Adriana Castillo ’18 is making history.
The former Marist rugby standout was recently named to the inaugural roster of the Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) New York Exiles—part of what will be the first professional women’s rugby league in the United States.
It’s a groundbreaking moment for the sport, and Castillo is right at the center of it. Her path to this achievement started at Marist, where she played from 2014 to 2018. A former volleyball and cheerleading athlete, Castillo found rugby late but took to it immediately, drawn to the intensity, physicality, and camaraderie.
“Marist gave me a place to discover who I was as an athlete and as a teammate,” she said.
Rugby at Marist is a club sport—a format that is incredibly popular on campus. These organizations play a vital role in campus life, fostering community, leadership, and personal growth outside the classroom. The club structure allowed Castillo to compete at a high level while balancing academics, making it an integral part of her college experience.
After graduation, Castillo joined the Village Lions Rugby Football Club (2019–2020), then elevated to the Women’s Premier League with New York Rugby Club in 2021. She played four seasons at the elite level, earning WPL All-Star honors in 2023 and developing into a dynamic forward who can cover the blindside flanker, openside flanker, and eight-man positions.
In addition to her stateside success, Castillo was recently named to the Dominican Republic women’s national team for the second time—a powerful point of pride as she represents both her heritage and her sport on an international stage.
Now, as a member of the WER New York Exiles—a new team formed from the merger of the New York Rugby Club and Gotham Knights—Castillo is one of the foundational players shaping this next era of women’s rugby in the U.S. In a feature by The Rugby Breakdown, she was praised for her leadership, experience, and relentless drive.
“I’m proud to be part of something bigger than myself. This league is opening doors for future generations. I’m just honored to help kick it off," she said.
