Occidental Womxn’s Rugby competes in the Pacific Desert College Women’s Rugby Conference. In preparation for the season, the team has been practicing and has competed in two tournaments so far. Match secretary Emily Wills (junior) said the league games are in the Spring so the focus for the Fall is competing in tournaments.
According to Wills, Womxn’s Rugby played in two qualifiers for sevens nationals Oct. 28. Oxy won both games, beating Claremont and then San Diego State University (SDSU).
Wills said that the team played another two games Nov. 4, competing in the Pasadena Royal Round Robin tournament. The team tied their first game against Pasadena Women’s Rugby and won their second against Empire Monarchs club rugby.
According to communications chair Sarah “Stick” Nasoni (sophomore), the Oct. 28 tournament was a sevens tournament, whereas the Nov. 4 tournament was a fifteens tournament, which is the standard. Wills said that while mainly returning players were competing at the sevens tournament, the team made sure to give rookies playtime in the fifteens tournament.
“I think it’s an amazing experience for the rookies getting to win games, because [winning games] is a real confidence booster and a lot of rugby is about confidence… you have to get through a lot of mental blocks in rugby, and playing games is the best way to do that,” Nasoni said.
Wills said the team boasts a full roster of over 50 players, with 28 rookies on the team this year, most of whom are first years.
“Our team [this season] has been the biggest it has been for five years or so. I think we were still recovering from COVID a bit, and this year we’re actually bouncing back to what we once were,” Nasoni said.
According to Wills, the team is looking forward to the main tournament of the Fall season, Scrum by the Sea, which is a two-day tournament hosted by UCSD Nov. 18-19.
“In the Fall, our main tournament that we go to is Scrum by the Sea. All the teams in our league are there, it’s a really fun weekend of bonding,” Wills said.
Wills said she believes that the experience rookies got playing during the Nov. 4 tournament will serve the team well at Scrum by the Sea.
“Most years it’s everyone’s first real time playing for the rookies, but this year we’ve had the chance to do more in the Fall leading up to it,” Wills said.
Nasoni said the team’s prospects at Scrum by the Sea are looking better than they have in recent years. While in past years winning was not a realistic goal, this year the team is much more confident.
“Last year, we went in with the mindset that we were there to learn, there to have fun, but this year we’re lucky enough to have a solid team and I’m confident going into Scrum that we have a chance at winning,” Nasoni said.
According to Nasoni, all but one or two members of the Womxn’s Rugby team got into the sport after arriving at Occidental.
“None of us had actually played or watched, really done anything rugby related before we came here,” Nasoni said.
Fundraising chair Anna Knight (sophomore) said that she and Nasoni were recruited while walking on the Quad.
“We went to the interest meeting and we never stopped. I definitely felt like college was a little hard, and then I joined the team and the community, especially on this team, made me like Oxy a lot more.” Knight said.
Wills, in her third year with the team, said that the positive environment of the team has been a mainstay.
“I just love this team, it’s been really cool to see how it changes from year to year but still stays such a strong community,” Wills said.
Nasoni credited coaches Mayra Jimenez and Critical Theory and Social Justice professor Malek Moazzam-Doulat for fostering the community of the team.
“Both of our coaches are very supportive and very amazing and we couldn’t do it without them,” Nasoni said.
Knight said that Womxn’s Rugby sold pupusas on the Quad Nov. 8 to raise money for the upcoming season.
“We need this money to function as a team. This money is important for us to pay our coaches and to go to tournaments and to get us all equipment,” Nasoni said.
One target of the team’s funds has been new uniforms.
“We just bought more size inclusive jerseys for the entire team… the school only agreed to cover 60 percent, so we’re still trying to fundraise for the 40 percent,” Knight said.
Team members really value the sense of community the team provides, Knight said.
“It’s just a brilliant environment and community to be surrounded by, on the field and off the field,” Nasoni said.
Contact Eli Heringman at Heringman@oxy.edu
