Denver Onyx aim to defend title in Women's Elite Rugby

The next game is set for June 7 at Infinity Park in Glendale

Story and photos by Colton Strickler

The alarm clock rings early in the morning for members of the Denver Onyx. 

Three times a week, players, coaches, and staff from Denver’s professional women’s rugby team are up before the birds to chase their dreams. Practice begins at 6 a.m. on the turf field south of Infinity Park in Glendale so they can train as a team before heading off to their day jobs.

It’s a grind, but pioneering professional women’s rugby in the United States is not for the weak.

Nobody knows this better than Rachel Johnson. 

After picking up rugby while attending Reed College in Portland, Oregon, Johnson moved on to play for the Oregon Sports Union before getting called up to the United States Women’s national team in 2018. Her international playing career landed her an opportunity with the Exeter Chiefs women in England’s Premier 15s competition, where she made 65 appearances over the course of five seasons. 

Then she headed back to the States to suit up for the Onyx in 2025 for the team’s inaugural season. After helping the Onyx win the 2025 Women’s Elite Rugby Legacy Cup, and competing in her second Rugby World Cup with the USA Eagles, Johnson made the decision to hang up the boots, but not the sport. She transitioned into an assistant coaching role on head coach Sarah Chobot’s Denver staff in 2026.

“It was special to be part of Onyx last year,” Johnson said. “I think what was really exciting about last year was to see how much the city of Denver showed up for us. Our fan base here was immediate and took off, and I think that made that really special.”

Denver packed the stands at Infinity Park to watch the Onyx roll to a 9-1 regular season record in 2025 before defeating the New York Exiles 53-13 in the Legacy Cup. The crowd, which faithfully showed up dressed in Onyx pink all season long, was something that the players on the field took immense pride in.

“It was really special,” Johnson said of the crowd. “I think there's something really special about feeling what it feels like to play at home, and I think at Onyx we definitely felt that.”

Winning the first title in the history of a brand-new league is a quick way for a team to put a big target on its back. The Onyx proved in 2025 that they were the team to beat, and that means that they’ll have all five of the clubs that make up the WER gunning for them when the season gets started in 2026.

“I think we were never shy about what our goal was last year, and it was a privilege to be part of that inaugural team and to be able to bring the Cup home with us,” Johnson said of the team’s success. “Now we've just set the bar of what we've got to keep shooting for.”

Unfortunately, even after months of early morning training sessions, the team opened the season with a road loss to the Bay Breakers (36-19) in Sacramento. But the title defense will run throughout the summer, with their regular season wrapping up against the Chicago Tempest. 

“Get your mom, bring her out,” Johnson said with a laugh. “Women's rugby is an exciting game … and it is a game for the whole family.”

The Onyx are aiming for another title in 2025 on the pitch, and they are hoping that the fans pick up where they left off in the stands. They are making it a mission to produce an entertaining product that fans will get excited about.

“I am really excited for the team this year,” Johnson said. “We've got some returners. We've got some young blood coming in, and I’m excited to see those players get the support and resources that they deserve and put on some really fun games for the city of Denver.”

The team will once again call Infinity Park home for the 2026 season. The first home game was May 10, and the next match is at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 7. 

Those wanting to watch the Onyx live can purchase tickets on DenverOnyx.us. If you can’t make it out to a match, the WER will show matches on the All Women Sports Network throughout the course of the season.

Colton Strickler is a proud Colorado native. He has covered the Colorado State Rams men’s basketball and football programs, the Denver Broncos, and was Major League Rugby’s lead writer before contributing to Thirst Colorado. He likes to spend his free time watching football, trying new restaurants, and working on his newsletter, The Cowboy Collar.