1/6/2022 3:14 PM | Rugby
Cal Rugby Returns To Camp Ahead of Its 140th Season
BERKELEY – California rugby returned to campus this week for its annual winter camp ahead of the spring XVs season. The Golden Bears will embark on their 140th season as a program when they head to the Dennis Storer Classic in Los Angeles January 15-16. The tournament is the first of 12 regular-season events scheduled for the 2022 season.
In response to the surge of the omicron variant, Cal cautiously opened up its camp on January 5, wearing masks and testing every player upon arrival. Temporarily, the team is restricting all of its activities to the outdoors in lieu of gathering in the High Performance Center's locker rooms, training quarters, training zones, meal rooms and meeting rooms. The team will participate in double days with meetings and training sessions held twice per day until the season opener next weekend.
"It's a great time of year," head coach Jack Clark said. "We are all happy to be together which lessens the grind of camp. Our focus is entirely short term: have a solid camp and first competition, full stop. Once classes begin and the season unfolds, we can use what we are getting done now as a foundation."
This season, the Bears' roster will include 32 upperclassmen including 14 seniors and seven fifth-years. A four-year starter who started in the Bears' last national championship match in 2019, team captain Sam Golla emphasized the importance of having an older cohort on the roster.
"We have solid leadership and experience," Golla said. "We have a lot of experience playing with one another. The more cohesive we are with each other, the better chance we have of realizing our potential."
Golla also played well during Cal's fall sevens season, playing in five matches and scoring one of the Bears' two tries in the final of the team's PAC Rugby 7s Championship against UCLA.
Jack Manzo, a three year starter who also earned a start in 2019's championship match, spoke to the team's readiness for the upcoming season.
"It feels great to have some sense of normalcy, being back in camp," he said. "We didn't get where we wanted to be in 2021, but having a camp will help us achieve our goals…The guys look hungry and ready to compete. Every training session, every lift session, there is going to be a high level of competition."
After the Bears return from the Dennis Storer Classic, they will open up a three game homestand versus Santa Clara, UC Santa Barbara and British Columbia on January 22, 29 and February 5 respectively. After matches at UBC, Arizona and Grand Canyon, Cal will return to host BYU on February 26 for its annual homecoming match, featuring past national championship teams. The Bears' final two home matches will take place on March 11 (Central Washington) and March 26 (Saint Mary's). Click here to view the full schedule.
To follow Cal rugby this season, be sure to visit calbears.com/sports/mens-rugby or follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
In response to the surge of the omicron variant, Cal cautiously opened up its camp on January 5, wearing masks and testing every player upon arrival. Temporarily, the team is restricting all of its activities to the outdoors in lieu of gathering in the High Performance Center's locker rooms, training quarters, training zones, meal rooms and meeting rooms. The team will participate in double days with meetings and training sessions held twice per day until the season opener next weekend.
"It's a great time of year," head coach Jack Clark said. "We are all happy to be together which lessens the grind of camp. Our focus is entirely short term: have a solid camp and first competition, full stop. Once classes begin and the season unfolds, we can use what we are getting done now as a foundation."
This season, the Bears' roster will include 32 upperclassmen including 14 seniors and seven fifth-years. A four-year starter who started in the Bears' last national championship match in 2019, team captain Sam Golla emphasized the importance of having an older cohort on the roster.
"We have solid leadership and experience," Golla said. "We have a lot of experience playing with one another. The more cohesive we are with each other, the better chance we have of realizing our potential."
Golla also played well during Cal's fall sevens season, playing in five matches and scoring one of the Bears' two tries in the final of the team's PAC Rugby 7s Championship against UCLA.
Jack Manzo, a three year starter who also earned a start in 2019's championship match, spoke to the team's readiness for the upcoming season.
"It feels great to have some sense of normalcy, being back in camp," he said. "We didn't get where we wanted to be in 2021, but having a camp will help us achieve our goals…The guys look hungry and ready to compete. Every training session, every lift session, there is going to be a high level of competition."
After the Bears return from the Dennis Storer Classic, they will open up a three game homestand versus Santa Clara, UC Santa Barbara and British Columbia on January 22, 29 and February 5 respectively. After matches at UBC, Arizona and Grand Canyon, Cal will return to host BYU on February 26 for its annual homecoming match, featuring past national championship teams. The Bears' final two home matches will take place on March 11 (Central Washington) and March 26 (Saint Mary's). Click here to view the full schedule.
To follow Cal rugby this season, be sure to visit calbears.com/sports/mens-rugby or follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Lock/Flanker
/ Rugby
Hooker
/ RugbyMonday, March 25
Sunday, March 08
Monday, November 11
Monday, November 11
