CLEVELAND IRON MAIDENS

The Cleveland Women's Rugby Football Club (CWRFC), also known as the Iron Maidens, was founded in the spring of 2003 by members of the now defunct Eastern Suburbs WRFC. Since then, we have established ourselves as Northeast Ohio’s premier women’s rugby club.

As a member of USA Rugby, the team competes in the Midwest Women's Division II East (Gold) Conference against teams from Northeast Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and Western New York. Our team colors are red and black, and our home field is located at Impett Park on Cleveland’s west side.

Rugby is a unique game that encourages camaraderie and sportsmanship both on and off the field. Rugby has been played for over 100 years around the world, and is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S.

The mission of the Iron Maidens is twofold: first, to enrich the quality of each member’s life through physical activity and teamwork; and second, to promote the sport of rugby throughout Ohio and the United States.

Our members participate in weekly practices, and travel domestically and internationally to participate in competitive tournaments. In 2008, the team advanced to the Midwest finals and finished in second place. Several Iron Maidens have been selected to play on elite teams throughout the state and the Midwest, and one Maiden has made it to the national level to play for the USA Eagles A-Side.

The Iron Maidens have a vested interest in our community. We have held fundraisers for Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and The American Cancer Society, as well as volunteering at local women’s shelters and participating in other community and charity events.

Our team consists of 30 active players, and we have a strong alumni network of over 100 former Maidens. Several Iron Maidens currently serve as referees in the Ohio Rugby Referees Society. More than a dozen Maidens have gone on to coach rugby for both high school and college teams in Ohio and across the Eastern U.S. One of the founding members of the Maidens coached the St. Joseph's girls' rugby team and brought home the National Championship in 2015.

We are also a founding member of the Northeast Ohio Women's Sports Alliance, a collective of competitive and professional women's sports teams in Northeast Ohio.

Cleveland Women’s Rugby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.