Feb. 18, 2009

BERKELEY - With TV cameras on hand for rebroadcast on ESPNU and special commemorative tickets via advance presale, the California Golden Bears and British Columbia Thunderbirds clash at Homecoming on Witter Rugby Field Sat., Feb. 21, at 1 p.m. in the first leg of the annual "World Cup" Series.

The Bears are winners of nine of the past 12 "World Cup" meetings, a two-match contest in its 88th year based on total points and named after the Vancouver World Newspaper. Last year, Cal retained the cup by splitting the two matches, beating the Birds 35-17 at home and losing their only match, 27-22, at Thunderbird Stadium in Canada.

"We have the utmost respect for the T-Birds," head coach Jack Clark said. "Our histories have become entwined around this competition. To say the matches are important is an understatement."

Advance commemorative tickets are now on sale -- call (800) GO BEARS or visit the Athletic Ticket Office at 2223 Fulton Street, 1st Floor. The ticket office is open Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:30p.m. As always, tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and military, and free for all Cal students and all youth 12th grade and below. Additional fees apply for phone/mail orders.

Gates will open at 11 a.m. and early arrival is encouraged for youth groups to ensure admission. High school and youth teams are encouraged to wear their colors to add to the pageantry of the afternoon.

The match will be taped for broadcast April 6 at 9 p.m. on ESPNU as the National Guard Game of the Week, the first of three matches in an agreement among USA Rugby, ESPNU and the participating universities to reach a domestic audience unprecedented in size for regular-season collegiate rugby. The network also plans to carry BYU vs. Utah and Army vs. Navy this spring.

The date and time for the broadcast of this match are subject to change.