Amid numerous tackles, passes and loud shouting of communication, a gap finally opens in the defense that only BYU rugby’s Cameron Connors can see.
After calling for the ball and catching a pass, he lowers his shoulder and bursts through defenders into the open field. A smile beams across his face while sprinting toward the end zone, pointing to the cheering crowd before jumping into the air and flying in for the try.
That is what fans can expect to see when watching Connors at a BYU men’s rugby match.
Since joining the team, Connors has been a key contributor in multiple matches. His field vision, defensive positioning, and physical play have made him a reliable presence, while his knack for finding the end zone adds to BYU’s offensive power. He waited a long time to play for BYU, and he’s making the most of his opportunity right now.
“I’ve grown up playing rugby and I’m a BYU fan since birth, basically I was indoctrinated into this,” said Connors. “I’ve always grown up loving BYU rugby, I watched them win multiple national championships. So to be able to put on the jersey and represent BYU, it’s a dream come true.”
For the 22-year-old freshman from Herriman, Utah, rugby wasn’t always his passion. However, once he found it, there was no looking back.
“I started playing rugby when I was seven years old. I grew up playing football… and my dad was like; ‘You guys want to play rugby during the off-season?’ And so, it kind of started as a thing for me and my brothers to stay in shape and get better and ready for football season … and then I fell in love with it. I just loved it more than football, nothing against football but rugby is sick.”
It didn’t take long for his love of the game to combine with a competitive spirit. He had watched his older brothers compete in high school, including in national championship games.
“Herriman is a nationally known rugby team, and my brothers years before had been competing on the national level," Connors said. "They were runners-up in the national championship two years in a row, and it really hit hard for me to see that happen. So, the climax of my high school rugby career was in 2021 when we won the national championship, and we were able to bring that home for all of our friends and brothers.”
After winning the national championship in high school, Connors set his sights on playing for BYU. But first, he wanted to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Since I was little, I’ve always wanted to serve a mission. It wasn’t much of a challenge to take a step away from life, because I knew it was going to be there when I got back.”
Connors spent two years in Mexico City, where he served alongside current teammate Hyrum Myers.
“He [Myers] had already played a year of BYU rugby before, so I was able to kind of bounce some ideas off his head and get a feel for the team, even while serving on a mission,” said Connors.
Unfortunately for Connors, it wasn’t as easy as just lacing up the cleats to get back on the pitch once back from his mission. Toward the end of his service, he injured his foot and was forced to spend multiple months wearing a boot. When the BYU rugby season rolled around in the fall of 2024, the most he could do was sit on the sideline and cheer.
“To a degree there was some setbacks, but everything ended up working out great. And ever since then with starting on the team … things have been working out great and I’ve been able to play more rugby than I would have imagined. If you had told me I’d be doing this like two years ago, I didn’t think I’d be in this situation, but everything has worked out great.”
Since recovering from his injury and suiting up for the team, Connors has made an impact both on and off the pitch.
“I love Cam Connors, he’s such a great guy,” said teammate Zac Worthington. “We go way back, 7th and 8th grade, we’ve been playing together forever. Super fun to be around, great sense of humor, super hard working. He’s someone that loves to win, and that’s great to have on the team … but he also cares about you as a person. Cam is a great part of this team, he’s a great brother.”
“Cam is just a great young man,” said coach Steve St. Pierre. “He’s somebody that we knew in high school and we were really excited when we found out he got accepted to BYU. He came here and he’s made an impact right away. He’s played a lot, has a lot of skills, and he’s a great disciple of Christ.”
“It’s such an amazing group of guys. And I mean, whether I get playing time or don’t get playing time, I’m just grateful to be a part of it," Connors said. "The brotherhood of rugby runs deep and there’s something really special about rugby and BYU together. It just is kind of a special mixture that creates some really fun moments that’ll last a lifetime.”