From student organization to club sport: The rapid rise of SDSU Women’s Rugby

San Diego State University’s Women’s Rugby team, one of its newest club sports, has rapidly grown into a national title contender. Launched in 2019 by alumna Olivia Soares, the team overcame early hurdles like securing funding, resources, and recruiting players — particularly as club athletes pay their own way to compete.

“It's very different to coach a team, a player that isn’t paid to play the sport,” said Tony Roulhac, women’s rugby assistant head coach. “They’re taking time and money out of their day to be in this club, they don't get the same types of support as a varsity athlete.”

Starting out as a student organization restricted to playing locally, Soares and her teammates persistently lobbied for club status, attending meetings, and presenting their case to The Aztec Recreation Sport Club Program. Becoming a club would create new fundraising opportunities to support the team in intercollegiate competitions at regional, state and national levels.

“A group of young women who knew they wanted rugby to happen, they knew that this could be something at San Diego State,” said Roulhac.

The team’s persistence paid off. After satisfying the Sport Club Program requirements — including proving their organizational skills and competitive level — they earned club status in 2023 on a trial basis. 

Now came the hard part. Building a competitive team would be a long journey but the group of 10 were committed to laying the foundation for something that could grow beyond their time at the university.

“They did that almost knowing they were doing this for the next group coming in,” said Roulhac.

With club status came momentum. “My freshman year, we could barely get 15 people together at a time, we have over 48 people registered,” said Megan Harris, who joined the team in 2020. 

Harris, a highly recruited softball player from a small town in Northern California, was looking for a new challenge when she arrived on campus. On a whim, she decided to trade her softball for the distinct oval-shaped rugby ball.

“The women's rugby team was holding tryouts and I thought it would be a fun change, try something new when you get to college,” said Harris. “I've absolutely fallen in love with it. It's like my favorite part about San Diego. It's my favorite part about going to school.”

Support for the team, a program of SDSU Associated Students, surged as rugby gained popularity nationwide. Among the early supporters was 2024 U.S. Olympic bronze medalist and social media influencer Ilona Maher, who visited the team during a practice in August 2023.

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“For me, what it’s done for my body confidence, what it’s done for my self-esteem, belief in myself, has been impeccable and I think it’s changed me into what I am today,” said Maher.

‘Competing at a higher level’

Rugby has two popular formats: the seven-player Olympic version with two 14-minute halves and the 15-player game played in two 40 minute halves. SDSU’s club team competes in both. This October, they are training for a major sevens tournament that will impact next year’s playoff standings. Afterward, the focus will shift to the 15-player season in the spring. 

During the 2022-23 season, Harris and her teammates went undefeated during the preseason and placed second in the Division II Women’s Pacific Desert Rugby Conference. The Aztecs competed in the sevens and 15s Division II National Championships, ranking fifth nationally in both.  

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Harris’s leadership has helped nurture a welcoming team culture. “I want people to realize that you can literally look however, you can be the smallest person ever, you could be the biggest person ever, there’s always a spot for you in rugby,” said Harris.  

The team regularly hosts fundraisers to support operations, with traditions like a team dinner at Woodstock’s Pizza, which strengthens bonds among players.

The season kicked off on a high note under new head coach Talia Carrasquillo, with SDSU taking first place at a preseason sevens tournament at UC Irvine, led by enthusiastic rookies. 

“This was actually the first rugby game (ever) for a lot of our new recruits this year,” said MJ Destro-Vasquez, public relations manager and member of the team. “We are super proud of the rookies' performances, they all had a lot of excitement and drive going into each game.”

Reflecting on the team’s beginnings and progress, Roulhac added, “Not many students get to see their dream come to life like this team has.”