After most students have finished their classes and settled into the comfort of routine, the Penn State men’s rugby team is just getting started. Boots hit the ground, bodies already sore from the day before, yet they show up, show out, and push themselves further than the last time.

For graduate student Adam Bilbo, a fifth-year back pursuing his MBA, that demand is part of what has kept him committed to the sport since high school. What began as an opportunity to join his school’s strong sports program quickly became something rooted in a genuine love for the game that has carried him through years of competition and challenge.

“I really love the game,” Bilbo said. “That’s what’s encouraged me to stay with it.”

That sense of internal motivation is a common thread among the team, despite each player having found rugby in their own way. Junior forward Will Ansley didn’t land on the sport through early success, but rather through rejection. After not making his high school baseball team, he was pushed by his mom to find something else, and with his brother already playing rugby, he decided to give it a shot.

His backup plan became something he wanted to pursue seriously, driven not by outside pressure but by a desire to push himself.

“I wanted to see how far I can take it and still have fun,” Ansley said.

For sophomore forward Miguel Villarreal Rojas, rugby was the first sport that truly clicked. After moving to Australia at a young age and trying a variety of activities, he found himself drawn to rugby, and it quickly became a defining part of his life.

But staying with the sport at the collegiate level required more from him than just passion. It required adaptation, especially during the transition into freshman year when the intensity of both academics and athletics increased.

“The guys on the team are my biggest motivators,” Rojas said. “Seeing older guys persevering, especially when it comes to balancing school and sports, really encouraged me.”

That balance is one of the most defining aspects of the Penn State rugby experience. Without the structure and resources of a Division I program, players are responsible for managing nearly every aspect of their schedule.

For Rojas, that means committing to being present in the classroom first.

“If I’m there, then I know the material, and it makes it easier to focus on rugby later on,” he said.

Ansley approaches it with a similar level of intention, focusing on completing academic work during the day so practice can be done without distraction.

“I try to lock in during the day so I don’t have to worry about it after training,” Ansley said.

Bilbo relies heavily on structure in order to balance the demands of graduate school.

“Being on a strict schedule is huge,” he said. “Setting times to get things done for practice and class, and making sure they’re actually done on time, is super important.”

That discipline may be built through rugby, but it extends far beyond the field. Each player described a shift in how they approach challenges in other areas of life, shaped by the physical and mental demands of the sport.

“If I can go out and get beat up by guys bigger than me for an hour, then I can sit down and study for an hour,” Rojas said.

For Ansley, the impact is rooted in personal accountability.

“It brings a huge amount of discipline in my own life and with my own health,” he said. “Because it’s really only on me.”

Bilbo echoed that sentiment, pointing to growth in both discipline and mindset.

“It’s shown me that you shouldn’t give up on anything,” he said. “You should just keep trying and pursuing.”

Still, rugby is not only about strength. It is also about routine, preparation, and the small moments that bring the team together.

Before matches, those rituals vary from player to player. Ansley finds energy in the team’s shared traditions, including walking out to “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath, a moment that builds anticipation and unity before kickoff. Rojas, on the other hand, turns inward.

“I don’t get hype,” Rojas said. “I just get really concentrated.”

Bilbo keeps his approach simple and grounded, often opting for a quiet night and attending church before game day.

Despite these differences, there is a collective understanding that success depends on everyone being on the same page, both mentally and physically. That alignment often begins in their team meetings, where players set individual and team goals, ensuring that everyone steps onto the field with a clear purpose.

That sense of purpose becomes especially clear in the moments that define a season. For Rojas, his standout memory came during a beachside game earlier this year, marking a “breakout moment” after a summer without much playing time. This season, he’s been able to show off the progress he’s been working towards since his freshman year.

Ansley’s defining moment came under pressure when he was unexpectedly placed in a starting role during a playoff game against Navy despite playing limited minutes last season.

For Bilbo, the memory that stands out is a win against a top-5 opponent at home during his sophomore year, marking a milestone achievement for Penn State rugby.

Moments like these are often shared not just with teammates, but with the people who have supported them along the way. For all three players, that support begins with family.

Bilbo credits his dad as his biggest supporter, while Ansley points to his mom, who has taken the time to understand the sport and engage with it on a deeper level.

For Rojas, that support pushes him to play better than the day before. His father travels from Florida to attend games whenever possible.

“He could watch it at home on YouTube,” Rojas said. “But he makes the effort to be here.”

Behind the scenes, that same level of commitment extends to those who support the team in less visible ways. Third-year student manager Noelle Peterson has been with the team since her freshman year, stepping into a role she initially knew little about.

“I didn’t really know anything about rugby,” Peterson said. “I picked it up from going to all their games and practices.”

What began as a new experience quickly turned into a defining part of her college career. Managing a team comes with a great amount of logistical challenges, from coordinating travel accommodations to organizing meals, all while ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

“Trying to accommodate this many people is hard enough,” she said. “But they all eat a lot, which is something I have to make sure the restaurants know when I make the reservations.”

Despite the demands, Peterson emphasizes that the role is far from what some might expect.

“It never feels like babysitting,” she said. “They’re all very disciplined and respect me.”

That discipline, combined with a lack of ego, is what she believes sets the team apart. Without the resources of a Division I program, players are forced to rely on each other in ways that build genuine connection.

“They have to help set up, clean up, and support each other,” Peterson said.

That environment has not only shaped the players but also Peterson herself. She initially enrolled in Army ROTC and majored in criminology, but she found a new direction through her experience with the team. She switched her major to organizational leadership with a focus on sports management, and stepping away from ROTC allowed her to pursue something she had grown passionate about.

“I didn’t know I was capable of doing all of this when I started, really,” she said. “But I picked up all of the responsibilities because I love it.”

In many ways, that sentiment reflects the broader identity of Penn State rugby. Instead of being defined by status, the team shines through the willingness of its members to commit fully, adapt to challenges, and support one another through every aspect of the experience.

It’s a small glimpse into the personality of a team that thrives not just on competition, but on connection as well.

At its core, Penn State rugby is about more than the game itself. It’s about discipline, resilience, and the relationships built along the way.