Bermudian rugby standout Nisaiah Berkeley and her Team Stripes teammates were left celebrating in Georgia this weekend after clinching the first-ever National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Women’s All-Star Championship XVs title.
In a high-intensity assembly of collegiate talent at Silverbacks Park, the Stripes navigated a grueling, weather-truncated schedule to secure the hardware. The tournament featured four elite regional sides—the Hawks, Bison, Stars, and Stripes—competing in a round-robin format designed to showcase the premier talent in the national system.
Berkeley, a junior 8-man at Wheeling University and a defending national champion, was a vital component of a Stripes unit that displayed both attacking flair and defensive grit. The champions got their campaign off to a flyer on Saturday morning, recording a hard-fought 14-10 victory over the Hawks to set the pace at the top of the table. They followed that performance with a convincing 24-12 win over the Bison, moving within touching distance of the trophy.
With the title on the line in their final fixture, the Stripes faced their sternest test against a stacked Stars roster. In what many expected to be a battle of attrition, Berkeley’s side held their nerve to secure a 28-12 win, ensuring they finished the tournament as the only undefeated team.
For Berkeley, the victory adds another prestigious accolade to an already glittering collegiate resume. Having been a key figure in Wheeling’s perfect 2024-25 season and their subsequent DI National Championship win, her success at the All-Star event further cements her reputation as one of the most promising Bermudian athletes currently competing in North America.
