The University of Rhode Island Women’s Club Rugby team opened its season with grit and determination, despite facing two strong opponents in its first two matchups. The Rams fell to the Coast Guard Academy on the road September 20th before dropping their home opener to Norwich University on September 27th. Despite being outmanned in their first two matchups, the team remains positive going forward.
Casey Chin, Junior back on the Women’s Club Rugby team, explained how finishing a grueling 80-minute rugby match is an accomplishment in itself. The URI rugby team is a smaller program in comparison to its first two military academy opponents. These matches provided the Rams with ample preparation for their upcoming schedule.
Sitting at 0-2, the Rams are looking forward to a crucial stretch of conference matches. The D1 club team competes in the Northeast Women’s Collegiate Rugby Conference. They’ll travel to UMass Amherst on October 5th, then face back-to-back away matches against Boston College on October 18th and Providence College on October 25th. URI will close the season at home on November 1st against UMass Lowell.
Chin, who acts on the team’s executive board as the treasurer, joined the team in the fall semester of her freshman year in 2023. Despite never playing the sport prior to college, she was familiar with the game due to her older sister, who played on the URI team before her.
Casey notes that the sport is about community just as much as competition. “I really like the culture around the sport,” Chin said. “There’s so much on-field respect”.
That culture helps carry the team through rugby’s physical demands. Injuries are part of the game, and while URI has been fortunate to avoid long-term setbacks this season, players often push through bumps and bruises with just eight substitutes available. “Anything involving the head, you have to take seriously,” Chin explained. “But otherwise, you just go until you can’t anymore.”
Off the field, Chin helps keep the team running smoothly as part of the executive board alongside the president, vice president, and secretary. As treasurer, she collects dues, manages the budget, gets approval for buses, orders uniforms and apparel, and even oversees fundraising and merchandise.
“It’s very rewarding,” she said. “I’ve met so many types of people, and teammates come to me for advice. I try to make sure dues aren’t too expensive and help people with payment plans if they need it. It’s a really great environment to be in.”
The team coached by Tom McNiff has three field practices and two lift sessions a week. It’s never too late to join women’s rugby, as the team keeps an open roster all season! Reach out to the contact person and President Kendra Jackson at her email, kendra_jackson@uri.edu, if interested.
By John Almy
Class of 2026
Journalism Major