Best Rugby Experience

I have two experiences that are evenly tied in my mind.

My First and Only New Jersey Tournament with the Illinois Tornadoes
Participating in the New Jersey tournament with the Illinois Tornadoes was a truly unforgettable experience. Our team was a blend of players from different Illinois teams—former rivals who came together to compete as an All-Star team. This trip solidified for me what rugby is all about: camaraderie, teamwork, and lasting friendships. It was especially meaningful because it was my final opportunity to play with my high school team before graduating.
Despite not winning a single game, the energy throughout the tournament was incredibly positive. The hard work we had put in came together on the field, and seeing us function as a unified team was the highlight of my trip.
What brought me the most pride, though, was witnessing the growth of players I had known throughout my time at Taft. Watching them become unstoppable on the field filled me with excitement—not only for their futures but also for the bright future of Illinois rugby.

CRAA Nationals in Houston
Houston 7’s was my first national tournament as a freshman at SHU. It represented the culmination of all the effort I had put into my first year of collegiate rugby, during which I worked my way up to become a starter for every match. This achievement was something I was truly proud of—it proved to me that I belonged at the Division 1 level and could compete with the best of the best, which is where I had always aspired to be.
Later that month, I was honored to receive the Most Valuable 7’s Player award, voted on by my teammates.

Values

The values that rugby has brought to my life include discipline, accountability, communication skills, courage, and gratitude. By having the discipline to hold yourself to a high standard, you are setting a foundation for self-improvement. By staying focused on your goals, you also hold yourself accountable, not just to yourself but to your teammates who look to you and trust you to perform.
Because of rugby, I can admit when I have made a mistake and have the accountability to do better for the sake of others and my integrity. Rugby has also shown me how valuable communication truly is, repeatedly you are reminded it’s not just you on the pitch or out in the world, rugby reinforces these collaboration skills because you often work with others you may not know well. With these skills together you both can reach the common goal of creating the best outcome.
This sport has also taught me how to be courageous, to be courageous in being unapologetically myself, to be courageous in the face of conflict or challenge, and to be courageous enough to step out of my comfort zone. Lastly and most importantly, rugby has taught me gratitude. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to play rugby when others are unable to. I remind myself to play for those who cannot because I know what it means to be unable to do what you love.
These values have changed me for the better. I have gone from someone uncertain of how to interact with the world to someone confident enough to say I know who I am.

Mentors

My Parents
Without the unconditional support from my mom and dad I don’t believe I’d be anywhere near as accomplished as I am. It's the seemingly little things that have brought me to where I am, such as being taken to and from practice, which unfortunately fell on my father's shoulder during the pandemic when I had to be driven an hour away for practices twice a week. My mother would take time from her already busy schedule to help me attend out-of-state clinics and tournaments, she even became involved with my club team to continue building connections, which only fed my rugby obsession more and allowed me to meet so many more incredible coaches and players. Lastly, it was unconditional support from the very beginning that helped me keep going, even when things got hard. I would not have made it to where I am today without my parents and I am forever grateful.

Nick Spencer
My Uncle Nick is who introduced me to rugby, he played during the 80’s in Berlin and was even such a phenomenal player that he was invited to play in Scotland. This enthusiasm for the sport of rugby changed my life. If he had not called my dad to get him to convince me to check out the club rugby team at my high school, I probably would have never fallen in love with the sport. My Uncle Nick is my number one cheerleader on and off the field and is one of the loudest on the sideline (second to my dad). My Uncle Nick is one of my “Whys” as to the reason I play rugby, and I play for him to make him proud.

Jamie Stephens
I couldn’t have asked for a better coach during all my four years of high school. I believe Coach Jamie is capable of turning any singular person into a rugby player, she looked at this 120 lbs, stick-limbed, track athlete freshman with blue hair and saw potential. Jamie instilled in me integrity, discipline, and a bit unwillingly leadership skills. She creates an environment for learning that is unlike any I have encountered, she knows when to push athletes to be their best, and when to be light-hearted to remind us that we love rugby, as sometimes we can forget that rugby is fun when games get tough. Even though I am no longer her athlete, Jamie continues to be a part of my everyday life and continues to forever remind me where I came from, so that when I have doubts in myself I can remember to be proud of my progress.

The Role Rugby has

I was never someone who played team sports because I never seemed to fit quite right into any team dynamic, rugby was what showed me that I am capable of belonging just by being myself. Rugby has given me a purpose and a drive that I never knew I had, I feel as though I have found my people regardless of where I find myself playing, regardless if I am playing with or against them. This sport has introduced me to people I would have never met otherwise, and in rugby, everyone knows someone, you can say a name to someone you just met and there's such a high chance they know who you're talking about. This tight-knit community will forever continue to influence me even when the day comes that I can no longer play.

-Josie O’Donnell