CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Women's Rugby announced its incoming first-year class today. The group consists of six athletes who will arrive in time for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year, beginning with the 15s season in the fall.
The three-time defending NIRA 15s national champions will welcome into the fold Teagan Barth (back), Grace Houts (forward), Jayelle Jones (forward), Mackenzie Marks (forward), Lolua Tauanu'u (forward) and Molly Young (back). The Class of 2030 is also set to head to the northeast from five different states -- California, Colorado, New Jersey, Virginia and Wisconsin.
The Crimson is coming off a 2025-26 season that saw it win its third straight 15s national title to become the first NCAA Division I program to capture four championships, win the Ivy 7s title and finish in third place at the CRAA 7s National Championship. Harvard also boasted the top collegiate women's rugby player in the recently graduated
Tiahna Padilla, who was this year's MA Sorensen Award winner. Padilla was the first athlete in program history to earn the prestigious honor.
Harvard Women's Rugby Class of 2030
Teagan Barth (she/her/hers)
Silverthorne, Colo. (Summit County)
Back
Before Harvard
Earned varsity letters in rugby (2022-26), basketball (2022-26), swimming (2022-25), track and field (2022-25) and soccer (2022-23) while at Silverthorne… Served as team captain for rugby in 2025 and 2026, for track and field in 2025… Competed for Atlantis (2021-26), playing scrumhalf, flyhalf and center… Played for EIRA (2023-25), seeing action at scrumhalf, flyhalf, fullback and wing… Played at NZ Global Youth Sevens as a scrumhalf for Team USA's U18 and U21 teams… During sophomore-senior campaigns, scored 381 career points and averaged 9.7 points during sevens season, ranking second to former Harvard standout Cassidy Bargell… Recipient of the Culture/Team Award for rugby in 2025-26 and for track and field in 2025… Named the basketball team's Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2024… Earns a spot on the all-state rugby team in 2023, 2024 and 2025… Garnered MVP honors in the all-state game in 2025… Was an all-league track performer in the 4x400 and 4x200 in 2023, 2024 and 2025… Made the Gold Honor Roll all four years.
Grace Houts (she/her/hers)
Sussex, Wis. (Hamilton)
Forward
Before Harvard
Earned four varsity letters at Hamilton in both rugby (2022-25) and softball (2023-26)… Competed for All-Midwest Thunderbirds U18 in 2025 and 2026, playing prop… Captained Hamilton RFC in 2024 and 2025, and Hamilton Softball in 2026… Landed on the Wisconsin Girls High School Rugby All-State Team in 2023, 2024 and 2025… Named Forward MVP in 2024 and 2025… Voted the Rugby Freshman of the Year in 2022… Earned Greater Metro Conference Softball Honorable Mention accolades in 2026… Tabbed the 2025 Softball Character Athlete of the Year… Named the Metro Market Athlete of the Week (2026)… Part of the 2024 Division 2 High School Girls Rugby Single School National Championship team… Was part of a softball team that qualified for the WIAA state tournament in 2024 and 2025.
Jayelle Jones (she/her/hers)
Alexandria, Va. (Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology)
Forward
Before Harvard
Competed on the club circuit her final three years of high school… Served as rugby captain as a junior and senior… Earned a spot on the EGRL First Team (2024-25)… MVP of club team in 2024-25… Atlantis 15s Select… Voted club team Defensive Player of the Year… Named Rookie of the Year in first season of playing… EIRA Select… Also competed in wrestling for four seasons at Jefferson… Served as team captain for the wrestling team her sophomore through senior years… Won the Occoquan Regional Championship as a junior… Was the National District Champion as a senior… Took fifth place at VHSL States as a senior… Served as Class Council Senator (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25)… Served as Football Team Manager (2023-24, 2024-25)… TJ Women in Science and Engineering Member (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26)… InvestHER Initiative Outreach Team Member (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25)… Sports Medicine HOSA Member (2023-24)… National Honor Society (TJHSST Chapter) - (2024-25, 2025-26)… BEYA Mentorship Program Participant (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26)… Delta GEMS (Fairfax County Chapter) - (2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26)… Served as Columbia Elementary School Tutor (2025-26).
