Many join rugby to stay in shape or meet new people – but few stay after back-to-back season-ending injuries. Joseph Morano did.

Morano played baseball in high school and joined the Iona rugby team during his freshman year of college. The sport initially sparked his interest, but his commitment has since grown deeper as he has become a true part of the team. From time on the pitch to vacationing together, Morano points to the team’s core, built on hard work and support for one another.

The first game of the Fall 2024 season, Morano sustained an injury that ended his season. He worked hard to return, but in his first game back in the spring, he suffered another season-ending injury – this time to his shoulder.

Where many would call it quits, Morano chose to stay in it. He explained that extensive physical therapy required patience, but the support from his trainers, coaches, and family carried him through. Watching his teammates play, he added, reminded him of his love for the sport and motivated him to come back stronger.

Just recently, Morano was chosen to play for a Canadian Select-Side at the Bermuda International 7s, and he was awarded player of the tournament. Head Rugby Coach Kyle Granby explained,

“On a team where he was probably the most inexperienced of the players, a boy from New Rochelle who hasn’t really played a full year of rugby yet showed what hard work and determination can do no matter your level of experience.”

Morano adds that at some point, every player finds themselves at a disadvantage, but going out, having fun, and learning from seasoned players has never failed him. He makes a consistent effort to show up, whether for winter workouts or playing with a club team over the summer. That commitment has paid off in his recent success.

Coach Granby describes Morano as a “true product of Iona rugby,” displaying the skills, culture, and mindset the team has been building.

In a sport that may seem all rough and tumble, a great deal of intention and care goes behind the scenes. That culture shows not only in the work they put in, but in the camaraderie, they share, from supporting one another through setbacks to the smiles exchanged with opponents after matches. It is an environment that has kept Morano committed through challenges and shaped the way he approaches the game.

What began as a casual decision to try something new has become a defining part of who he is, and proof that resilience is what sets him apart.