BERKELEY – California rugby has announced 11 additions to the roster for the 2023-24 season. The upcoming academic year will mark the 142nd season for the Cal Varsity Rugby program, which is the oldest Intercollegiate Athletics team on campus. Head Coach Jack Clark will helm the program for his 41st year, while Associate Head Coach Tom Billups reaches his milestone 25th year on the coaching staff for the Golden Bears.
 
Eleven new student-athletes come to Berkeley as accomplished rugby players and scholars. Their pedigrees include national and league recognitions in high school athletics in addition to academic honors and leadership roles in their schools. Seven players join the Bears from their hometowns in California, while two come from out-of-state and two are internationals. Of the seven freshmen who come from within the Golden State, six hail from Northern California and played for rugby teams with strong connections to Cal such as De La Salle High School and the Danville Oaks and Granite Bay Rugby clubs. The largest contingent of newcomers from the same club are a trio from the Granite Bay Rugby club in Sacramento, and one player comes from the recently crowned single-school national champions, Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C.
 
"This is potentially a really good class and, individually and collectively, a good match with Cal," Clark said. "These boys needed to find a world-class university that was committed to its rugby program. Even as much as these boys love rugby, sport alone wasn't going to be enough for them. They need the challenge of pursuing a top degree whilst simultaneously chasing their rugby dreams. Importantly, they are high character young men, which is the most important talent identification marker.
 
"They will spend a lot of time together their freshman year. They will rely on each other, look after each other. They will grow close. We are fortunate to have such quality young men joining us." 
 
Get to know the Blue & Gold's latest additions below.
 
Bryan Bogne
Bryan Bogne is a 6-foot-1-inch, 230-pound forward who comes to Cal from Granite Bay High School. Born in the United States, Bogne spent his childhood in Nantes, France before returning stateside to Sacramento for his high school career. A dual-sport athlete in rugby and football, he earned All-Sierra Football League honors playing both sides of the ball as a fullback and defensive tackle on the Grizzlies' varsity football team. 
 
Bogne played for the Granite Bay Rugby Club from 2021-23 and is one of three from the club to be joining the Golden Bears this fall. The GBRC is coached by former Cal All-American, national champion and U.S. international Chris Miller. Bogne was a starting prop on the club's squad that won the national championship title in 2022. In 2023, the GBRC won the state championship and took third place nationally.
 
Bogne's mother, Constance, is a school teacher while his father, Charvis, is a youth pastor. Bogne was admitted to the College of Letters & Sciences and his major is undeclared.  
 
"It is an honor to get the opportunity to be a part of this program, community and family," Bogne said. "It means a lot to me; it feels like I am starting the most important and interesting chapter of my life. I cannot wait to create new relationships with my teammates and coaches, and to develop not only as a rugby player but also as a young man."
 
Nate Comiskey
East Bay local Nate Comiskey joins the Bears from Pleasanton where he attended Amador Valley High School. The 5-foot-11-inch, 186-pound wing/center played for the Danville Oaks rugby club. The Oaks are coached by Cal Hall of Famer Kort Schubert, who was a former Bears' captain, national champion and three-time All American before completing an eight-year stint with the U.S. national team and played professionally with the Cardiff Blues from 2004-06. Comiskey will rejoin former Oaks teammates and current Cal student-athletes Pat Deely, Tyler Lenk, Clayton Seastrand and Matt Vranesh in Berkeley. Comiskey and the club were 2022 NorCal Premier Bowl Champions and runners-up in the 2023 Premier Bowl. The Oaks also took 5th place at nationals in 2023.
 
Comiskey's mother, Ching, is a human resources analyst at Visa while his father, John, is an account director at Lumen Technologies. John Comiskey played collegiate rugby at the University of San Diego from 1989-93 and was a part of the team crowned SoCal Champions in 1993. Comiskey was admitted to the College of Letters & Sciences and his major is undeclared.
 
"Joining Cal Rugby has been a dream of mine since I was eight years old," Comiskey said. "I am super grateful to be given the opportunity to play at one of the most successful rugby programs in the country and to get a top-tier education at one of the finest institutions in the world. I'm excited to connect with all the players and coaches and create good relationships that will last me a lifetime, while competing at a high level."
 
