Men's Rugby | 1/3/2018 11:55:00 AM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Jan. 3) – The Central Washington University men's rugby team opens its 2018 XV's season with a pair of tough fixtures against UC Davis and Saint Mary's.
 
GAME INFORMATION
At UC Davis | Friday, Jan. 5 – 5:00 p.m.
At Saint Mary's | Saturday, Jan. 6 – 1:00 p.m.
 
QUOTABLE
"What a great way to start our season, taking on two great programs in their backyards," CWU Head Coach Todd Thornley said.  "We are excited to add both these teams to our challenging schedule with each team presenting different challenges for our group. I'm excited to see up to 15 of our student-athletes wear the jersey for the first time and take on some of the best in the nation. We will find out a lot about ourselves on this trip and it will give us a great assessment of where to improve going forward."
 
SCOUTING UC DAVIS
UC Davis finished the 2016-17 season as the D1AA runners up after claiming back-to-back D1AA championships in 2015 and 2016.  The Aggies made the jump to D1A for the 2017-18 season and will compete in the California Conference.  Friday's fixture is the first meeting between Central and UC Davis.  While the two sides have never met, they did pass by one another at the 2017 West Coast 7's where the Wildcats came away as the champions.
 
The Aggies lost just two matches last season, falling to Chico State and Life University.
 
SCOUTING SAINT MARY'S
The Gaels are ranked #1 in D1A and have had an impressive four-year run.  In three of the least four seasons, the Gaels have won the D1A Championship.  They finished as the runner-up in 2016.  The Gaels posted a 4-0 record in the California Conference last year, scoring 266 points and creating a 212-point differential. 
 
The last time the Wildcats played Saint Mary's the Gaels came away with a 50-20 victory in 2013.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The California road trip is the Wildcats' opening action in 2018.  During the 7's season the Wildcats compiled a 10-0 record, including capturing a pair of tournament championships at the West Coast 7's and the Fall Rugby 7's Classic.