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“Donut is here!”

Ten elementary schoolers halted rugby practice to scream that phrase as Donough Lawlor entered the gym at Syracuse’s Jewish Community Center. They ran over to him for high fives, hugs and claps on the back. Though he appreciates the nickname “Donut,” Lawlor said he prefers when they call him Josh Allen.

“They’re always really excited to see you,” Lawlor, a Syracuse University graduate student, said. “It’s the simplest feedback there is. If they like you, you’re obviously doing something right.”

Lawlor is one of 11 members of the SU Men’s Rugby Team who coached a five-week rugby program for students ages 8 to 11 at the JCC, which ended on Nov. 20.

The team’s relationship with the JCC began last fall, when then-junior Jayden Kass began volunteering to fulfill his required community service hours for the Whitman School of Management. He brought a few friends from the rugby team to volunteer at the JCC’s Senior Lunch on Friday afternoons.

The players began coming regularly, helping serve food and connecting with elderly members of the community who attended the program. Soon, their volunteering expanded to help wherever they were needed, including events like the Jewish Film Festival and KlezFest.

Raven DiSalvo-Hess, director of senior programming at the JCC, said she’s impressed by the boys’ willingness to dedicate their time and energy to giving back and helping the community.

“They give me hope for the next generation,” DiSalvo-Hess said. “I’m amazed by them showing up, in such a large group, showing up with a smile on their face, being like ‘We are so happy to help, it is our privilege to help you.’ I’m like, ‘Okay you’re too good. This is ridiculous.’”

Impressed by their consistent volunteering each week, one of the JCC board members came up to the rugby players at KlezFest and asked if they would teach a rugby program for local kids. Kass said he immediately thought it would be a great opportunity and reached out to their coach to get the ball rolling.

For most of the kids, this program is their first time playing rugby, Captain Patrick Hefrigh said. He said introducing American kids to the sport is the first step in increasing exposure to rugby in the United States.

A JCC board member approached Jayden Kass with the idea to form the youth rugby program. Kass got the ball rolling immediately.Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor

“It starts by cultivating the image of playing rugby and just holding a ball in your hands from the youngest age,” Hefrigh said. “It’s something I didn’t have the opportunity to do, but I know I would have loved rugby if I had the ball in my hands when I was younger.”

Lawlor has been coaching kids rugby for five years, mostly in his home country of Ireland. Teaching American kids is different, he said, because everything is new to them. Despite that, they’re enthusiastic and excited to learn, even with difficult concepts and complicated rules, he said.

Senior Jacob Cuttito only began playing rugby four years ago. He said he sees himself in the kids they coach, in their questions, the lessons they’re learning and their coachability. They’re picking up the sport quickly, Cuttito said.

“These kids are very quick learners,” Cuttito said. “They’re very receptive, they’re like a sponge right now. Whatever we’re putting down, soaking it in, absorbing it really quickly, translating it.”

The players draw on their own experiences with coaches to guide their teaching styles and ideas for the program. The SU players’ passion is “infectious,” which translates to the students’ energy, Lawlor said. It “means the world” to introduce them to a sport he loves so much, Kass said.

Sonali McIntyre said her 8-year-old son, Levi, has “fallen in love” with rugby by participating in the JCC program. Levi’s ADHD makes it difficult for him to maintain focus on something for a long time, but hasn’t had this problem with rugby.

He’s found focus through the game, scoring multiple times and being excited for practice every week, McIntyre said. It allows him to be intentional about the way he moves and plays.

The college students’ patience and ability to work with the young kids on the team is admirable, McIntyre said. They don’t lean over the kids to talk to them, but instead get eye level with them and connect with them directly. They have an effective ability to work with kids that isn’t always present in college students, she said.

Sherri Lamanna, director of Youth Athletics at the JCC, said she was also impressed by the college students’ mentorship and coaching abilities. The JCC had been looking for new, free programming, especially geared toward young boys, she said.

“They have been amazing with the kids,” Lamanna said. “They walk in the door and give them high fives and they’re excited to work with them. I’ve worked here at the JCC for 28 years and you don’t always see that with young men.”

One child who participates in the rugby program brought his family to an SU Rugby team’s home game. Seeing families at games shows players they’re making an impact. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor

During their first rugby session, Levi asked the SU Rugby players when their next home game was. The following Saturday, his family layered up and drove an hour and a half to watch them play, McIntyre said. He was so excited to be there and see his coaches play and talk to them afterward, she said. Having families come to their games is “more meaningful than anything,” Kass said, it shows that they’re making an impact.

Long past his required 50 community service hours, Kass said it’s rewarding to keep coming back to the JCC and helping out, building friendships and connections with the community. He said he hopes their program can be an “eye opener” for other clubs to get involved in the local Syracuse area outside of campus.

Giving back to the community has also brought the team closer together, Kass said. He said working at the JCC together has created memories between teammates that he cherishes.

Even with the new rugby program, the players still consistently volunteer at Senior Lunch every Friday. The seniors adore them, DiSalvo-Hess said. When multiple seniors requested an explanation of the game of rugby, the players put together a three-person play to perform during the meal and Hefrigh answered all their questions. Some seniors have attended the team’s home games to support the volunteers, DiSalvo-Hess said.

“Being here, it’s not just another place to volunteer,” Hefrigh said. “There’s something special about it.”

Many of the players who volunteer at the JCC aren’t Jewish, DiSalvo-Hess said. There’s nothing political or religious about the work they’re doing, she said, it’s all based on human connection. It’s been “wonderful” to see some of the non-Jewish players pick up little things about Jewish culture, DiSalvo-Hess said.

It can be hard for the Jewish community to feel safe, especially college students, McIntyre said. She said it’s been amazing to see the camaraderie and connection at the JCC.

“As a Jewish student, it makes me feel really happy to see my community be involved in something special, and with rugby, that I truly love,” Kass said.

DiSalvo-Hess said she and other members of the JCC staff have been “wowed” by the player’s integrity, kindness, reliability and willingness to help. Plus, she appreciated their advice for her fantasy football team.

“There’s a joke about rugby where it’s a sport for gentlemen,” DiSalvo-Hess said. “If the SU team demonstrates anything, it’s the truth of that.”

Published on December 4, 2025 at 12:00 am
Contact Eliana: ehrosen@syr.edu