The University of Rhode Island women’s rugby club is blending grit with community as it grows in numbers and spirit.
The team hosted their first home match of the season on Saturday against Norwich University.
“Rugby is the sport played in heaven,” URI President Marc Parlange said when summing up the spirit of the day.
Despite falling 56-5 to Norwich, URI didn’t give up until the final whistle. Throughout the game, the Rams kept energy high, leading to them scoring on a late-game try.
At URI, the team is not only focused on playing the sport but also on empowering female athletes and fostering a loving community, according to club president Kendra Jackson. The Rams began their six-game schedule on Sept. 20 with a match against the Coast Guard Academy. While the game ended in a loss as well, it was a chance for newcomers to play.
“I know we didn’t win, but it was also a great learning opportunity,” Jackson said. “You learn from your mistakes. It’s also the first game for so many new people, especially because we prioritize getting everyone some playing time.”
The club maintains an open roster year-round, allowing anyone to join at any time, no matter their experience.
“We always want more girls to come and join,” Jackson said. “We take grad students, part-time students and international students; regardless, we’ll take them. It doesn’t hurt to try. Just show up, even if you don’t have cleats or a mouth guard.”
The club has been on a steady incline in participation. The team gained 30 new players this season, ranging from those who have played for years to others who stepped on the pitch for the first time in September. Club secretary Sophie Artery joined after being recruited during her first collegiate year, despite never having played before. Now in her third year, she said the community has kept her hooked.
“We’re such a wonderful, loving team,” Artery said. “Even though we’re rough on the field, we love each other off the field.”
Head Coach Thomas McNiff, who has been with the club since 2021, is adamant in his goal to let the girls grow and have fun while they are doing it.
“We have an ethos here where our goal is to, ‘if you’re new, let yourself be new,’” McNiff said. “Mistakes are how you learn. You succeed, you grow through failure.”
The team stresses the importance of making mistakes, according to McNiff. McNiff’s favorite part about coaching this team is watching these players grow through this space.
“I coach with two foundations,” McNiff said. “Foundation number one is empowerment. Foundation number two is ruthless compassion. They think they can’t do it. They think they can’t tackle. They think they can’t run hard. They think they’re not hardcore. Those 80 minutes just proved them otherwise.”
While rugby is still a niche sport in the United States, its culture of toughness and camaraderie runs deep, according to McNiff. For URI players, that combination makes the effort worthwhile.
“There is no other sport on the planet like it,” McNiff said.
There will be one more home match this season on Nov. 1 against the University of Massachusetts Lowell. While the team will be looking to bring home a win, the experience and growth throughout the season remain the team’s biggest motivators.
