Cal rugby beats Navy in Varsity Cup Semifinal
The undefeated Cal rugby team beat the Naval Academy 74-6 in the Varsity Cup Semifinal game Saturday afternoon. Cal will face Brigham Young University on Saturday in the national championship.
Despite championship loss, Cal rugby moves in right direction this season
For the Cal rugby team, 2013 was a season of redemption. Last year, the Bears failed to make the playoffs, suffered two losses for the first time since 2009 and played all their matches on the road. It was not a normal season for the 26-time national champions. “A lot Read More…
Cal rugby loses to BYU, 27-24, in last seconds of Varsity Cup final
Just when it looked like the Cal rugby team had a chance to pull off another come-from-behind victory in the team’s biggest game of the year, the Bears came up just short. With only seconds left in the match, Brigham Young University’s freshman halfback Jonathan Linehan received the ball from Read More…
Don’t let Varsity Cup loss eclipse Cal’s triumphs
The comeback kids always hit their stride in the second half. Twenty-one wins were forged on halftime adjustments — tweaks that turned those lingering close games into routs. Three weeks ago, Cal trailed St. Mary’s by 15 at halftime only to turn the tables and waltz to an easy win. Read More…
Cal rugby faces stiff test in BYU for Varsity Cup National Championship
The Cal rugby team has not only overcome each challenge it’s faced this year, but it’s bowled through them all with impunitive force. But Cal’s noon matchup against BYU on Saturday won’t be like all the others. Forget the 176-0 walloping of Stanford — Cal’s largest win ever — and Read More…
Cal rugby cruises into national championship in final home game of season
Seamus Kelly called them “some of the most impressive individuals in the nation.” Danny Barrett called them “big, strong, thick guys who are going out to protect our country.” Even Cal coach Jack Clark called them “the most organized, buttoned-up, disciplined, fit, team-oriented guys you can ever imagine.” The Cal Read More…
At home one last time, Cal rugby bids for slot in national title game
After traveling across the country last week, the Cal rugby team will be back at the friendly confines of Witter Rugby Field Saturday afternoon. Not only will a win against the No. 6 seed Naval Academy advance the No. 2 Bears (20-0) to the finals of the Varsity Cup National Read More…
The man, the myth: Deconstructing Cal rugby legend Jack Clark
Two weeks ago, near the middle of Witter Rugby Field, Jack Clark stood in front of his players as they waited for his halftime speech. His Cal rugby team was behind St. Mary’s by 15 points — the first time the club was trailing an opponent at halftime all season. Read More…
Jack Clark issue: Clark is more than just a coach
With graduation fast approaching, I can’t help but reflect on my Cal experience. Despite having some fantastic professors, I learned the most from someone outside academia. That would be Cal rugby coach Jack Clark. And I didn’t just learn the difference between a ruck and a scrum. I remember being Read More…
After yearlong hiatus, Cal rugby opens postseason with resounding win
Even under a different name and after a one-year hiatus, nothing has changed. The Cal rugby team still dominates the postseason. Facing off against the No. 7 seed Notre Dame, the No. 2 seed Bears got 13 tries from 10 different players en route to a 77-0 victory at the Read More…