CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard Women's rugby team will add a highly anticipated and talented class of five first-years to the program for the 2023-24 season, Head Coach Mel Denham announced on Thursday. The five first-years are Ava Ference, Sydney Gottesman, Maya Hilger, Neasa McLaughlin and Courtney Taylor. 

These five newcomers will join a team that had a showing in the national championship in the 2022 15s season and the 2023 sevens season. The team most recently finished third in the Cup Championship at the USA Rugby Sevens Tournament in Houston, Texas. In the Fall, Harvard made it to the NIRA Championship where they finished second in the nation to Dartmouth. 

Ava Ference | Scrum-Half/Fly-Half | Cobble Hill, BC | Shawnigan Lake School 

Four-year letterwinner in girls' first XV rugby… traveled with 20 teams… captained the U18 North Island Tsunami, the Shawnigan Lake School Girls' rugby, and the Shawnigan Lake School Sports Prefect… recipient of the 2022 Bill Rice Award for Rugby… Named a Top 30 RBC future Olympian in 2022…Shawnigan Lake School Girls' 1^st XV rugby MVP… BC Games Tournament MVP… World School sevens tournament allstar… U18 Team BC 15's were Western National Champions… Shawnigan Lake School Girls' 1^st XV had an undefeated season in 2023… Father Andrew Ference played in the NHL from 1999-2016 and won the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins… Mother Krista Ference snowboarded for the first Canadian National Snowboarding team

Sydney Gottesman | Prop/Lock/8 Man | Mill Valley, Calif. | Tamalpais High School

 Lettered in soccer and football in high school… traveled with Marin Highlanders Rugby FC, Eagle Impact Rugby Academy, Atlantis Rugby Sevens and Northern California Grizzlies… Captained Atlantis Rugby at the Tropical sevens tournament… Selected for U18 Junior national team pool… second place at Los Angeles Invitational with Eagle Impact… Outstanding student athlete award from 2019-22… Tam Unity Award in 2020

Maya Hilger | Flyhalf/Center | Fair Oaks, Calif. | Christian Brothers High School 

Played rugby all four years of high school… played for the Land Park Harlequins for five years at scrum half and center…played for the Rugby Advantage for three years at center… captained the Land Park Harlequins for two years…invited to play at a USA pathway camp…played on the U18 elite girls championship team at NAI sevens in 2022…President and Co-Dounder of girls rugby club at Christian Brothers High School 

Neasa McLaughlin | Prop/Flanker/8 | Long Valley, N.J. | West Morris Central High School

 Played with six club and select/travel teams… Captained the Rhinos Rugby Academy from 2021-23 in sevens and tens tournaments… Captained Morris Rugby U18 and San Clemente Tritons U18… Elite Girls Rugby League (EGRL) Selects 2023 Captain… USA U18 Junior National Team Player Panel Selections in 2021 and 2022… All-EGRL team in 2022… has been named MVP in many games… Finished as U18 runners up in SYCR Spring sevens with the San Clemente Tritons… Won U18s in 15s and sevens with Morris Rugby at the Florida Invitational Rugby Showcase, the EGRL Champions, the West Chester sevens and the Blazing Seven

Courtney Taylor | Tighthead and Loosehead Prop | Greer, S.C. | Greer Middle College Charter High School

 Two-year letterwinner in varsity soccer… two-year captain of USA South Invitational team… Played on USA South Panthers sevens team, USA rugby pool player… Invited to both North and South Carolina All-Stars team… Captained the Greer 76ers rugby club…Team MVP of the USA South Panthers Club in Arkansas Sevens Tournament…Won state and made it to nationals in 2023 with the Charlotte Cardinals… Won N.C. state championship in 2022 with the Raleigh Redhawks… Member of National Honor Society, BETA Club, student government… brother Keegan plays rugby at Life University… Sister Rachael '23 played rugby at Life University… Father Warren played rugby in South Africa