DIA Rugby News
BERKELEY, Calif. (Cal Rugby Press Release)– California rugby will have 13 new faces for the 2021-22 season, a class headlined by eight Californians (including seven from NorCal), two players from Connecticut and three internationals from Australia, Canada and South Africa. Get to know each of the new Golden Bears below.
Saint Mary's defeated BYU 35-28 to move to 4-0 in this shortened college rugby season.
The Gaels have beaten BYU twice, both close games, and also beaten Cal and Central Washington. For BYU, it was yet another close game the Cougars didn't quite win—they have been within reach of Cal, and twice with Saint Mary's, and tied Central Washington.
The captain of Life University, George Phelan joined Life as a freshman from Sedbergh School in England.
The fullback, who can play pretty much anywhere, combines leadership, athletic ability, and a deep understanding of the game toanchor the Running Eagles backline, and team as a whole.
The 2020 Rudy Scholz Award-winner, Payton Telea-Ilalio has not let up in 2021.
The Saint Mary's prop, who got his start in the Bishop Riordan program in Northern California, has only really been stopped by COVID, as the Gaels have, so far, only been able to play three games.
Eagan, Minnesota product Emmanual Albert is a finalist for the Rudy Scholz Award because he has become the foundation upon which Lindenwood's best-ever 15s season has been built.
Quiet but a leader, Albert plays lock and flanker and excels at both.