Name: Sophia Bailey
Year in School: Sophomore
Major(s): English and Sociology
Years Playing Rugby: 2
Position in Rugby: Scrumhalf
Why did you choose your school?
To put it simply, Vassar has everything I was looking for in a school. I knew I wanted to be in the
Northeast area, as well as at a smaller school. I loved that it was historically women because I
thought it added a layer of history to the campus. In terms of school, Vassar has an open-curriculum
that allows liberal arts students to broaden their interests and pursue their passions in varied
subjects. When I visited, I loved the campus, and the community seemed so welcoming – I knew I
would enjoy it here. After I had been somewhat decided on applying early decision to Vassar, I
learned of the rugby team, and my decision was cemented in stone.
What was your process of being recruited?
My recruitment story was a bit unlike many of my fellow teammates. Unfortunately, because of our
club's nature, the rugby team isn’t allowed to recruit high school players unless they express interest.
For myself, I learned of the rugby team (somewhat accidentally) and sent my coach (Tony Brown) an
email of interest! I had always done sports growing up and knew I wanted to continue my athletic
journey, but knew I wanted to try something different. That led me to the rugby program! I saw the
team’s previous success (reigning National Champions!) and knew it was something I wanted to be
a part of. I emailed Tony before I had even been accepted into Vassar, and the rest is history.
What are your favorite parts about being a member of the rugby program?
At the risk of sounding incredibly cliche, my favorite part of the team is easily my fellow teammates. I
have never known such a kind, caring, inclusive, and humorous group of people. I feel incredibly
lucky to not only play rugby, but to exist next to them. In a rugby setting, they are strong, skilled,
protective, and adaptable. I know that I can depend on them on and off the field. But as individuals,
as well as rugby players, they show me how good people can be. From a sports perspective, rugby
is one of the most fun sports I have ever had the pleasure of playing. I love the high energy, I love
the game, and I love to tackle (who doesn’t!). And it doesn’t hurt to win a National Championship
every once in a while.
What are your favorite parts about being a student at your school?
My favorite part about being a Vassar student is the range of people and subjects I’m introduced to.
Though the school is small, it’s filled with people of widely varying backgrounds, hobbies, and
interests. As a Vassar student, I feel like I gain access to a multitude of worlds! The academic
flexibility we get as students allow me to research my own particular areas of interest (diverse
literature!), and because of that flexibility, my classes are filled with people from all different majors
and correlates (minors), connecting me to more people.
How do you balance schoolwork and rugby?
The Vassar academic workload can be a lot to manage during the rugby season. I try to section my
time wisely so that I can devote all of my energy to school when I need to, and the same with rugby.
I like to be 100% present in what I’m doing, so I do my best to make sure I stick to a school/rugby
balance schedule!
What does a typical day and/or week look like for you?
My typical in-season day consists largely of class, rugby, and outside time for other work, meals,
and activities. I typically have two classes a day, though that varies from student to student. I try to
have lunch with friends as a break in the middle of the day, and then I usually dive into some
homework before practice! Practice lasts for 2 hours, and we always get a team dinner after for a bit
more time together! On practice days, my time is usually divided between class and rugby. But on
non-practice days, I try to add in my other activities or time with friends to balance out my schedule! I
often am also working around meetings for my job, or other commitments. But I always find time to
do things just for myself, like read or journal!
What’s the biggest challenge about playing rugby at your school?
The biggest challenge about playing rugby with Vassar is probably the time commitment. Vassar
rugby exists as an in-between entity between a varsity and club sport. So despite technically being
a club, rugby as a sport is treated more professionally. We only practice three times a week, but we
additionally have games (home or away) every weekend. We also often have events scattered
throughout the week or season, and sometimes it feels that rugby is all you do! This is not necessarily a bad thing, however. I love my team and my sport, and am happy to devote the time I do to it! It is just a notable challenge to be aware of.
Besides rugby, what else are you involved in on campus?
Besides rugby, I work on campus as a Student Fellow for one of our residence halls. This is Vassar’s
version of an RA, so I do my best to help a group of new students through the year with whatever
they need, while living in the dorm beside them! I am also involved in Vassar’s MBSA club, or
Multi/Bi-racial Student Association!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with a high school player who is interested in your
school?
I would absolutely recommend sending a note to either our coach or our social media! We can let
you know all of the necessary information for making the decision to commit. But in my incredibly
biased opinion, I think that this team is one of the best ones you’ll find out there. And we would love
to have you!
School Website: https://www.vassar.edu/
Team Website: https://www.vassarathletics.com/sports/womens-rugby
Head Coach Tony Brown: tobrown@vassar.edu