Emmett Cook
Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, Emmett Cook comes to Berkeley from Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C. He will rejoin his former Eagles teammates and rising sophomores Miles Malone and J.P. Vinter on the Cal roster. Cook, who attended Cal Rugby Summer Camp, is 6-foot-2, 175 pounds and primarily features as a fullback/flyhalf.
 
Cook was a starter for his high school's rugby team, which was the 2023 single-school national champion and the runner-up in the 2022 single-school national championships. He earned All-Metro Area Varsity Rugby Conference honors in both 2022 and 2023. Cook, a U.S. citizen, also played for the Old Glory Academy club team. In the classroom, Cook collected first honors his sophomore through senior year for his stellar academic performance.
 
Cook's mother, Jennifer, is an immigration attorney while his father, Bernie, is an Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and the Founding Director of the Film and Media Studies Program at Georgetown University. Cook was admitted to the College of Letters & Sciences and his major is undeclared. 
 
"Studying and playing rugby at Cal has always been a dream of mine," Cook said. "I feel really blessed to have this opportunity to play rugby at the highest level while also getting a world-class education. I'm excited to get to work with a great group of guys."
 
Jackson Launey
Jackson Launey is a 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound fullback/wing who joins the Bears from Sacramento, where he attended Rio Americano High School. In high school, Launey, who is a U.S. citizen, received the Seal of Biliteracy for his proficiency in Spanish. Outside of the classroom, he earned his aircraft pilot license.
 
Launey is a two-time Cal Rugby Summer camp attendee who played club rugby for the Granite Bay Rugby Club. He was a part of the club's 2022 national champion team and in 2023 helped the GBRC to its state championship and third place finish at nationals. In the 2022 title match, Launey scored a try, a penalty kick and went 3-for-4 on conversion kicks to lift the GBRC to its first national championship since 2016.
 
Launey's mother, Rebecca, works in design while his father, Marc, is a retired Air Force command and control leader who now works as an airline captain for Alaska Airlines. Marc Launey is a former Cal Rugby two-time national champion who graduated in 1995. Launey was admitted to the College of Letters & Sciences and his major is undeclared.  
 
"Joining Cal Rugby means so much to me because I have looked up to all of the players and the program as a whole my entire rugby career," Launey said. "I am extremely grateful to be part of such an accomplished team. I am also blessed to be able to study at one of the best public schools in the world and receive such a high level of education. The thing I am looking forward to the most about joining the team is becoming a part of the brotherhood and contributing to the team's success."  
 
Luke Leddy
Seattle native Luke Leddy is a 6-foot-4-inch, 230-pound lock/backrower coming to Cal from Seattle Preparatory School. In high school, Leddy played varsity football and was named defensive linemen of the year for two consecutive years, in addition to earning all-league honors. The U.S. citizen was also a competitive skier and was crowned the Junior Pacific Northwest Champion in 2020 by the Pacific Northwest Ski Association. He was invited to contend for the junior national title that same year, but the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Leddy played for the Eastside Lions Rugby Club and captained the squad in 2023, leading it to the Washington Rugby Champions title. He also made an appearance in the Lions' runner-up performance at the club rugby national championships in 2021. He attended Cal Rugby Summer Camp and, in 2022, Leddy played on the Corendon Summer Tour for the USA Eagles U18 squad alongside rising Cal sophomores Cade Crist, Rand Santos and Solomon Williams.
 
Leddy's mother, Jamelah, is a senior financial analyst for Edge Asset Management and a Whitman College women's basketball alumna. His father, Greg, is a financial advisor for Wells Fargo. Leddy's uncle, Rick Ascher (1985) and cousin, Katie Ascher (2020), are Cal graduates. Leddy was admitted to the College of Letters & Sciences and his major is undeclared.  
 
"I am extremely excited to be attending Cal next year," Leddy said. "Cal's ability to pair a rigorous rugby program with world-class academics is second to none. I feel exceedingly fortunate to be able to attend Cal and grow as a person over the next few years."
 
