Congratulations to the 2025 US Rugby Hall of Fame Special Award Recipients!
We are pleased to announce the recipients of 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award and the Craig Sweeney Award. Each inductee represents the pinnacle of rugby excellence in America, having shaped the foundation and future of our beloved sport.
Lifetime Achievement Award
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Kenneth "Ken" Anthony Daly's rugby journey began at Belvedere College in Dublin after enrolling in 1943. Devoting more than five decades to rugby, he has been a player, coach, referee, and administrator. His playing career spanned multiple clubs, including Old Belvedere RFC (1954-1957), West Vancouver RFC (1957-1960) of which he was a founding member, and Boston Rugby Football Club (BRFC) (1962-1971). Ken's coaching leadership has left an indelible mark on American collegiate rugby. He worked to found the Boston College Rugby Football Club (BCRFC) in1968, where he remains Head Coach today. His teams have secured numerous championships, including the Women's National Championship in 1992 and consecutive NERFU Women's Division I College Championships from 1987-1993. Ken is a founding member of NERFU where he served as board member, and later Secretary and COO (1991-2007) as well as in the role of referee (1969-1973). In 2005, Ken received the Rev. William J. Donlon Special Achievement Award and was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Athletic Club Hall of Fame.
Dr. Robert "Bob" Davis', affectionately called “Doc” Davis, was born in 1949, in the United States, and began his rugby journey playing for Chesapeake Rugby Club in Baltimore, MD, and the University of North Carolina. In 1983, Dr. Davis began coaching at Salisbury Rugby Club at Salisbury University, and served as Head Coach from 1983-2018, ultimately transforming an under-resourced club sport into a national collegiate powerhouse. Under his guidance, the program achieved remarkable success, including four Division II Collegiate National Championships (1996, 1997, 2004, 2013), and multiple finals appearances. Advocating tirelessly for the rugby program Dr. Davis has secured funding and logistical support that has been vital to the growth of the program. Dr. Davis is a distinguished medical professional with certification from the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and between 1983-2014 he provided on-field medical assistance to players at all games at which he was present. He also became the first inductee into the Salisbury Rugby Hall of Fame, and the recently newly-built Intramural Athletic Complex at Salisbury University has been named after him in recognition of his transformative influence.
Craig Sweeney Award
Ray Lehner's rugby journey began at Jesuit High School in Sacramento (1985-1988), where he first developed his passion for the sport. In 1990, during his sophomore year of college, Lehner made the pivotal decision to leave football and fully commit to rugby, a choice that would define his athletic career. At Cal, Lehner emerged as an exceptional talent and leader, guiding the Bears to three consecutive national championships (1991, 1992, and 1993). His outstanding performance earned him All-American honors three times during his collegiate career. Lehner's international career with the USA Eagles began in 1995. Over his distinguished international career, he earned 37 caps for the United States, including representing his country at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. From 1997 to 2001, he earned four prestigious Oxford Blues, solidifying his reputation in international rugby circles. During this period, he also completed his MSt in Local History at Kellogg College, Oxford, balancing academic excellence with athletic achievement. Lehner's coaching career began during his playing days, assisting the Cal coaching staff from 1994-1996 and again from 2003-2004. He also founded the Boys and Girls Rugby program in 2010 and continues to serve as its Director.
