Geneseo women’s rugby alumni named to USA national rugby team
Tahlia Brody, a Geneseo women’s rugby alum from the class of 2016, has been named to the USA Women’s Eagles squad. This Geneseo alum made her debut the weekend of Mar. 25 with the Eagles as they faced off against Spain in Madrid and took home a victory with a score of 35-7. This was their first Sevens match of the 2023 season and as they started strong, they will continue to have an amazing season. The next time the Eagles play will be on Friday, Jul. 7 against Australia and Friday, Jul. 14 against New Zealand.
This is Brody’s first time being a part of the Eagles Squad, but she is no stranger to Spain, as her team won the Spanish women’s championship two years ago. Brody also won the U.S. Women’s Premier League title twice—once with the New York Rugby Club in 2017, and once with the Berkeley All Blues team in California in 2022. The women’s premier team features the nation’s top rugby talent and plays at the highest level of women's rugby in America.
Pursuing a rugby life overseas, this New York star played with club teams in Spain and New Zealand. She also spent time in England with the Cheltenham Tigers, who she is currently playing for, as well as for the Tasman Makos in the Farah Palmer Cup in which she was named the team’s Defender of the Year. Later this spring, Brody will again make her way to New Zealand to play for Tasman Mako. Along with the Tigers and the Tasman Makos, Brody played for the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand. It is safe to say that Brody has had quite an eventful experience as an impressive rugby talent.
Beginning her career as a freshman with the Lady Warthogs of Geneseo, Brody participated in four years of successful rugby at an elevated level. Established in 1982, the Warthogs have had a very successful career on and off the field, and continue to do so. It was with the Warthogs that Brody found a new passion and family to which she could turn. This small club team produces eager players that move on to the next level and are the best players that the world of rugby can offer. On behalf of the entire rugby community, as well as her rugby family here at Geneseo, we are beyond proud of Brody and what she has accomplished—once a Warthog, always a Warthog.
Meanwhile, in Geneseo, the future rugby stars on the current Lady Warthogs roster have a full spring of events and have been practicing on Onondaga field since spring break. The Warthogs had their first tournament this past weekend in which they won their first game and are gearing up this week to play in Aardvark Park for the Ruck Rochester Tournament on Saturday, Apr. 8, 2023.