BERKELEY – California rugby will return to the friendly confines of Witter Rugby Field on Saturday to celebrate its annual Homecoming/National Champions reunion as the Golden Bears take on the Army Black Knights. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. PT in Strawberry Canyon with the gates set to open at Noon.
 
Cal will welcome back all rugby alumni to Saturday's match with recognition planned for national championship teams celebrating special anniversaries. Those teams are the national XVs champions of 1980, 1985, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and the 2015 national sevens champions.
 
The Bears return to Berkeley after picking up a solid 48-17 win at Brigham Young last weekend. Although it was a tight 19-17 contest in favor of the Bears at halftime, Cal shut out BYU in the second half and exploded for four unanswered tries and one successful penalty kick to clinch the victory.
 
Army comes to Berkeley with a 10-1 record in 15-a-side action in 2024-25. Last fall, the Black Knights notched eight victories, including wins over Mary Washington (27-17), St. Bonaventure (25-21), Air Force (43-20) and Kutztown (41-17). Army dropped a road match to Navy, 28-5, in September to record its only loss of the season. The Black Knights are coming off a 24-19 victory over Arizona last weekend at home.
 
Cal and Army last met on a cold and rainy day in West Point, N.Y. in 2024, with the Black Knights coming out on top. Army took an early lead in the contest and held a 10-point advantage at the intermission. The Bears struck first in the second half, but penalties and turnovers prevented them from cutting into the deficit and Army bested Cal, 27-14. The Black Knights last made the trip to Strawberry Canyon on March 4, 2023, when Cal upended the then-reigning national champion Army 31-14 on Homecoming.
 
Army is coached by former Cal captain, four-time national champion and three-time All-American, Matt Sherman, who was a part of the 2000 national championship team being honored this weekend. Sherman went on to have a professional playing career for the U.S. national team from 2003-05. He took over the Black Knights' program as head coach in 2015 and led Army to its first national title in 2022.
 
Tickets for Saturday's contest can be purchased in advance here. Fans unable to attend can watch the match live on ESPN+.
 
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