St. Mary’s College of California is close to finalizing its schedule, which should feature at least 15 and as many as 22 games for their A, B, and C sides, and will be as challenging a fixture list as any college team in the country.

 

The Gaels (currently ranked #4 among all DI programs by Goff Rugby Report) will start their season with games against three top clubs in OMBAC, San Diego Old Aztecs, and SFGG. Then their collegiate season begins January 10, with A-side games against a slew of top-ranked opponents. The Gaels play Utah (#48) and BYU (#2) twice, Arizona State (#43), Arkansas State (#5), San Diego State, Cal Poly (#46), Santa Rosa, Cal (#3), Dartmouth (#15), Army (#6), and Santa Clara.

 

The schedule includes five games against fellow California DIA conference opponents. In addition, they also play Olympic Club January 24, and have B- or C-side games schedules against the San Jose Seahawks, UC Davis, Iona College, and the Santa Barbara Academy.

 

“The men’s clubs have just been awesome,” said St. Mary’s Head Coach Tim O’Brien. “And we’re fortunate that the college allows to play men’s clubs. They understand the tradition of rugby and the need to make the games tough, and they will be tough.”

 

O’Brien said that his team despite losing some high-profile spring 2014 seniors, welcomes the tough road ahead.

 

“We want to give all of the players a good, tough rugby experience,” he said. “We have connections with some men’s clubs and it helped them, too, to play us. But we also have looked at the top college programs. We’ll play anybody if we can. And we want to make sure that all of our players play and have an opportunity not only to get better, but to compete for spots.”

 

O’Brien said that St. Mary’s tried to fit in Central Washington, Arizona, and Life University, but the teams’ mutual schedules would not permit it. However, there’s a good chance St. Mary’s will meet Life in the DIA playoffs - the two were in the DIA final the last two years.

 

The 2014-15 schedule includes the 2013 and 2014 Varsity Cup winners (BYU, who also won the 2011 ), the 2012 DIA champs (Arkansas State), and the 2011 DIA champs (Cal). Also on the slate are the Rugby East and Ivy League conference champions, as well as four of the strongest men’s clubs on the West Coast.

 

It’s a hugely ambitious schedule, and includes a trip to Utah where they play Utah and BYU on successive days, and a trip East right after the Gaels play Cal, where they face Dartmouth, their Bs take on Iona, and then the As and Bs play Army. It's packed with games, but O’Brien isn’t concerned about it being too much. 

 

“I don’t know if you are more likely to have injuries against Arkansas State than against another team,” said O’Brien. “All of the teams are big. All get into the weight room. We just think to stay competitive we want to play this caliber of teams, and we want to provide the players with a great experience, and what players want it more competition.”

A-side games scheduled so far include:
Dec 13 at OMBAC
Dec 14 at San Diego Old Aztecs
Jan 3 v SFGG
Jan 10 v Utah