Shawn Lipman


Shawn Lipman is an American South African born rugby union player.
He was inducted into the US Rugby Hall of Fame in 2019 together with US Internationals Luke Gross and Vaea Anitoni.
He was also inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, with others such as Sandy Koufax, Mark Spitz, and Shawn Green.
Shawn has been inducted into three other sporting Halls of Fame including the USA Maccabiah Rugby Hall of Fame, Santa Monica Rugby Club Hall of Fame, and the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

United States

Born on 25 September 1964, Johannesburg, Lipman was capped nine times for the in tests, including three 1991 Rugby World Cup games. Including non-test games, though, he has played in over 20 International 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 US 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 US team in 1993 and 1997, and represented the US 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 National 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 2009 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 as a player.
In June 2011 he was inducted into his third Sports Hall of Fame. Along with Taylor Mays of the San Francisco 49ers and Doug Gottlieb of ESPN, he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2013 he was Head Coach of the USA Maccabi Rugby Team that competed at the 19th World Games. The team won the gold medal in sevens and the bronze medal in fifteens.
In 2017, Lipman led the US team to the 20th World Maccabiah Games as Head Coach, and together with US International star Zack Test and with the team captained by US Eagle Kevin Swiryn, the team won the gold medal in fifteens, beating the favored South African side 31-21. Lipman is the only player to ever win a gold medal for rugby at the Maccabiah Games both as a player and coach.
Lipman was inducted into the Maccabi USA Rugby Hall of Fame in 2018 and the US Rugby Hall of Fame in 2019.

Maccabiah Games

On 26 June 2011, he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Shawn Lipman founded the West Valley Wolverines Youth Rugby Club in 2003 and was the Head Coach and President until 2010. The club started with his two sons and 8 other kids and grew to over 80 players. The club focused on fun and development in introducing rugby to children aged between 5 and 12 in the West San Fernando Valley.

Professional career

Shawn is also an accomplished entrepreneur who has started and sold a diverse set of companies in the healthcare, real estate, entertainment, and eCommerce space. He currently serves as CEO of .