A year after the league’s inception, the Cal rugby team officially withdrew from the College Premier Division (CPD) on Friday.
The CPD was created as a rung above Division I rugby last season. The Bears went undefeated last year en route to their 26th national title with a 21-14 win over BYU.
“Specific to our withdrawal decision,” coach Jack Clark told Calbears.com, “our discussions have centered on better aligning our competition schedule with our academic calendar, building a Sevens component to our program, commercial planning, budgetary requirements and the areas where we want to increase our activities — which we see as investments — and finally, our concern with the premier’s competition’s direction.”
Along with Cal, three other teams — Dartmouth, LSU and Tennessee — have announced their withdrawal from the league effective this upcoming season.
Clark stated the move wouldn’t change much of the team’s regular-season schedule. However, the Bears’ postseason considerations have yet to be determined. The legendary head coach mentioned the possibility of competing for the Division I title, but he is still weighing his options.
“The (CPD) competition itself was mostly efficient in proving a national champion through match play, but I don’t think the management was as good as it could have been,” Clark said.
Cal opens play at the UCLA Tournament in Los Angeles on January 14.
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