Traci Young’s rugby journey is a rich tapestry of playing, coaching, administrative, and refereeing roles. Her earliest leadership began in 2001 as the President of the Texas A&M Women’s Rugby Club. Her elite playing career included representing the USA U23 Eagle Women’s Rugby Team as a co-captain in 2006. She was a standout for the Austin Valkyries from 2006 to 2012, where she served as both co-captain and assistant coach. Her select side experience is extensive, including captaining the Texas Rugby Union and West Rugby Union U23 All-Stars, as well as competing for the West Senior Women’s All-Stars.
Traci transitioned seamlessly into coaching at the collegiate and select side levels. She served as the Head Coach for the University of Texas Women’s 15s and an assistant coach for the UT 7s. She also led various TRU and West U23 All-Star teams between 2007 and 2012. In 2008, she became a certified referee and eventually served as a World Rugby Referee Educator. In this role, she pioneered a shift toward practical field sessions that increased certifications and deepened participant commitment across USA Rugby.
Her administrative resume includes serving as the Treasurer for the Austin Valkyries and the Commissioner for the Southwest Women’s Collegiate Conference. She held major leadership positions within the Texas Rugby Referee Association as both Vice Chair and Chair. Traci also became the backbone of TRU event management and administration, serving as the manager for the TRU Women’s All-Stars and overseeing the TRU Championships, the Texas Rugby Union Summit, and the TRU Hall of Fame Banquet through 2025. Her work involved managing significant budgets, negotiating hotel contracts, and coordinating logistics for hundreds of guests and educators. Traci remains a prominent and influential figure whose holistic commitment has driven the growth of rugby in Texas for over two decades.
