Shawn Lipman
Encyclopedia
Shawn Lipman is an American/South African rugby union
player.
He was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, with others such as Sandy Koufax, Mark Spitz, and Sean Green.
games. Including non-test games, though, he has played over 20 matches.
Lipman joined Wits University Rugby Club at Under 20 level in 1983, from Sandringham High School, where he was a first team player, having received full colours in Rugby. He represented Transvaal Under 20s whilst playing at Wits and also South Africa in the Maccabiah Games in 1985.
Shawn represented the United States in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He also represented the U.S. national team in over 20 international matches, including 9 test matches. Lipman played against some of the best national teams and players in the world, including the New Zealand All Blacks, England and France.
Lipman had a very successful run in the Maccabiah Games, having captained the U.S. team in 1993 and 1997, and represented the U.S. in 1989 and South Africa in 1985. He was selected as MVP of the Maccabiah Games Rugby Event in 1989, 1993, and 1997. In the Maccabiah competition, he won gold in 1985; bronze in 1989; silver in 1993 and gold in 1997. Shawn was elected as the Flag Bearer for the United States delegation in 1997.
Lipman toured South Africa in 1988 with the Pacific Coast Grizzlies, playing against the top provincial teams in South Africa, including Western Province, South African Defence, Eastern Transvaal, and with notable victories against Natal, Orange Free State and Boland.
Lipman was inducted into the USA’s Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 along with some of the best professional athletes in the United States, including Mark Spitz. He earned the MVP of the Year award at the Santa Monica Rugby Club eight times and in 2006 was also inducted into that club’s Hall of Fame.
In 2009 Lipman came out of retirement at the age of 44 to represent the United States at the Maccabiah Games, winning a bronze medal. This culminated a 24-year career of playing at the Maccabiah Games, winning 2 Gold Medals, 1 SIlver , and 2 Bronze Medals.
In June 2011 he was inducted in to his third Sports Hall of Fame. Along with Taylor Mays of the San Francisco 49ers, he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
On June 26, 2011, he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player.
He was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, with others such as Sandy Koufax, Mark Spitz, and Sean Green.
United States
He was capped nine times for the in tests, including three 1991 Rugby World Cup1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
games. Including non-test games, though, he has played over 20 matches.
Lipman joined Wits University Rugby Club at Under 20 level in 1983, from Sandringham High School, where he was a first team player, having received full colours in Rugby. He represented Transvaal Under 20s whilst playing at Wits and also South Africa in the Maccabiah Games in 1985.
Shawn represented the United States in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He also represented the U.S. national team in over 20 international matches, including 9 test matches. Lipman played against some of the best national teams and players in the world, including the New Zealand All Blacks, England and France.
Lipman had a very successful run in the Maccabiah Games, having captained the U.S. team in 1993 and 1997, and represented the U.S. in 1989 and South Africa in 1985. He was selected as MVP of the Maccabiah Games Rugby Event in 1989, 1993, and 1997. In the Maccabiah competition, he won gold in 1985; bronze in 1989; silver in 1993 and gold in 1997. Shawn was elected as the Flag Bearer for the United States delegation in 1997.
Lipman toured South Africa in 1988 with the Pacific Coast Grizzlies, playing against the top provincial teams in South Africa, including Western Province, South African Defence, Eastern Transvaal, and with notable victories against Natal, Orange Free State and Boland.
Lipman was inducted into the USA’s Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 along with some of the best professional athletes in the United States, including Mark Spitz. He earned the MVP of the Year award at the Santa Monica Rugby Club eight times and in 2006 was also inducted into that club’s Hall of Fame.
In 2009 Lipman came out of retirement at the age of 44 to represent the United States at the Maccabiah Games, winning a bronze medal. This culminated a 24-year career of playing at the Maccabiah Games, winning 2 Gold Medals, 1 SIlver , and 2 Bronze Medals.
In June 2011 he was inducted in to his third Sports Hall of Fame. Along with Taylor Mays of the San Francisco 49ers, he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Maccabiah Games
- Captained the US Maccabiah Team at the 1997 and 1993 Maccabiah World Games, winning Gold 1997, Silver 1993.
- Represented the US Maccabiah Team at the 1989 Maccabiah World Games, winning Bronze and South Africa in 1985, winning Gold
- Selected Most Valuable Player of the Games in 1989, 1993 and 1997
- Flag Bearer for the United States delegation at the 1997 Maccabiah World Games
Honors and biography
- Named as one of Best 50 US internationals by a national sports publication
- Inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, with others such as Sandy KoufaxSandy KoufaxSanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
, Mark SpitzMark SpitzMark Andrew Spitz is a retired American swimmer. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, an achievement only surpassed by Michael Phelps who won eight golds at the 2008 Olympics....
, and Shawn GreenShawn GreenShawn David Green is a former Major League Baseball player.Green was a 1st round draft pick and a two-time major league All-Star...
. - Represented TransvaalGolden LionsThe Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
Under 20 provincial representative side in South Africa - Selected as MVP of the Santa Monica Rugby ClubSanta Monica Rugby ClubSanta Monica Rugby Club is a rugby union club from Santa Monica, California. The team, also known as the Dolphins, compete in Division 1 of the Southern California Rugby Football Union . The Division 1 SCRFU competition is arguably the top level of club rugby in the United States...
in seven seasons - Represented US representative side at the Melrose SevensMelrose SevensMelrose Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Melrose Rugby Club, in Melrose, Scotland. It is the oldest rugby sevens competition dating from 1883, when the tournament was suggested by former Melrose player Ned Haig....
, one of the premier tournaments in the world - Represented the US all over the world against international sides, including **
On June 26, 2011, he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
See also
- List of select Jewish rugby union players
External links
- Shawn Lipman on scrum.com
- Shawn Lipman on The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.