Patty Jervey was the first player to play in five Women’s Rugby World Cups, winning the inaugural tournament in 1991, when USA beat England 19-6 in the final, before appearing in the next four editions in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. 

Jervey first took up the sport at the University of South Carolina but her career gathered momentum after she switched to the Florida State University, the leading women’s club at the time, and then Atlanta Harlequins, for whom she played past her 50th birthday.

A remarkably resilient athlete, who was blessed with pace, the centre cum winger was handed her Women’s Eagles debut in 1989 and went on to win 40 caps – a USA record which stood until 2013 when Jamie Burke surpassed it – and score 178 points.

In 2008, she was one of seven athletes to receive Distinguished Service Awards from The American Sports and Arts Museum and Archives (ASAMA).