One of the most promising up-and-coming players in the DMV is Celeste Valerio. Ever since stepping onto a rugby pitch when she was six, Celeste has been hooked on the contact sport. As a senior in high school, Celeste has played on multiple select sides and hopes to play in college next fall. One of her biggest aspirations is to be an ambassador and a role model for rugby and bring more women and girls to play the sport she loves.
Rugby is in Celeste’s blood. Her father played in college and eventually became a referee before passing his love of the game onto her. After her family moved to California when she was 6, Celeste’s first time on the field was playing touch with the Pleasanton Cavaliers. When her family moved back to the East Coast when she was 11, Celeste joined the West Carroll Marauders in Westminster, MD.
It wasn’t until Celeste’s first year at Urbana High School that it all clicked. Her proudest rugby experience was playing her first select side tournament with Atlantis down in Tropical 7s in Orlando, Florida.
She reflects on that experience saying, “I have been playing forever, and I’m not naturally athletic, but that was the first time I realized I might be getting somewhere with this sport and that I might be good at where I hadn’t necessarily seen that before. So for me, that was a huge breakthrough as far as confidence and my abilities.”
Lining up mainly at scrumhalf and fullback, Celeste uses her experience to her advantage and does everything possible to help her teammates and put them into a position to succeed. She has gone on to play with the Celtic Barbarians at the Tropical 7s and NY 7s in 2021 and will also suit up for the team at the Tropical 7s this spring. She has competed with the Old Glory Academy since 2021, and Celeste is also part of the OGDC gameday staff.
Celeste’s passion and love for the sport come from the community. “I love everyone I have come into contact with through rugby. It’s given me so much more confidence in myself and my abilities both in rugby and out of it.”
Although she loves what the community has done for the sport, more can be done to promote and support the women’s game. “Show more women’s rugby,” Celeste said. “It’s hard enough to show men’s rugby in the US, but it’s even harder to find women’s rugby at a high level to watch. Showing more women’s rugby, creating more teams, and devoting resources to it would be a huge bonus to help get girls into rugby.”
Additionally, Celeste indicated that having good female role models, women coaches, or college-age women to come and talk to girls will encourage more participation in rugby. “It’s a huge bonus because when there are other girls present, you are going to get more girls [to listen]. All of my coaches have been great regardless of gender, but having a strong female role model is a huge plus, and it helps to encourage girls to get into rugby.”
“I would like to be one of those role models one day,” Celeste professed. “I’m a senior on my team now, so I’m trying to be a role model with my teammates. I would love to be a role model for even more girls who are either coming in or just starting in rugby.”
“I would tell [new players] to go for it because no matter where you go or what age you are, you are going to find coaches and players who will support you. I have had that experience universally with any club I’ve played with. Even if you don’t think you have the confidence, or you’re scared to go into contact, or because you are one of the only girls on the team, you will find that support system and grow your confidence and abilities. Even if it’s scary at first, it’s totally worth it in the end.”
But why rugby? Celeste said, “It’s one of the only sports where the rules are exactly the same for the girls and the boys. It also gives you that level of physicality because it is contact. For me, it’s an outlet for stress. You don’t get that in other sports. Also, there is a lot of decision-making. No matter where you are playing on the field, you have to make decisions. In other sports, you don’t get that as much. For me, it’s a mental and physical game.”
Rugby has taught Celeste, and many other young girls to face their fears and have the confidence to tackle them head-on. “It’s taught me to trust myself and trust my teammates and go at things 100%. Even if you mess up, it’s fine because you have another chance. It’s an 80-minute game. So you get to keep going and try again.”
