Hannah Bershefsky ’25 and Kayla Fox ’25 Named Division II All-American by National Collegiate Rugby

Two senior front rows on the Fairfield women’s rugby team, Hannah Bershefsky ’25 and Kayla Fox ’25, were awarded the prestigious recognition of Division II National Rugby All-American by National Collegiate Rugby.

Kayla Fox, a nursing student in the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, walked onto the rugby team during her first year at Fairfield. Now a senior, Fox’s journey has been marked by impressive accomplishments including being named Tri-State All-Conference during the fall 2023 season. Fox noted that the Fairfield University Rugby Club has supported her success on and off the field by encouraging her and her teammates “to prioritize academics and extracurriculars.”

As a nursing major, Fox has pursued her interest in biology, human anatomy, and holistic care. Last year, she completed a six-week palliative care fellowship at Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center. Upon being named an All-American women’s rugby player, she expressed gratitude toward her coaches, directors, and family “who somehow made it to every game.” She also had nothing but praise for “the amazing women that I've been lucky to stand on the field with every week.”

Said Hannah Bershefsky ’25, “Becoming an All-American women’s rugby player was never something I could have dreamed of.” She was a cheerleader in high school and came to Fairfield with no prior rugby experience. Making the switch from cheerleading to rugby was a new challenge, but she was welcomed by teammates who had backgrounds in a variety of sports. The opportunity to “learn together, laugh together, and fail together” boosted Bershefsky’s determination and her confidence; her transformative athletic journey is a testament to her resilience and willingness to embark on new challenges. Off the field, Bershefsky is studying management and psychology. She was recently elected president of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Club.

This marks the fourth consecutive year of All-American recognitions for the Fairfield University Rugby Club. Head Coach Eric Anahory joined the team as assistant coach in 2015, and was promoted to head coach in spring 2024. In his time with the program, Fairfield has qualified in seven consecutive semesters for the fall 15s and spring 7s national playoffs. As the women’s rugby team continues to gain momentum, Rugby Club program director Austin Ryan described the players’ All-American achievements as, "a very proud occasion for the program.”

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