BERKELEY - The reigning national champion California rugby team opens their 144th season in program history in January. The Golden Bears look to build off their historic 2025 season which saw them finish the season 15-1 capped off by a 55-38 victory in the national collegiate championship final. The Bears hoisted their 29th XVs championship title in program history, the 25th XVs title under Jack Clark, to go along with five national collegiate 7s titles.
 
This season the Bears have a different look as 64 student-athletes reported to camp on Jan. 4 in preparation for their 2026 campaign. The Bears return 40 athletes from last season, to include senior International Rand Santos, who will captain the team after starting in 11 matches in the 2025 spring season in a vice captain role to then departed captain Charlie Walsh. Santos scored seven tries last season, was 26 of 47 on conversion kicks, and three of four on penalty kicks.
 
Santos will be assisted by three vice captains this year in senior International Max Threlkeld, and All-Americans Solomon Williams and Cade Crist, all key contributors and leaders to last year's national championship team.
 
The Cal front row will be anchored by Crist and sophomore All-American Oliver Kirk. Senior Byron Finley will return to the second row after earning All-American honors last season. Junior transfer lock Brice Muller has been impressive in fall training, and senior Miles Malone, who saw playing time as a sophomore, returns after missing the 2025 season with injury.
 
The Bears appear young in the backrow with sophomores Seamus Deely, Oliver Teague, and newly converted open-side flanker Chris Biller. Graduate transfer Ryan Wenstrom will be needed alongside a flock of underclassmen backrowers. Lost from this group is junior All-American Bryan Bogne who looks to miss the season with injury.
 
The halfbacks pairing of Williams to Santos remains, while senior halfback Cormac Saint adds significant depth, skill, and leadership to the position group. Starting centers sophomore Filip Edstrom and Threlkeld return to a strong midfield position group. The deep three returns starting senior fullback Oliver Newall and sophomore wing Masi Koi along with a promising group of returners and newcomers.
 
Graduating several key contributors from last year's team, the Bears brought in 16 freshmen, including 10 Californians and six out of state or international students.
 
"We lost to graduation some very good campaigners, upperclassmen who knew the ropes," Clark said. "Digesting these roster graduations is never easy. Initially, it leaves holes in our team, but we have some keen boys looking to step up and fill the gaps. We also return some proven players, championship level performers, young men that we have a very high trust level in."
 
The Golden Bears open the 2026 spring season against Cal Poly on Jan. 10 at Witter Rugby Field, before heading to the annual Dennis Storer Classic on Jan. 17. It is a heavy regular season travel year for the Bears with a couple of trips to Los Angeles, Vancouver, Arizona, New York, and over the hill to Moraga. In total, the Bears will travel just over 11,000 miles before the postseason.
 
"I know there are no easy months in the three month regular season, but February and March offer the most challenging schedule in U.S. collegiate rugby," Clark said."We appreciate that there are some really good teams in the competition, but we feel good about our team. As narrow as the margins are with the best teams, we feel we can be in every match with a chance."
 
The full 2026 XVs rugby schedule can be found below and tickets can be purchased here.
 
2026 Schedule:
Jan. 10: vs. Cal Poly *
Jan. 17: at Dennis Storer Classic
at Fresno State
at UCLA         
Jan. 24: vs. Olympic Club   
Jan. 31: at UCLA *     
Feb. 7: at University of British Columbia       
Feb. 14: at Arizona *
Feb. 16: at Grand Canyon
Feb. 21: vs. Brigham Young
Mar. 7: vs. Navy (Homecoming/National Champions Reunion)
Mar. 14: at Army
Mar. 28: at Saint Mary's *
Apr. 11: D1A National Collegiate Championships - First Round      
Apr. 18: D1A National Collegiate Championships - Quarterfinals    
Apr. 25: D1A National Collegiate Championships - Semifinals        
May 2: D1A National Collegiate Championship        
Home matches in bold; *Reserve-Grade Contest To Be Played; All home contests played at Witter Rugby Field
 
STAY POSTED
For complete coverage of Cal rugby, please follow the Bears on X/Twitter (@CalVarsityRugby), Instagram (@CalVarsityRugby) and Facebook (/CalVarsityRugby).