ALFRED, NY – Ava Webber (Cobleskill, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) of the Alfred University women's rugby team will compete in the 2026 National Collegiate Rugby All Star Tournament on Jan. 24-25.
 
The tournament will take place at Silverbacks Park in Atlanta, GA.
 
Webber is the first women's rugby player in program history to be named an All Star. She will represent the Saxons as a member of the Upstate New York Snow Leopards.
 
"We are immensely proud of Ava for earning a spot on our Conference's Division I All-Star Team," Head Coach Dr. Nicole Bernsen said. "Her relentless work ethic, dedication and remarkable physicality have set a new standard for our program. Being the first athlete in our history to reach this level is an incredible accomplishment that reflects her commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch."

The National Collegiate Rugby All-Star Tournaments are annual showcases of the top players in the nation. Players are selected for All-Star/All-Conference teams based upon their Fall 2025 regular season performance.

All Stars represent the top college rugby players from twelve conferences across the United States. Nominated by coaches, commissioners and All-Star team scouts for their regular season play, these athletes represent the best of the best in the nation across all division levels.

Rising Stars are comprised of the up-and-coming stars of first year and sophomore athletes who represent four regions, North, East, South and West.

Full schedule information, including tickets and ways to watch can be found here on the NCR website.