By Kevin Noonan
Taking one look at the Quinnipiac women’s rugby team, it is clear to see the strides the team has made in its first three years as a NCAA Division I sport. What one may not realize is that this past summer two of its players joined the U.S. Under-20 National Team and played at the Nations Cup in Nottingham, England.
Sophomore Natalie Kosko and freshman Maggie Myles have been opening eyes on the national stage as part of the USA Rugby AIG Women’s Junior All-Americans at the Nations Cup where Team USA finished second to Team Canada.
“It was definitely an amazing experience going to England and representing our country,” Kosko said. “It was something that not many people get to do and it was definitely an experience I never thought I’d get until I started playing rugby.”
Kosko’s teammate Myles echoed the same sentiments as they both donned the red, white and blue USA jerseys across the pond in England.
“It was incredible,” Myles said. “It was probably one of the best feelings especially before the game when you got to say the pledge. It was such an honor. It was great being out there to play with the people I played with; I wouldn’t take it back for the world. It was amazing.”
Although neither Kosko nor Myles scored in the Nations Cup tournament, they still got the opportunity to play with and against the best rugby players their age in the world. Myles played in all four games of the tournament while Kosko played in three of the four.
The USA Eagles lost to Canada to start the tournament before crushing South Africa and cruising past England to head to the finals, where they had a rematch against Canada.
These two talented rugby players have known each other for about two years, since they started entering the developmental camps for USA Rugby and have not looked back.
Myles said that although it was challenging at first, she would love to go back to the team again after the season to stay on the national level.
“It was really, really nerve-wracking at first because of the people that were there, but you grow such a high bond with them,” Myles said. “They become your family. They pick you up when you’re down just like any other team. It was amazing; I loved it. I love all the people. I’d love to go back, so hopefully we’ll see what this year brings.”
On the USA roster were a lot of players from rugby programs across the country that Kosko and Myles will face this season or have the possibility of playing against. Two players, Megan Pinson and Cassidy Meyers, played for American International College, which defeated Quinnipiac 36-12 this season.
Kosko and Myles feel, however, an added boost in rugby because of the experience that playing with Team USA has provided them.
“Compared to last year, I feel way more confident being on the field,” Kosko said. “I know the game better. Coming from an international experience to college, it’s definitely been really helpful, and I’ve been able to take my experiences and put them into our game.”
Myles also feels that her knowledge for rugby has increased tremendously despite having been in the USA system for about two years.
“I just feel more knowledge for the game,” Myles said. “I mean everyone here has tremendous knowledge, but being able to play at such a high level, for me as a freshman, I got to experience a really high level, and coming here, it can match that so I’m not going out there from a high school level to a college level.”
On the international level, Kosko has continuously received recognition from coaches, fans and other players because of the skill she has been able to bring to the sport.
Over the summer, Kosko was named one of the “Top 5 Players to Watch” by Scrum Queens, a website which is the go-to site for women’s rugby news. Kosko was the only American named in the top five, which was featured by the top performer in the Nations Cup Tournament, Jess Neilson.
“It felt pretty amazing, especially when I read the article,” Kosko said. “I was shocked, actually, but that gives me more motivation to work harder and hopefully make it to the Olympics one day.”
It’s not just Kosko who is motivated to the Olympics one day, as Myles shares the same dream. They are trying to accomplish the dream together, especially in Hamden.
“We actually talked about going to college together two years ago,” Myles said. “We were like, ‘We have to go together. It’s going to be awesome,’ and now we’re here and it’s so incredible.”
Kosko and Myles both dream of being called upon for the 2020 Olympic Games, which will be held in Tokyo, Japan, but if Team USA comes calling in 2016 when it heads to Rio de Janeiro, they certainly won’t pass up the opportunity to wear the red, white and blue once again.
