The women’s rugby team at Long Island University (LIU) is just seven years old, but it has attracted tenacious and determined players. This season wrapped at the end of April, but the student-athletes will be preparing for next season over the summer. The LIU Sharks require considerable skill as they play both rugby 15s in the fall and 7s in the spring.
Flanker Mani Boyd started playing rugby — a sport akin to tackle football — at age nine. A sought-after recruit, she knew she wanted to play in college.
“I realized the purpose that I had within the sport,” said Boyd, who grew up in Washington, D.C. “I was one of the few Black girls that played rugby in the D.C. area — it’s heavily a private school sport. … Representation is a big thing for me. I want to make the sport bigger. I coach over the summer, teenage boys and girls. I want to see the sport grow, not only for myself but for those around me.”
Wing Anaise Novembre, who grew up on Long Island, came to rugby in a more circuitous manner. After attending Nassau Community College fall semester of her freshman year, she came to LIU seeking a more complete college experience. Having played basketball and lacrosse in high school, she hadn’t planned on being a collegiate student-athlete.
“My life was sports growing up; it motivated every aspect of my life,” Novembre said. “At LIU, I pursued the major of political science wanting to go into law. I had to build a certain type of experience when it comes to discipline. … A friend encouraged me to join the rugby team. I took it as a sign of opportunity. As a walk-on, I did not think I would be on the field getting tackled, but it shifted and changed my life.”
Both student-athletes are juniors. Boyd, a finance major who is also on LIU’s flag football team, also plans on attending law school. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she will remain at LIU for one more year to earn a master’s degree.
“My goal is definitely to go as far with rugby as I can,” said Boyd, who is pursuing playing with USA Rugby as well as professionally. “I’ve always had the goal to go to law school and become a corporate lawyer. … I want to go to Georgetown law; that is my goal. I’ve stayed very structured and maintained a 4.0 GPA.”
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