Mackenzie Marks
Clinton, N.J. (North Hunterdon)
Forward
Before Harvard
Played for Morris HS Girls Rugby (2020-24), Doylestown HS Girls Rugby (2024-26), Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (2023-26) and Atlantis Rugby (2025-26)… Played for PR 7s NY Local Rise in Fall 2024… Served as EGRL Rising Sophomore Team Captain… EGRL First Team… LIT 7s Girl of the Camp in 2024… Pennsylvania state champions in 2025 (15s, 7s)… Took second place at the Portugal Youth Rugby Festival (2026)… Gonzaga champions (2026)… Also wrestled for two years on the varsity team… 2024 Kingsway Team MVP for girls wrestling… Runner-up wrestler at Skylands Conference… Started Peer Mentorship Program in high school 2023-26)… 2023 English Community Role Model… May 2023 - Fine Arts Student of the Month… Volunteer at US Women's Rugby Foundation Conference (Jan. 2024-26)… National Honor Society with 2,200-plus volunteer and leadership hours… National Latin Honor Society… National History Society… Duke of Edinburgh Award Applicant – Bronze… English and Math Community Role Model Awards (multiple times)… High School Student of the Month – (multiple times)… HS Community Role Model Student of the Month (multiple times)… Biomed Academic Achievement Varsity Letter (students over 3.5 GPA)… 2022 American Cancer Society, Grand Club Award for Relay for Life… 2022 American Cancer Society, Second Place - Individual Fundraiser (9th/10th grade)… Neuroscience Club (2023-25)… Biomedical Sciences Academy Board Student Advisor (2023-26)… Yearbook Club (2024-26)… AV Club (2024-26).
Lolua Tauanu'u
Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly)
Forward
Before Harvard
Played rugby and flag football at Long Beach Poly… Competed for 10 years for Belmont Shore Rugby Club… Served as Belmont Shore team captain from 2022-24 (U15) and 2024-26 (U18)… Helped Belmont Shore win three consecutive High School Club National Championships… Went undefeated while competing in U18… 2024 U18 Elite NAI 7s champion… 2024 Rugby 10s champion… 2022 U16 NAI 7s champion… 2022 U16 Tropical 7s champion… 2020 U14 NAI 7s champion… 2020 U14 LVI 7s champion… Volunteer rugby coach for the U8 division from 2023-26… Alto in church choir for 14 years… Taught cultural Polynesian dance from 2023-26…. Won the President's Award from Joe Biden for outstanding academic achievement…. National Honors Society.
Molly Young (she/her/hers)
Stockton, Calif. (Saint Mary's)
Back
Before Harvard
Earned varsity letters at Saint Mary's in 2022-23… Competed for the Stockton Hurricanes (2022-26) and Sacramento Harlequins (2025-26)… Twice won the Northern California High School 7s Cup Championship (2022, 2023)… Captured the Northern California High School 7s Plate RU in 2024… Named the Saint Mary's Track and Field MVP in 2023… Three-time Drill Team Best All-Around Dancer (2023-25)… Drill Team Best Technique in 2025… Multi-time Honor Roll member at Saint Mary's… English Literature Outstanding Academic Achievement as a junior at Saint Mary's… Freshman Class President/Representative (2022-23)… Black Student Union Club Founder/President (2022-25)… Sophomore Class President/Representative (2023-24)… Youth for Eco Sustainability Club Founder/President (2023-25)… Campus Ministry Junior Group Faith Leader (2024-25)… Junior Class President/Representative (2024-25)… Rotary Youth Leadership Awards recipient (2025)… All Student Body President (2025-26)… Drill Team Captain (2025-26)… Link Crew Commissioner (2025-26)… Campus Ministry Core Team Member (2025-26).