Roan O'Connell
Roan O'Connell crosses the Bay Bridge to join the Golden Bears and his older brother, Kealan O'Connell, on Cal's roster. The 5-foot-10-inch, 175-pound fullback comes from Saint Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, where he made the academic honor roll all four years of his high school career. Notable alumni from Saint Ignatius include Brendan Daly, who was a Cal All-American, national champion and U.S. international.  
 
O'Connell, a Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee, also played rugby for the San Francisco Golden Gate Club. He joins Daly and Danny Barrett – two-time Olympian, USA Eagle, four-time All-American and national champion in both sevens and XVs at Cal – in the list of SFGG alumni. In the summer of 2022, O'Connell participated in the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand. O'Connell, who is a U.S. citizen, also competed in Gaelic football with the San Francisco Gaelic Athletic Association.
 
O'Connell's mother, Norma, is a registered nurse and his father, James, is the Deputy Chief Operations at the San Francisco Fire Department and a 1994 Cal graduate. O'Connell was admitted to the College of Letters & Sciences and his major is undeclared. He has an interest in studies of business and economics.  
 
"It is a huge honor to be joining the great rugby program and university that Cal provides," O'Connell said. "I am excited to pursue my studies during my time at Cal, while playing top-level college rugby."
 
Tommy Rainsford
Bay Area native Tommy Rainsford comes to Berkeley from De La Salle High School in Concord. The De La Salle-to-Cal pipeline remains intact as he will join fellow Spartan alums Michael Freeman, Michael Puckett, Jon Puckett, Lance Hackett, Seastrand and Vranesh on the Bears' roster.
 
Rainsford, a U.S. Citizen, is a 6-foot-3-inch, 233-pound backrower who earned MVP in 2023 and Forward of the Year in 2022 for the De La Salle rugby team. Rainsford and the Spartans won back-to-back single-school state championships in 2022 and 2023 and also won the NorCal Premier Cup in 2022. The Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee made the academic honor roll in 2023 for his accomplishments in the classroom.
 
Rainsford's mother, Anna, is a pre-school teacher while his father, Nick, is a retired captain of the San Francisco Police Department. Rainsford was admitted to the College of Letters & Sciences and his major is undeclared.
 
"Being able to play rugby and pursue my academics at UC Berkeley is one of the best feelings in the world," Rainsford said. "I am beyond excited to embark upon this new adventure at this prestigious school. I am most looking forward to meeting new people and becoming great friends, while also becoming a better rugby player and playing top-tier teams from around the nation." 
 
Elias Smith
Elias Smith joins the Bears from across the pond in Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The 6-foot-3-inch, 236-pound forward primarily features in the backrow. Smith attended St. Peter's School in York where he was a three-sport student-athlete. He earned full colours playing for the school's field hockey, cricket and first XV rugby teams.  
 
Smith, a Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee, also played for the York Rugby Union Football Club. Additionally, from 2021-23 he played representative rugby at the Yorkshire Academy. In 2021-22, he was selected to attend England Rugby's U18 side training camp.
 
During his high school years, Smith completed the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which is a globally recognized accreditation that is awarded to youths aged 14-24 who accomplish goals in the areas of volunteering, physical activity, skill development and adventurous journey.
 
Smith's mother, Pia, is a psychotherapist and his father, Martyn, is a management consultant. Smith was admitted to the College of Letters & Sciences and his major is undeclared. He is hopeful to study economics.  
 
"Joining a team of Cal's caliber and being able to contribute to the team's rich history while fulfilling my academic potential is tremendously exciting," Smith said. "The prospect of competing for a great team with a great atmosphere excites me the most."
 
Quinn Spieker
Quinn Spieker makes his way to Berkeley from Del Mar where he attended Francis W. Parker School. The 6-foot-2-inch, 182-pound wing played for the Francis Parker Rugby Club where he was named MVP four-straight years from 2020-23 and was given the Athletics Leadership Award in 2023. His team took the runner-up spot in the Southern California 7's in 2022 and finished in third place at the same competition in 2023. Spieker, a Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee, collected academic honors all four years of his high school career.
 
