The Falcon rugby team will open the season Saturday at College Park rugby field.
The match will be played against BGSU rugby alumni. The biggest matchup of the day will take place between the 2012 team and the 2000-2004 team.
“It’s going to be a tough matchup because that team made it to the national championship all four years,” said Roger Mazzarella, rugby director.
The Falcons have had some recent help this week for preparation heading into the season. Dave Larham is the community rugby manager for the London Wasps
Larham spent five days with the team, preparing it for this highly anticipated season. He is a rugby expert, who knows how to develop players into true professionals.
Dave has been teaching the players some techniques to have a successful rugby season and career, along with showing them how to approach rugby in a different aspect.
Michael Ziegler is a senior leader this year, and he expects nothing but improvements from past years.
“Dave is very knowledgeable,” Ziegler said. “We have 13 of 15 guys coming back with a new conference alignment, so I won’t tolerate anything less than a national championship.”
It will be a tough but positive test for the Falcons. They will be facing some of the best players to ever wear a BG rugby uniform.
The players, including senior Bryan Kean, agree that it will be a learning experience for the Falcons. It will show the team the positives of its game, and it will also show the improvements to be made throughout the season.
“The alumni are a good group of guys, and it will be a test of how we will do this season,” Kean said. “We have learned a lot from Dave, and he has taught us how to look at the game in a more technical way.”
BG will be one of the most experienced teams in the Mid-American Conference this year, which explains the confidence and high expectations of the players and coaches after the conference realignment this summer.
There is one goal this year on the BG rugby team, to win a national championship.
The match will start at approximately 3 p.m. at College Park.
