walker
Gonzaga Rugby
Old Blue Rugby
UMW Rugby Team
Morgan Stanley
Howard University
Washington D.C. Youth Rugby
US Rugby Foundation
Washington Irish
John Laurie
Bethesda Roosters
Scion Rugby
PoorRx
Mount St. Mary’s Rugby Team
The Sharks
Michelob Ultra
Golden Eagles
Blue Point Hospitality
Washington Commanders
Lyndall Reed & Ben Hough
United States Performance Center
