U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame Nominations Now Being Accepted

Deadline for Nominations is January 31, 2017San Diego, CA (December 7, 2016) – The United States Rugby Foundation is accepting nominations for the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame Class of 2017. The nomination criteria are set forth below.Nominations for the Class of 2017 must be received by January 31, 2017.United States Rugby Foundation U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame 2017 Class – Call for NominationsThe U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame was founded in 2011 by the United States Rugby Foundation. To date, 44 individuals and two teams have been enshrined, including the Class of 2016: Brad Andrews, Jay Berwanger, George Betzler, Kathy Flores, Steve Gray, Dan Lyle, Dave Sitton and Brian Vizard.The Class of 2017 will be honored at the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame Induction Dinner which will be held this Summer or Fall in conjunction with a high level rugby event. An announcement of this celebration will be made in the Spring of 2017.The following criteria must be met for induction into the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame:1. Distinguished participation in or contribution to interscholastic, intercollegiate, amateur or professional rugby by a player, coach, referee, promoter, doctor, physio, sports media personality or journalist.2. While each nominee’s rugby achievements are the most important consideration, their conduct and record during and after the conclusion of their athletic endeavors will also be weighed.3. Teams and groups are also eligible for nomination and will be considered based on the degree of difficulty of their achievement, the uniqueness of their achievement and whether or not their achievement is replicable by another.Anyone may nominate a candidate for induction into the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame. Please submit a 2017 U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame nomination form. In the area on the nomination form for playing career accolades/awards, please include individual records, captaincies, MVP Awards, # Caps, etc. Also include team championship titles.To be nominated, a candidate must be retired from participating in the game at the highest level they have achieved (e.g. International level) for three years before being considered.Nominations should state clearly what the nominee has achieved both on and off the field and the compelling reasons why the nominee should be elected for the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame.The United States Rugby Foundation Trustees will review the nominations and elect the new members of the Class of 2017 for the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame. There is no limit on the number of inductees but the Foundation’s target is to enshrine four to six new members each year.Visit the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame at www.usrugbyhalloffame.org.For more information about the United States Rugby Foundation and the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame, visit our website at www.usrugbyfoundation.org or contact Executive Director Brian Vizard at 619-233-0765 or at bvizard@usrugbyfoundation.com.