Devault, PA Rugby PA is proud to announce two new additions to its Board of Directors, effective March 1, 2020. Mark Ernst and Jennifer Stratton will be filling two vacant seats on the board left by Scott Brown and the late Tom Barr. 

Jennifer Stratton returns to the Rugby PA board, after stepping away several years ago to pursue educational and professional opportunities. She was a former founding Director of Rugby PA in 2012. Jennifer has 10+ years of rugby experience, both playing and administratively. She began playing rugby while at Penn State and is a current player for the Harrisburg Women's rugby club. She also is the Vice President of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union, which oversees the collegiate and senior club levels in the area. Professionally, Jennifer is a Senior Consultant with Sellers Dorsey.

Mark Ernst started his rugby career in the 1990s playing various forward positions with clubs in southeast Texas - primarily Beaumont (now Lamar University) RFC.

He later became a coach and manager with Plano RFC, working progressively with teams from U9 to Varsity.  He also served as Director of Youth Rugby and was active with Rugby Texas and Texas A&M in planning tournaments, recruiting events and exhibitions around Dallas, College Station, Houston and Austin.  

Mark’s family moved to Pennsylvania in 2017. They currently live in Wallingford where Mark continues to coach and son William plays scrumhalf for Media Rugby.

Outside rugby, Mark is the Chief Financial Officer of The Pride Group Inc., an import firm based in Ridley Park and Suzhou. He has a BA in economics from Florida State University and an MBA from Lamar University.

Jennifer will be fulfilling Tom Barr’s unexpired term through 2022. Mark will be completing Scott Brown's term through 2021. Both will join current Board Members; Ari Christakis, Eric Jerpe, Rick Van Luvender, and Melina Kuchinov.