Name: Gabby Benitez
Position: Fly-half
Hometown: Hamden, CT
Gabby’s rookie season at UConn was in Fall 2011. She played in the fly-half position for all four years of undergrad and in her Master’s year. Gabby was the back captain from 2013 until 2016.
Gabby graduated from the UConn’s Neag School of Education and has been working as a math teacher at Southington High School.
Gabby’s coaching experience includes: assistant coach with UConn Women’s Rugby from 2016-2019, assistant coach with Southern Connecticut State University Women’s Rugby from 2018-2019, and she is currently and she is currently the head coach of Southington High School Girls Rugby.
“I am excited to bring a new perspective to the backline and create more cohesion with the forwards. I admire the hard work and discipline Coach Mark Jordan has instilled in this team and hope to continue growing the program.”
Name: Taylor Edinger
Position: 8-Man and Second Row
Hometown: Durham, CT
Taylor began playing rugby for UConn in Fall 2011, starting in the second row and quickly transitioning to the 8-Man position where she spent the rest of her collegiate career. Within this time, she was involved in the USA Rugby Collegiate All-American program and Olympic Eagles Training Center camps.
Taylor earned a bachelor’s degree from UConn in 2014, a master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University in 2018, and now works as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at the Hospital for Special Care.
After graduating from UConn in 2014, Taylor remained involved with the women’s program, assisting Coach Mark Jordan as a volunteer for two seasons. During this time, the team won the Fall 2015 Women’s National Championship title. While at Southern, she worked with the women’s rugby team as an assistant coach for two years.
“My goal for this season is to diversify the forward play, developing players who are dynamic within both set pieces and open play. I attribute a great deal of personal growth to Coach Mark Jordan and am honored to have been given the opportunity to continue in his footsteps this season”