Cassandra Law, BS ’88 (human development and performance), pictured in her Oregon jacket with the Duck.

Rugby world champion on pursuing passion and finding purpose

Cassandra Law is a 1988 graduate of the University of Oregon, former member of the UO women’s track and field team, former coach and player for the women’s UO rugby team, and retired player of the USA Eagles national rugby team.

She earned the distinction of representing the United States in two Women’s Rugby World Cups: the first-ever 1991 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Cardiff, Wales, won by the USA Eagles team becoming the first ever USA World Cup Champions and with the Eagles squad that finished second in the 1994 World Cup in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Along with her distinguished rugby career, Law has spent more than three decades working with the US Department of Veterans Affairs—the second largest department in the President’s Cabinet. She currently serves as the department’s Deputy Chief of Staff in Washington, DC.

Law’s competitive athletic beginnings started at the age of seven as part of the Duke City Dashers in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She trained, traveled, and competed all the way through high school in long jump, high jump, 800 meters, 4x100 relays, shot put, discus, and javelin. As a high school student, she attended a track-and-field camp in Eugene.

“As a young high school girl, the training camp was a pivotal and inspirational moment in my life—my first introduction to TrackTown USA. We trained at Hayward Field, met the coaching staff, and lived in the dorms.”

The camp and exposure to the University of Oregon campus made such an impression that Law later moved to Eugene and began her collegiate athletic career as a javelin thrower for the UO women’s track-and-field team in 1982.

During her junior year she discovered a new sport, rugby. At a backyard barbecue a friend told her about a group of women who played. Her interest piqued, Law showed up for a practice session and began playing with a local team, the Eugene Housewives. It was this experience that solidified her commitment and love for the sport.

Discover more about the Eugene Housewives.

“The initial passion and love for rugby that I cultivated in Eugene as a complete rookie, exploded into a full-fledged rugby addiction,” says Law.

Law went on to bring rugby to the UO college campus and began coaching the new women’s club sports rugby team. The club was small, but Law says that it was enthusiastic and the UO was supportive of her efforts.

“I felt incredibly supported as a female athlete at the UO,” says Law. “Despite many challenges in the late 1970s and early 1980s around Title IX, track and field along with numerous other sports like rugby at the UO grew in support, popularity, and stature.”

Following two paths

While track and rugby were her athletic pursuits, academics at the UO were always a priority. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in human development and performance, Law immediately joined the Department of Veterans Affairs in California.

Before she even attended the UO, Law knew that her path would always lead to Veterans Affairs.

“I knew I wanted to become a recreation therapist, as it combined my interests in human development and rehabilitation with the intrinsic value of sport and movement,” she says. “My father was a physician and academic leader in the VA, so I grew up with a healthy understanding of and appreciation for the mission of the VA and serving veterans, their family members, survivors, and caregivers.”

While Law pursued her professional career with the VA, after moving to San Francisco she continued to play rugby. She joined a local team known as the Bay Area Shehawks as a player and team captain. Law led her team to win three national championships during that time and was selected to competitive representative and Pacific Coast Territorial side teams and toured with the Pacific Coast Grizzlies.

"Take advantage of the opportunities in front of you. Fear can be a big deterrent or a big driver. And confronting it can be both rewarding and empowering."

This exposure and success at the international competitive level led to Law’s selection to the USA Women’s National Rugby Team in 1990 where she represented the US for five years playing in New Zealand, Wales, Scotland, England, and France.

“Rugby was not a well-known sport in the United States, so we did not experience the support or recognition many other sports did. As a result, funding for our international competitions fell squarely on the players,” says Law. “But this decade of my life was also filled with so much excitement, joy, and pride. We fought hard to represent our country, our team, and each other and we still do today – decades later. It’s the intense beautiful bond that does not leave you when you retire from the international athletic platform and competition.”

1994 Women’s Rugby World Cup – Edinburgh, Scotland. Quarter-Finals: USA vs. Ireland. USA 76 — Ireland 0. Photo Credit: G. Brunstad

USA Women’s Eagles National Rugby Team – Washington, DC. First Lady Barbara Bush hosts the 1991 World Cup Champions at the White House. Photo Credit: Women’s Sports Foundation

Following the team’s 1991 World Cup Championship win in Wales, Law’s team was invited to the White House to acknowledge and celebrate their historic championship win. Then first-lady, Barbara Bush presented the champions with the Team Spirit award highlighting not only the win, but the physical and financial challenges the women Eagles overcame to achieve victory.

In 2017, 26 years later, the 1991 US Women’s Rugby World Cup Championship Team was inducted into the US Rugby Hall of Fame.

“I am so grateful for the role athletics has played in my life over the past fifty years,” Law says. “The heightened level of play and competition, intensity of training, commitment of and to teammates, and stellar, unparalleled coaching were magical and grounded me in discipline and commitment that shapes my life today.”

Whether it is sports or her career with the VA, Law has always challenged herself to “go the distance.” She sought out mentors who inspired and pushed her beyond her comfort zone and encouraged her not to take the easy path.

“I knew this to be true in athletics, so applied them to my professional life which led to many new opportunities I would never have sought or known,” Law says. “I share this advice with everyone that I mentor now: take advantage of the opportunities in front of you. Fear can be a big deterrent or a big driver. And confronting it can be both rewarding and empowering.”

2022 US Department of Veterans Affairs Official Portrait – Cassandra M. Law
Photo Credit: Eugene Russell