Courtesy of Hanna Thompson ’27
The Connecticut College Camels have been feeling beastly. On April 13, 2025, the Women’s and Nonbinary Rugby team returned to Beast of the East for the first time as a whole team in the post-pandemic era. Beast of the East, informally known as “Beast,” is New England’s largest 15s and 7s rugby tournament. Hosted annually at Gardner Sports Complex in RI, it welcomes about eighty teams for the two-day tournament.
Conn played in the 2024 Beast tournament last year with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lassell University, and Babson College talent filling out the roster due to only four Camels attending the competition. The Connecticut College coach, Angie Owens, was a teammate of the MIT coach, Claire Phelan, and was able to work with Phelan to allow the school to compete. The “Lumitcob” team won three pool games yet lost to Providence College in the final championship for women’s casual 7s. Considering the team had met within the same day, much less ever practicing together, it was incredible that the rugby community was strong enough to build a team.
This year, the Camels came to dominate the pitch. The Women’s and Nonbinary rugby team has grown from last year, allowing the team to play under the Camels name at the tournament this year. Coach Owens could not attend and was substituted by their teammate, Olivia ‘OBD’ Benzan-Daniel. OBD has been playing rugby for almost 15 years and has coached the College of the Holy Cross and Brandeis University. Conn started the tournament against NESCAC rival Wesleyan University. The two teams had not matched until this season, so this was a highly anticipated meeting. Wesleyan quickly scored the first try, forcing Conn to strengthen their defense. A try (the main form of scoring in rugby) is awarded when an attacking player touches the ball in the opposing team’s try zone. Conn’s Chloe Jenenski ‘26 responded with two tries, ending the game 10-5 for the Camels.
Following the win, Conn played Mount Holyoke College. The Camels fell to Mount Holyoke in their previous matchup at Babson’s home tournament, so the team was excited for the rematch. The match started in Mount Holyoke’s favor as they scored a try within the first few minutes. This did not startle the Camels, as Jeneski found a gap in the defensive line and sprinted to score two more tries. The Lyons quickly tied up the score with a try of their own. Within the last few minutes of the match, Captain Sam Dickerman ‘27 scored her first try and made two conversion kicks to secure the 19-12 win for the Camels.
The Camels then faced UMaine Farmington in their last pool match. Conn played great defense, but the UMaine offense prospered. This match contained many scrums in which Bailey Regan ‘27 as hooker, Hanna Thompson ‘27 as loose-head prop, and Erica Smith ‘27 played tight-head prop. Scrums occur when the ball is “knocked” forward and are a way for teams to engage in physical contact to regain possession. The hooker is in the middle and “hooks” the ball with their foot while the two props push the opposing team forward to help the ball get out. In the end, Conn lost 0-24, fighting to the very end despite the rapidly worsening weather conditions.
The weather for the tournament was brutal. It was 41℉ in Portsmouth, but it felt like 32℉. Paired with non-stop rain, the conditions were not ideal. The team brought an easy-up tent as shelter that quickly snapped and blew away, forcing the Camels to seek shelter in the merchandise tent. By the end of the day, there was no remaining grass on the field, only mud. Players slid down the field as if on a slip ‘ n ‘ slide, and balls flew around as they slipped out of players’ hands. Mud adorned every team’s jerseys, and players could be seen sliding into the try zone when scoring.
The team showed they are not to be underestimated, playing their best matches of the whole season under challenging conditions. The team maintained morale by singing Hamilton, eating Dunkin’ Donuts, and huddling together like penguins. It seems that Camels are greater beasts than expected.
If you want to learn more about Rugby at Conn, contact sdickerma@conncoll.edu.
