University of New England Athletics

After four years of guiding the UNE Club Women's Rugby team, Ashley Potvin was named as the head coach of the Nor'easters' 16th varsity sport, which began action in 2016-17. During the championship portion (fall) of the 2017-18 season, UNE's varsity program captured the inaugural National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) Tier 2 Cup title.

As the sport evolved in 2019-20, she led the squad to the NIRA Division III Championship Game. After no competition in 2020-21, the Nor'easters made it back to the NIRA final in both 2021-22 and 2022-23.

In Spring 2025, UNE placed second at the inaugural NIRA 7's Championship.

Check out this June 2020 Spotlight on Potvin-Fulford...

Potvin graduated from Norwich University [NCAA III] in 2011 with bachelor's degrees in international studies and secondary education. She played two seasons of ice hockey for the Cadets, followed by two of rugby, when she was a starter on squads that made a USA Rugby National Division II Final Four appearance and two USA Rugby National Division II Elite Eight appearances.

She played with the Portland Women's Rugby Club from 2012-15.

A Biddeford native, Potvin lives locally and previously taught at Biddeford Middle School while coaching multiple sports in the district. At UNE, she also serves as the advisor to the Female Athlete Alliance Club. In 2024, she finished a master of social work (MSW) degree from UNE. Potvin has also graduated from the NCAA Women's Coaching Academy (2019), and the WeCOACH 2.0 Academy, and is a World Rugby and USA Rugby Level 1 Certified Coach.

Women's Rugby Home

(updated September 2025)