The University of Rhode Island men’s rugby team dropped their 2026 home opener 25-20 to Columbia on Saturday, but being back on the pitch was a win in itself.
The team, more commonly known as “Rhody Rugby,” is coming off a year-long suspension that shut down the club for the 2025-26 academic year.
“It’s been a lot,” Rhody Rugby President Avery Hurwitz said. “Just being back with the boys, it’s great; the camaraderie is here, and we can see it on the pitch today.”
The team halted its operations in June 2025 following a hazing allegation. After a summer-long investigation, the university’s assistant director of communications, Dawn Bergantino, provided the following comment in September 2025:
“The university received and immediately investigated an allegation of hazing within the men’s club rugby team. The complaint was examined and adjudicated consistent with the university’s student conduct process. In accordance with FERPA, we cannot discuss individual student conduct proceedings. However, the university has determined that the men’s club rugby team may not represent the University in any organized competition, practice, or scrimmage during the 2025-26 academic year.”
Part of the terms of the suspension were hiring a new head coach. The club’s executive board, alongside URI’s Coordinator of Club Sports Joe Wilbur, teamed up and named Sean Rogan the club’s next leader.
“He knows how to bring the new guys in, teach the technique and the proper form of the game,” said Hurwitz.
Rhody Rugby’s upperclassmen also played a huge part in keeping the squad together, despite the loss of the season.
“We went to Providence Men’s; we drove 30 minutes every Tuesday and Thursday,” second- year player Harrison Hunt said. “Everyone playing, even after the suspension, knows we just want to play rugby.”
Hunt, alongside a handful of underclassmen, is suiting up for their first season of collegiate rugby, trying to assimilate with a group of upperclassmen who played pre-suspension.
“We have a great senior class,” Hurwitz said. “A class where younger guys have somebody to look up to.”
The upperclassmen showed out in Saturday’s match, with fourth-year Jack Ransome scoring two tries and being named the team’s “Man of the Match.” Third-year Kenny Jacques also pitched in with two tries of his own.
The game brought a feeling of togetherness for Rhody Rugby. That feeling wasn’t only shown by the team’s players and their families, but also by numerous friends, alumni, and even URI’s President Marc Parlange in attendance.
“You can see how people here today, just coming to show out,” Hunt said. “The first home game, and it was awesome. It’s wonderful to see, and we have many more games to go.”
Rhody looks ahead to five more matches spanning from this upcoming Saturday, up until Halloween. The team heads to Iona University this weekend for a road kickoff, will take a bye the following weekend, and then return home to play Yale University on Oct. 10.
