United through sport
Current students and alumni don’t often compete with each other—much less travel halfway around the world to do it. But this summer, Wheaton College rugby players from multiple generations visited Iceland, where they faced each other in an international tournament.
The Wheaton Rugby Alumni Union organized a group of students and alumni to participate in Iceland’s first international rugby tournament, strengthening a tradition that has connected teammates across decades, careers and continents.
The trip reflected the mission of the union, an organization that has transformed a college club sport into a lifelong community. Through international travel, scholarships, career mentoring and enduring friendships, former and current players maintain connections long after graduation.
This event marked the second trip in three years where union members competed against the Reykjavik Raiders, Iceland’s national rugby team.
A foundation of support
Founded in 1997, the union is the college’s first endowed club. “The union’s mission is to support and continue to foster a successful club at the undergrad level and to facilitate a community that persists beyond each individual’s graduation,” said Union Chair Trevor Paul ’08.
“Every former rugby player automatically becomes a member of the union. They are invited to participate in its operations and attend regional events held in locations where a large number of rugby alumni reside,” Paul said, noting recent gatherings near Los Angeles and New York City.
Paul and Dave Ostman ’08 were members of a senior-dominated Wheaton rugby team in 2008, which won the club’s first and only New England regional title. After working in Admissions at Wheaton early in his career, Ostman moved abroad to work at the University of Iceland. He played for the Reykjavik Raiders—composed of Icelanders and expats—for several years.
After visiting Ostman in Iceland in 2023, Paul committed to bringing a Wheaton team to compete, which came to fruition in 2024. The union assembled 10 alumni and 15 Wheaton rugby players for an exhibition match against the Raiders. “We created a bond with the team during that trip,” said union member and participant Allastair Meffen ’02.
This year, two teams from Wheaton—the “Young Guns” and the “Old Boys”—faced off against the Raiders and a team from Sweden (led by Ostman). In a nation where soccer dominates local interest, the Icelanders were thrilled to gain some attention for rugby, and excited that an Icelandic television station covered the event. The Raiders defeated Sweden in the final, while the Wheaton Young Guns finished third.
The Rugby Alumni Union’s impact
For some, the impact of the union on their lives has been significant. “The 2024 trip to Iceland was undoubtedly the best time of my life,” said union member Cam Glick ’22. Small and bullied while growing up, his life turned around after joining the rugby team as a first-year student.
Glick became a tackling specialist and reveled in opponents underestimating him. “There was no better feeling than tackling a giant who thought he was going to run through me,” he explained, “And, the people I met on this team became brothers to me. The memories I made with my teammates both on and off the field are priceless.”
A double major in business and management and psychology at Wheaton, Glick pursued a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.
He thoroughly enjoyed competing and exploring Iceland with the team. “Every day we saw the most beautiful sights I have ever seen,” he said. “I have never felt more at peace in my life. The trip sealed the bond I have always felt with my teammates, and has genuinely changed my outlook on life. Now, as a masters level clinician, I use the strengths and lessons this sport has taught me to serve my clients.”
Some of the Wheaton underclassmen from the 2024 trip joined the trip this year, as upperclassmen or young alums, including two who joined the union’s board. “This has reinvigorated relationships between the alumni and the undergrads,” said Paul. “Traveling and hanging out for a week together makes it easy to get to know each other.”
Supporting the current rugby team
The union takes great pride in supporting the current members of the rugby team. Thanks to the efforts of union member Andy Osheroff ’11, the Rugby Alumni Union Endowed Scholarship was created to support an undergraduate rugby player. Tyler Furlong ’25 and Coltrane McGonigle ’27 were the first two recipients.
“This scholarship supports my education and allows me to grow into a more authentic version of myself,” said McGonigle, a history major and the grandson of Travis Markham Bowie ’67. Inspired by the visit to Iceland, McGonigle aims to travel before pursuing a career as a history professor.
In addition to fundraising support for the scholarship and the Iceland trips, the union has collaborated with the college to assist undergrads with internships and job placements. “We operate a server to connect alums and undergrads who might be interested in fields in which one of us has expertise,” said Paul. “So, rugby is the connecting thread, but the reasons for joining the union are much more than the sport itself.”
Next year, the club will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding. Eventually Paul hopes that teams will visit the U.S. to play against Wheaton’s union.
“I think we’ve built some really strong friendships with a lot of the undergrads and recent graduates,” said Paul. “They are carrying on this program extremely well in terms of its spirit and its inclusiveness, and they are interested in making sure that it continues to stay strong.”