The University of Rhode Island’s Club Rugby Team played its second game of the season against Binghamton University on September 21st at 1 p.m. In a heated conference matchup that was played in heavy wind and light rain, Rhody Rugby left their home field victorious with a score of 17-0. The long-standing club program, founded in 1966, moves to 2-0 in the season. Their first win came against Nazareth University with a score of 17-8. URI now sits at the top of the Division I-AA standings along with Yale University and UMass Amherst. The team aims to claim 3-0 at Colgate on September 28th.

The tight-knit team is led by former Rhode Island rugby player and powerlifter Darryl Brooks. Brooks first started playing rugby in college after mainly focusing on powerlifting for the majority of his life. The talented athlete picked up rugby quickly and turned into an all-conference prop during his time on the team. Brooks did this while still focusing on his education and competing nationally as a collegiate powerlifter. The hardworking coach has created a strong culture around the team that has translated to success on the field. 

The game was played at URI’s rugby pitch located behind Mackal Field House and the baseball field on campus. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, the matchup with Binghamton drew a significant crowd of rugby fans and parents. Most notable of them all was Rugby super fan, and President of URI, Marc Parlange. 

Parlange, who was selected as the 12th president for the University of Rhode Island in August of 2021, has been an avid supporter of the club rugby program since he arrived in Kingston. Rugby, which is known as the “sport played in heaven” to President Parlange, has played an instrumental role in his life. First introduced to the sport at the age of three in Australia, Parlange has been playing and watching the sport for as long as he can remember. 

The President and his family have lived in various countries where they always made sure to find a game to watch. While living in Switzerland for ten years, Parlange and his family became supporters of both Italy and Australia’s rugby teams. That is, of course, when he wasn’t watching his kid’s rugby games. While they lived in Melbourne, their family would go support the local team, The Rebels, along with Australia’s national team, The Wallabies. 

When he isn’t supporting the Rugby team, Parlange can be found at other URI Club and Athletic events. Some of his favorites include hockey, tennis, football, basketball, volleyball, and sailing. The President loves the unity and friendships that club sports bring to the campus. “This is the best, they will be friends for the rest of their lives,” says Parlange. 

The President recognizes the importance that Club sports play in students’ lives at the University. “I think it’s very serious, they take it so seriously,” says Parlange regarding club sports. The Vice President of student affairs, Ellen Reynolds, is doing a great job with club sports according to Parlange. The two work closely together and are always looking for ways to improve the University and the club sports programs. Reynolds and Parlanges support for athletics and recreational athletics drives teams to victory and furthers their love for the sport.   

What’s Next For Rhody Rugby?

On Saturday the 28th, Rhody Rugby travels to Colgate for their third game of the season and first away game. The following Saturday the team will travel to New Haven, Connecticut to face Yale University. The Rams have a bye week following Yale, and then finish the regular season off with a home game against Buffalo on October 19th and an away game against Columbia on October 26th. The teams schedule is attached here.