Position: Number 8

Roxelle Thomas

Texas native Roxelle Thomas played in Women’s Elite Rugby between 2025-2026. She represented the Bay Breakers for her entire WER career.

Roxelle Thomas earned her WER debut in Round 2 of the 2025 season, when she was named in the Bay Breakers starting lineup against the Denver Onyx, the first game in Breakers history. She was named as a Foundational Five player for the Breakers, and has previously played as Co-Captain of the Life West Gladiatrix in the WPL, as well as the USA U23s.

Thomas started 9 of her 10 appearances for the Bay Breakers, scoring 1 try in WER’s inaugural season. She returned for year 2 with the team in 2026.

NARDB Player #1,511

Tonya Wessman

California native Tonya Wessman played in Women’s Elite Rugby from 2025-2026. She represented the Bay Breakers for her entire WER career.

Tonya Wessman earned her WER debut in Round 2 of the 2025 season, when she was named in the Bay Breakers starting lineup against the Denver Onyx, the first game in Breakers history. She has previously played with the Berkeley All Blues in the WPL. Wessman started 7 of her 8 appearances for the Breakers in 2025, scoring 3 tries during WER’s inaugural season and returned for year 2 with the Bay Breakers in 2026.

NARDB Player #1,510

Hannah Long

Florida native Hannah Long played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural season in 2025. She represented the Denver Onyx for her entire WER career.

Hannah Long earned her WER debut in Round 2 of the 2025 season, when she was named on the Denver Onyx bench against the Bay Breakers, the first game in Onyx history. She attended Notre Dame College and played rugby with the Falcons while there. She also represented the Colorado Gray Wolves in the WPL.

NARDB Player #1,502

Amy Spafford

California native Amy Spafford played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural season in 2025. She represented the Denver Onyx for her entire WER career.

Amy Spafford earned her WER debut in Round 2 of the 2025 season, when she was named on the Denver Onyx bench against the Bay Breakers, the first game in Onyx history. She attended Lindenwood University and both wrestled and played rugby with the Lions while there. She also represented the Colorado Gray Wolves in the WPL.

NARDB Player #1,501

Gabby Rivera

New Mexico native Gabby Rivera played in Women’s Elite Rugby between 2025-2026. She represented the Denver Onyx for her entire WER career.

Gabby Rivera earned her WER debut in Round 2 of the 2025 season, when she was named on the Denver Onyx bench against the Bay Breakers, the first game in Onyx history. She has previously represented the Colorado Gray Wolves in the WPL. Rivera earned 8 appearances during WER’s inaugural season, starting once for the Onyx to help the team secure the first ever Legacy Cup title. She returned for a second season with the Denver Onyx in 2026.

achievements
  • 2025 WER Legacy Cup Champion: Denver Onyx

NARDB Player #1,499

Rachel Johnson

Oregon native Rachel Johnson played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural season in 2025. She represented the Denver Onyx for her entire WER career.

A capped USA Eagle, Rachel Johnson earned her WER debut in Round 2 of the 2025 season, when she was named in the Denver Onyx starting lineup against the Bay Breakers, the first game in Onyx history. She has previously represented the Exeter Chiefs in the English PWR, winning the competition in 2021 (where Johnson scored a brace in the Final) and has represented the USA at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand as Eagle #270.

Rachel Johnson scored 6 tries in 6 games (all starts) for the Denver Onyx during the inaugural WER season, helping the team record a dominant inaugural season and lift the WER Legacy Cup against the New York Exiles following a 53-13 victory in which Johnson played the full 80 minutes. Following the WER season, Rachel Johnson was selected to represent the USA at her second Rugby World Cup, the 2025 tournament in England. Following the RWC, Johnson announced her retirement from professional rugby.

achievements

NARDB Player #1,490

Tahlia Brody

New York native Tahlia Brody played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural season in 2025. She represented the Denver Onyx for her entire WER career.

A capped USA Eagle, Tahlia Brody earned her WER debut in Round 2 of the 2025 season, when she was named in the Denver Onyx starting lineup against the Bay Breakers, the first game in Onyx history. She has previously represented the Leicester Tigers in the English PWR, as well as Bay of Plenty & Tasman in New Zealand. She is USA Eagle #307.

Following the WER season, Brody represented the USA at the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England before returning to the Leicester Tigers for the 2025/26 PWR season, and was included in the USA Eagles’ UK alignment camp in early 2026.

NARDB Player #1,489

Kapoina Bailey

Hawaii native Kapoina Bailey played in Women’s Elite Rugby between 2025-2026. She represented the Denver Onyx for her entire WER career.

Kapoina Bailey earned her WER debut in Round 2 of the 2025 season, when she was named in the Denver Onyx starting lineup against the Bay Breakers, the first game in Onyx history. She has previously played with the Lindenwood Lions, and was included in the USA Player Pool for their Spring 2025 Domestic Trials. Bailey earned 8 appearances for the Denver Onyx in WER’s inaugural season, starting 7 times and scoring 5 tries to help her team secure the first ever WER Legacy Cup title. She returned for a second season with the team in 2026.

achievements
  • 2025 WER Legacy Cup Champion: Denver Onyx

NARDB Player #1,488

Hallie Taufo’ou

Idaho native Hallie Taufo’ou played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural season in 2025. She represented the Denver Onyx for her entire WER career.

A capped USA Eagle, Hallie Taufo’ou earned her WER debut in Round 2 of the 2025 season, when she was named in the Denver Onyx starting lineup against the Bay Breakers, the first game in Onyx history. She has previously played with the Loughborough Lightning and the Leicester Tigers in the English PWR, and has represented the USA at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand as Eagle #300.

NARDB Player #1,487

Sheila Decker

New York native Sheila Decker played in Women’s Elite Rugby between 2025-2026. She represented the Denver Onyx for her entire WER career.

Sheila Decker earned her WER debut in Round 2 of the 2025 season, when she was named in the Denver Onyx starting lineup against the Bay Breakers, the first game in Onyx history. She has previously played with the Women’s Team at Norwich University. Decker earned 10 appearances for the Onyx in WER’s inaugural season, starting all 10 games and scoring a pair of tries to help the team claim the first ever WER Legacy Cup.

Sheila Decker returned for a second season with the Denver Onyx in 2026.

achievements
  • 2025 WER Legacy Cup Champion: Denver Onyx

NARDB Player #1,485