Courtesy of Claire Hloytak ’27
The arrival of crisp November air signals the end of the fall rugby season at Connecticut College. Although practices and tournaments may be over, the team holds onto the memories of a truly historic season for the Women’s and Nonbinary Rugby club.
If you had wandered down to Dawley Field many ages ago–circa Fall 2023–you may have noticed a handful of people passing around what appeared to be an exceptionally large football. You may have also noticed these people throwing the large football backwards, screaming wildly, and throwing each other to the ground. That weird ball was not, in fact, a football, but a rugby ball. For the past few years, the Women’s and Non-Binary Rugby Club has struggled with low membership numbers. In my first year at Conn, we had about six players, which was not even enough for a match that requires seven. Aside from the club president, Sam Dickerman ‘27, and me, no one had ever played the sport before.
Fast forward to Fall 2025, or what I am more dramatically calling, The Rise of the Camel. The fall ushered in a new era for Conn rugby with recruitment rates soaring. Perhaps what drew new players in was the club’s relaxed nature, chill and welcoming vibes, and the excitement of learning a new sport (this whole article is an ad to join the team, by the way).
The 11 first-year students who joined brought an enthusiasm for practice and relentless positivity. Many of them came from previous athletic backgrounds and used these skills to their advantage on the pitch. As Hanna Thompson ‘27 puts it, “the freshman presence this year has brought a lot of oomf to our team.” Oomf is right. For the first time in years, we ran full scrimmages at practice and played around with lineups. The dream team had been assembled. Our time had come.
The team hit the road, traveling across New England for our busiest tournament schedule in years. The season began with a scrimmage against our friends at the Coast Guard Academy, which was many players’ first match ever. At our first home tournament in years, the team went 3-0, sweeping the competition. Since there is no field for the team on campus, The Williams School generously welcomed us to use their space, which we hope to do again. The following week, we went 2-1 at Union College, followed by a 2-1 record at Wesleyan the following week. We traveled to Babson College for their end-of-the-season jamboree, where Camel Rugby took home some hardware, winning the 2025 North Atlantic Fall 7’s Rugby Bowl.
The work we put in all season culminated in our win. Throughout the fall, we focused on communication, a staple in team sports, especially in rugby, where you are passing backwards and need to know where your teammates are. We placed a huge emphasis on running onto the ball with pace, which allows for quicker plays and confuses the opposition on defense. In doing this, players in the middle of the field can break the defensive wall. With quick passes from the Centres to the wings, our fastest players could weave through the defense and score a try (five points).
In sevens rugby, 14 players sprint all over the field for 14 minutes. Stamina is paramount when there is so much field space to cover in order to score and chase down opposition. Due to the high intensity of the game, substitutes are crucial. In past years, the team has had barely enough players to field a team. That all changed this year when our numbers grew to 18. Chloe Davidson ‘28 said that “having these subs has helped us win a lot more games, and I’m just really proud of us.”
It’s not always smooth sailing, and each rugby match presents a new challenge. Sometimes the opposition is much bigger, or communication on the pitch is lacking. When I asked her about how she overcomes challenges on the pitch, Eliza Brennan ‘27 said that she tries to “find a position that’s advantageous to progressive movement.” Eliza’s right. Rugby is all about forward progress. On and off the pitch, our team proved that when we move forward together, there isn’t much we can’t accomplish.
Anyone familiar with the team would notice the energy shift this season. During matches, the sidelines erupted with personalized camel cheers. The Conn College foam fingers traveled to every tournament. The spirit inspired our players to push through some tough matches. I’ll never forget the moment I was lying in the dirt after being flung to the ground by a girl several inches shorter than me. I may have been bruised, I may have been struggling to breathe, but when I heard “Camel, Camel, Camel, Oi, Oi, Oi” from the sidelines, I knew my teammates were there for me. That was enough to keep going.
Bailey Regan ‘27 described what makes the team such a positive group, saying that “we have such a huge focus on having your teammates’ backs…and being there when they get tackled. So we’re just trying to bring that into life, like we’re always just there for each other, and it’s really awesome.”
The team’s success this season proves that investment in club sports is vital. They build community, welcoming people of all athletic backgrounds to learn new things. Oftentimes, they are relegated to the background, receiving much less attention than varsity teams. Our season is a testament to the enduring positive impact of club sports and the community they build on campus. Club soccer, volleyball, frisbee, basketball, and hockey all contribute to a robust campus culture. The evidence is clear: club sports deserve their flowers.
To keep up with the team, follow us on Instagram @camelrugby and message us with any questions!
