History and Achievements of the Berkeley All Blues Team

For 40 years, Berkeley All Blues has been a pillar of women’s rugby in the United States. It all started in 1978 with a small group of enthusiasts who managed to create a large club uniting four teams, from the elite Women’s Premier League to a school team. There is room for both those who are stepping onto the field for the first time and those who are ready to compete for national titles.

All Blues is a community for the Bay Area that teaches teamwork, self-belief and mutual support. The club is nurturing a generation of athletes through training, tournaments and volunteer initiatives, changing perceptions of women’s sport in the United States. Find out more about the team, its history and upcoming matches at berkeleyallblues.com.

Origins and Team Formation

Berkeley All Blues was founded in 1978, when women’s rugby in the United States was beginning to move beyond university circles. At that time, female athletes had virtually no resources — no training fields, no support from federations. The first members of the club, students and graduates of Berkeley and nearby towns, gathered a team of friends, arranged scrimmages with men’s clubs, and sewed their own uniforms.

The first matches were played on uneven school lawns, often without spectators or official referees. These Spartan conditions gave rise to an atmosphere that would later become the hallmark of All Blues: equal opportunities for all, personal responsibility for each player, and a willingness to tackle organisational tasks with the same energy as fighting for the ball on the pitch. It was a strong team, whose members felt part of something bigger.

Stages of Development and Key Changes

Over the decades, Berkeley All Blues has grown from a small team to an organisation that has room for both future champions and newcomers. The club was formed gradually, but each stage strengthened its position in American women’s sport:

• Reaching the Women’s Premier League. Joining the elite division in the United States required the team to undergo different physical training, adopt strict tactics and participate in national tournaments. This was a turning point: All Blues began to face the strongest clubs in the country.
• Expansion to four teams. In addition to the WPL, the club added a Division 2 team, a rugby sevens team and a school team. Dividing the athletes allowed them to choose the format and level of competition that best suited their skills and goals.
• Systematic work with newcomers. Programmes were introduced in which training takes place in a lighter format with an emphasis on technique, and experienced WPL players act as mentors. This helps new participants get into the game without pressure and progress more quickly.

The multi-level structure has helped All Blues become both a competitive club and a rugby school in the United States.

Achievements and Sporting Heights

The All Blues team has cemented its status as one of the most successful teams in the United States. Their success spans both traditional rugby union and the dynamic sevens format, and the individual achievements of the players go beyond the national level:

• Championship titles in the WPL. The team has won the Women’s Premier League multiple times, demonstrating consistent play against the country’s strongest clubs. In some seasons, the All Blues finished the regular season undefeated, which is rare for the elite division.
• Participation in major rugby sevens tournaments. The All Blues regularly compete in the national sevens series, facing the leaders of the format. Their high rankings allow them to send players to international training camps.
• Players in the US national team. Over the years, several rugby players have come through the club and gone on to represent the US at World Cups and Olympic Games in sevens. Their journey from the Bay Area training ground to the world stage has been an inspiring example for young players.

These impressive achievements have cemented the All Blues’ reputation as a team capable of developing world-class players while maintaining strong ties to the club.

Plans for the Future

Berkeley All Blues takes a systematic approach to training, viewing sport as a long-term investment in players and the community. Priorities have been set and specific steps have been taken in each area:

• Strengthening the youth programme. The club intends to expand recruitment for the school team and create a transition group for girls aged 16-18. There are plans to collaborate with university team coaches to provide graduates with a clear pathway into professional sport.
• Preparation for new seasons. Ahead of the next WPL games, the team will conduct an in-depth analysis of previous matches, including the use of video replays and statistics for each player. For Division 2 and Sevens, the focus is on speeding up the pace of the game and working on tactics in limited time conditions.
• Promoting women’s rugby. All Blues plans to hold open training sessions in schools and city parks in the Bay Area, organise master classes with famous athletes, and promote match broadcasts through the media and social networks.

A multi-level approach combines work on the sports base and strengthening public presence, allowing the club to prepare future champions and maintain stable interest in women’s rugby in the region.

Summing up

In over forty years, Berkeley All Blues has built a reputation as a team with serious sporting ambitions and an important social mission. The club has achieved success in national tournaments, developed players for the US national team and, at the same time, developed a platform where women and girls can grow in sport, receive support and achieve success. Thanks to its systematic work with young people, its visible presence in the Bay Area and its consistent results on the field, All Blues remains one of the most respected and recognisable teams in American women’s rugby.