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Pam Tittes

 
 

Women’s Rugby Pioneer


My Golden Oldies Story

I had been away from rugby for years, but still had many old friends who I knew were involved with Golden Oldies (GO). Joining the GO tours always sounded like fun, but I was busy, and never seemed to have the time to even think about it – then I retired. Suddenly I had tons of time, and even some disposable income. I had traveled internationally both for business and pleasure, but I had never been to South America.

So, when I heard the Golden Oldies would be in Argentina in 2014, and my old friends, the Colorado Ol’ Pokes, would be going, I jumped at the chance to join them. I knew the GOs was a men’s tournament, so I had no intention of playing. Besides, I had had some significant orthopedic issues since the last time I had laced up a pair of cleats, and I was way past my prime.

I was not sure how well I would be received by everyone on the tour – a single female, traveling alone, with no reason for being there other than as a rugby supporter. I didn’t have to worry. Everyone was wonderful. I can’t tell you how much fun I had getting to know everyone in our group. We ate together, partied together, toured together, and we became a team -- we played together on and off the field!
Speaking of playing – I played three games in Argentina!!! Turns out, several women ruggers showed up at the tournament and were allowed to play on the men’s teams.

Fortunately, I was allowed to play in “purple” shorts because of my age and my orthopedic issues, so no one could tackle me. I had to borrow the purple shorts and one of our player’s cleats, but I have big feet, so it all worked out. It was great fun! Now I remember why I played for twelve years. The other women playing on the other men’s teams were wearing white shorts -- they were in the game playing full contact, and they were doing it well! Everyone was playing in the spirit of the game.

At Cardiff in 2016, the Welsh women brought a team and a game was organized between the Welsh women and a pick-up team of women. I thought it was technically some of the best rugby I watched the entire week. Again, many of the women also played on the men’s teams during the tournament (I didn’t play – my ortho issues had come back to bite me). There were noticeably more women ruggers in Wales than in Argentina. One thing that everyone participated in at Cardiff was the world’s largest scrum (I think we had over 1100 ruggers and friends bound together). Even the backs joined in. We all had a blast! Fun, Friendship, Fraternity (Sorority)!


Then at Christchurch in 2018, the Olde Barking Bitches from New Zealand showed up to play against several pick-up women’s teams. Women again augmented men’s teams when they had the chance. The number of women players at Christchurch had increased significantly over the number in Cardiff. I had the chance to meet the women ruggers in Christchurch as well as in Argentina and Cardiff. Although they were all quite a bit younger than me, we all had the love of rugby in common, so there was magic in the meetings.

I can’t imagine a better opportunity for “mature” men and women ruggers to enjoy the game of rugby while they see old friends, make new friends, visit new places, and, in general, celebrate life, than that provided by Golden Oldies Rugby. VSL, which is the owner/organizer of the Golden Oldies, is now actively registering teams made up of “mature” women ruggers to join the upcoming Golden Oldies Festival in Denver in 2021. The Olde Barking Bitches from New Zealand will be there!! They know from experience that, at the Golden Oldies, the party never ends!


Pam Tittes is a pioneer in women’s rugby, playing for 12 years in the 70s and 80s in Colorado, Minnesota and Georgia. During this time, Pam started three clubsides, was president of another clubside, and, in 1979, organised the first independent international women’s rugby tour. The tour included 35 women from twelve midwestern states making up two full teams, which played five exhibition games in Scotland, England and Wales. The tour was covered by BBC Scotland, BBC Bristol, and BBC England, as well as local and regional newspapers. Pam was inducted into the Eastern Rockies Rugby Hall of Fame in 1999, the initial year for the Hall of Fame. Pam is a retired metallurgical engineer. She is also a retired Lt. Col. in the US Air Force Reserve.