BERKELEY – California rugby will contest its opening match of 2025 against Cal Poly on Saturday in San Luis Obispo. The Golden Bears and the Mustangs will kick off at 1 p.m. PT at the Lower Sports Complex, with a reserve-grade match to begin immediately following the conclusion of the varsity match.  
 
The two teams were originally slated to face off at the annual Dennis Storer Classic preseason tournament scheduled for this weekend; however, due to the Los Angeles wildfire crisis, the tournament was canceled. The contest will be the opening match for both sides in 2025.  
 
Following a stint on the sevens circuit this past Fall where the Bears went undefeated and clinched a pair of West Coast Collegiate 7s titles, Cal traveled to Long Beach State for a preseason friendly in XVs play on Nov. 23. The Bears rolled past the LBSU Sharks 101-5 with 10 different players recording tries in the match. Sophomore Emmett Cook logged four tries to lead the squad in scoring while junior Rand Santos recorded a pair.
 
Cal Poly went 3-0 in fall XVs action, shutting out two opponents in Sacramento State (82-0) on Nov. 16 and Chico State (75-0) on Nov. 23. The Mustangs defeated LBSU 38-12 on Dec. 14 to close out the calendar year.
 
The Bears and the Mustangs last went head-to-head in the 2024 National Collegiate Championships First Round in Berkeley. Cal routed Cal Poly 70-13 to move onto the quarterfinals, scoring 11 tries and holding the Mustangs to a pair of tries and one penalty kick.
 
Cal's 2025 roster features ample experience in major collegiate rugby competition with a mostly upperclassmen squad expected to make up the Bears' first 15. Led by fifth-year captain Charlie Walsh as the tighthead prop, the Cal forward pack is expected to also feature junior hooker Cade Crist. Crist and Walsh made 10 starts together in the front row in 2024.
 
In the second row, fifth year Tom Dixon and senior Hugo Schreuder are the likely starters, adding to the contingent of upperclassmen. Senior Jon Puckett is also likely to return as a flanker, joined in the backrow by sophomore Bryan Bogne who was a key reserve and occasional starter for the Bears in his freshman year.
 
Junior duo Solomon Williams and Santos are expected to be the starting scrumhalf and flyhalf, respectively. Williams and Santos have been the consistent halfback pairing for the Bears since last season, orchestrating Cal's attack in notable wins over Navy (47-24) and the Bears' playoff win over Cal Poly in 2024.
 
Junior center Max Threlkeld is the probable choice for the No. 13 shirt with the three-year starter set to pair with fellow junior Michál de Beer At No. 12. In the backline, sophomore transfer Jack Byszio will look to break into the starting lineup on the wing along with fellow sophomore winger Cook. Junior Oliver Newall has been a key reserve for the Bears in his first two seasons and will also be looking to get the first-15 nod at fullback in 2025.
 
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