Women’s rugby is a club sport seeking visibility here at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). Across the nation, women’s rugby has been gaining media attention following the USA Sevens team’s bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Players like Ilona Maher have also helped elevate the sport’s profile through their social media presence and appearances on popular shows like Dancing with the Stars.
That national momentum has reached LMU, where student-athletes like Jessica Shono Thai, Gabrielle Feghali, and Lauren McQuoid are leading efforts to grow women’s rugby on campus. Thai, a graduate student in business analytics, serves as recruiter and mentor; Feghali, a sophomore film production major, is treasurer and future safety officer; and McQuoid, a sophomore entrepreneurship and finance major, is the team’s president.
Together, they’re focused on taking the program to the next level. The team will enter the Division II Desert Pacific Conference next semester, with hopes of advancing to Division I within the next two years.
Building the team has not been easy. Outreach efforts at events like Wellness Wednesday, encouraging women to join and handing out flyers, have often been discouraging.
“Last Wellness Wednesday, we were walking around handing out flyers for a lifting session,” Feghali recalled. “A lot of the girls would say, ‘Me? No,’ and laugh while walking away.”
“There are so many amazing people in rugby,” Feghali added. “I wish more women were a little more open to it.”
The sport’s reputation can be intimidating to some, often discouraging women from joining. Yet these three athletes offer immense encouragement to anyone interested in attending trainings, practices, or events, assuring them that their fears shouldn’t hold them back.
As Shono Thai puts it: “It’s a hooligans’ game played by gentlemen. The people who play the game are really kind, and once you start playing, you realize that your body is capable of doing things you never thought were possible.”
McQuoid adds, “Rugby is probably the only sport where, after the game, everyone wants to be your friend. The camaraderie and support in rugby is unreal. Here at LMU, I want to establish that same culture: everyone on the team will be friends, supporting one another, and building a strong sisterhood.”
Beyond the challenges of recruiting, rugby carries long-standing stereotypes about women who play, often framing them as masculine. Pushing back, Shono Thai shares her experiences with body positivity and negative stereotypes off the pitch.
“A lot of sports, especially women’s sports, assume you have to look a certain way, but when playing rugby, you can be any size and still be the fastest, strongest, or best team player. You will still be the most beautiful person out there because you are doing what’s best for you.”
She added, “The more different you are, the better you are.”
While fostering body positivity in women’s athletics is vital, LMU programs face bigger hurdles. After six sports were cut, student participation has plunged, leaving many teams fearful of being next.
“Having a women’s team would make LMU look great and put us on the map, especially considering how many sports teams were cut [last year],” said Feghali. “It would be horrible for that to happen to such an amazing sport before anyone even gets a chance to try it.”
She added, “A lot of other schools are also struggling with rugby teams. I feel like if we are one of the first teams, it will bring us notoriety.”
Rugby culture is grounded in values of teamwork, respect, and community, qualities that mirror LMU’s core values. Growing the program will strengthen that sense of community while giving well-deserved recognition to the student-athletes’ dedication and goals.
“Rugby is a philosophy; rugby culture around the world has a great way of life,” said Feghali.
Those interested in joining the LMU women’s rugby team can attend practices held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Drollinger Field. For more information or inquiries, visit their Instagram page, @lmuwrugby. Whether you’re a seasoned player or completely new to the sport, the LMU women’s rugby team welcomes you to join their growing sisterhood.
