Martha Daines has been an active coach and player in the country for over 20years serving as the coach of the University of Minnesota, the Women's Midwest team, and currently the USA-A National Team.

She is a past player for the USA Eagles squad where she was capped in 1999.  With international training as a coach and player, Martha brings an incredible knowledge of loose forward play and comprehensive expertise of rugby theory to the Valkyries.

Barb Fugate currently serves as the Valkyries Head Coach as well as Assistant Coach to the USA-A Eagles squad. She began playing rugby in the late 80's and soon became a player on the 1991 World Cup Champion team. Barb has served on the USA Board of Directors and has over a decade of experience with the women's national program, including serving as head coach of the U23 program for over 5 years. After 17 years of coaching the Valkyries, she brings an unparalleled wisdom and vision to the club and the sport.

PERSONAL DATA

NATIONAL PROGRAM COACHING EXPERIENCE

• Head Coach, USA U23 National Team (in late 2007, became USA A) 2000–present
• Assistant Coach, USA Men’s U19 Team, World Cup tour in Venice, March 2002
• Development Officer, USA Women’s National Team 1999 – 2000

LOCAL PROGRAM COACHING EXPERIENCE

• Head Coach, Minnesota Valkyries Women’s Rugby Club, Division I; 1993–present
• Head Coach, Minnesota Senior Women’s Select Side; undefeated from 1998 – 2001
• Assistant Coach, Midwest TU Senior Women’s Select side; 1997 – 1999
• Head Coach, MN U19 Women’s Select Side (Inaugural year) 2000 – undefeated
• Head Coach, Midwest Collegiate Select Side, 1993 – 1995 (Arranged first Collegiate Select Side exhibition match at Senior Women’s ITT’s, Dec 1995, Nashville)

OTHER RUGBY RELATED EXPERIENCE
Personal Accomplishments

• Instructor, USA Rugby Coaching Accreditation Program, 1999 – 2006; taught numerous Level I and II accreditation classes; Level II certified coach.
• Staff coach, USA Rugby Player Development Camps, 2001– 2002; Fort Greeley, CO and Sacramento, CA
• International Athlete Director, USA Rugby Board of Directors, 1996-2004; former Chair, Strategic Planning Comm; former USA Rugby Treasurer and member, Finance Comm; current member USA Rugby National Technical committee.
• Director, Minnesota Amateur Rugby Foundation (MARF); 1997 – present; President, MARF, 2001-2002 and 2006-07; providing funding and structure for 40+ U19 boys’ and girls’ teams in Minneapolis/St Paul area.
• National Events Coordinator, (former) USA Women’s Committee, 1989 – 1992; Planned and coordinated all national events, including national club championships, select side events, and national and international venues for Women’s National Team.
• USA Eagle, 1990 – 1991; scrumhalf for squad that toured NZ in 1990; member of 1991 World Cup championship squad

Jane Tierney has been with the club for over 30 years, joining shortly after its inception as the University of Minnesota team in 1978 and playing through its National Championship win in 1988, eventually becoming president of the now Minnesota Valkyries. 

Jane is a USA Level 1 Certified coach with experience as past manager and mentor to the USA Eagles National team. She currently serves as Assistant Coach for the Valkyries, specializing in the forwards, or "The Big Girls" as she likes to call them.