Spieker also played rugby for the San Diego Mustangs, which is the same club that rising Cal sophomore Crist came from. The Mustangs are coached by Ramon Samaniego, former Cal All-American, national champion and U.S. international. This year, Spieker and the Mustangs finished second in the nation among club teams.
 
Spieker, a U.S. citizen, comes from a long line of Golden Bears beginning with his grandfather Warren E. ("Ned") Spieker Jr., a former Cal men's water polo letterman. Quinn's father, Warren E. Spieker III, is a former Cal Rugby national champion and current member of the Cal Rugby Advisory Board, who now works as a managing partner of Continuing Life LLC. Quinn's mother, Meghan, is a 1994 Cal graduate who worked as an attorney before her retirement. Spieker was admitted to the College of Letters & Sciences and his major is undeclared. He has an interest in finance and business studies.  
 
"It means everything to me that I am able to attend a university that ranks so highly in both academics and athletics," Spieker said. "To join a program with as rich of a legacy and tradition as Cal's rugby team is a special and unique opportunity that I am excited to explore."
 
Dylan Thygesen
Dylan Thygesen joins the Bears from Vancouver Island in British Columbia, where he attended Shawnigan Lake School, the same high school as Cal rugby alumnus and current Major League Rugby player Seth Purdey. The 6-foot-3-inch, 230-pound backrower received high honors awarded to the school's top-performing athletes all four years of his high school career. Thygesen and the Shawnigan Lake Stags were crowned Provincial Champions in 2022 and Island Champions in 2023.
 
In the classroom, Thygesen received departmental awards for his exceptional performance in Physics and English, and earned academic honors all four years of his high school career. He also served in a significant school leadership role as Head of House at Shawnigan Lake School.
 
Thygesen, a Cal Rugby Summer Camp attendee, played club rugby for the Salish Sea Warriors and captained the U18 side in 2022. The club was Vancouver Island U18 Champion in 2022 and earned a silver medal in the provincial competition the same year.
 
Thygesen's parents Kristin and Kevin are both real estate professionals. He was admitted to the College of Letters & Sciences and his major is undeclared.  
 
"I feel greatly honored to have the amazing opportunity of joining the brotherhood of Cal Rugby and attending such an amazing university as UC Berkeley; I can't even imagine where this opportunity will carry me," Thygesen said. "I am most looking forward to being surrounded by like-minded teammates and world class coaches where I will be pushed to grow significantly both on and off the field, all while making great friends throughout the process. Being embraced into a team with such a winning culture is truly an honor, and I am looking forward to putting in the work needed to carry on that culture for years to come."
 
Talae Tuimaunei
Talae Tuimaunei comes to Cal from Granite Bay High School in Sacramento. Tuimaunei, who attended Cal Rugby Summer Camp, is a 6-foot-4-inch, 215-pound lock and the third newcomer who played for the Granite Bay Rugby club. While Tuimaunei played for the GBRC, it was crowned the national champion in 2022 and, in 2023, was state champion and finished third nationally.
 
Tuimaunei, a U.S. Citizen, also played for the Granite Bay High School varsity football team as an offensive and defensive tackle. While playing for the Grizzlies on the gridiron, he received All-Sierra Foothill League recognitions twice. In the classroom, he earned academic honors in his high school career.
 
Tuimaunei's mother, Kristen, works as a realtor. His older brother, Ammon, played football and rugby at Army West Point from 2013-16. Tuimaunei was admitted to the College of Letters & Sciences and his major is undeclared.
 
"For me to be joining Cal Rugby and pursuing my studies at Cal is an incredible opportunity for me as a player, but most importantly as a student," Tuimaunei said. "Playing at the next level has been a dream of mine since the start of my rugby career. I am most looking forward to joining another family and brotherhood."
 
 
CAL RUGBY SUMMER CAMP
Cal rugby will host its annual summer camp for boys ages 14-18 on campus from July 21-23. For more information and to register, visit https://www.calsportscamps.com/rugby.
 
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