The Men’s Rugby team has been dominating the High Peaks Conference this 15s season, although they have faced some challenges along the way. Two of their games have been canceled within days of their respective matches. Additionally, the rugby pitch is being dug up to install geothermic heating for the nearby buildings. Even though the team has been riddled with inconveniences, as well as injuries, they have still found themselves achieving seemingly unreachable goals.
On Oct. 25, men’s rugby battled Montana State University (MSU) on MSU’s home pitch. Psychology senior Tom Gauweiler commented on this huge feat.
“Well, traditionally, they are our rival within the High Peaks Conference. They were ranked the number one team in the nation before the start of the season, and we won against them 34-10, only giving up one score in the very last minute of the game,” Gauweiler said.
CMU has not beaten MSU since 2019, and MSU has not lost a home game in 10 years. MSU participates in the rivalry by hosting “Mesa Hate Week” during the week leading up to their matches.
The team focused on mental preparation before the game. Business senior James Reese and others mentioned that mentality was a huge contributor to their win.
“I think not as much of watching the film and knowing what they do, but a lot more mental, kind of just getting through the hump of thinking they’re the big bad guys you just can’t beat,” Reese stated.
“That was kind of the preparation, that we came in confident, but not cocky,” Gauweiler added.
The team has a new head coach this season: Liam Brannan. This is Brannan’s first year as a coach. He has been playing rugby since 5th grade, and continued in his passion for it at American International College. There he battled top DI teams, including Brown, Dartmouth, Yale and Harvard. Brannan is enjoying the team so far.
“It seems like they really like to hang out with each other, not only at rugby, but on their free time,” Brannan said.
Idaho State University (ISU) and Weber State University (WSU) cancelled their games against CMU. Reese expressed that it was frustrating, but that he had noticed a pattern with ISU and WSU doing so in seasons past.
Currently, the team will have to work around the new construction on the rugby pitch. Beginning on the week of Oct. 27, the pitch has been dug up. Both men’s and women’s rugby will be temporarily utilizing the football practice field next to the Hamilton Recreation Center.
Coach Brannan and the team expressed that practicing on a smaller turf field, compared to their grassy pitch, will come with some challenges, but will not affect their upcoming gameplay against Boise State University (BSU) on Nov. 8, which will be the last home game of the season.
“It’s inconvenient, but that doesn’t change the way we practice. Then, we go hard and that we lift each other up,” Gauweiler said. “One or two wounds that are extra from practice, but that’s nothing to stop as you play. And we’ll still go full out until we get tat championship.”
Coach Brannan stated that he has been finding his flow with coaching, and that it has been rewarding.
“I’m hoping…I’m actually not hoping—I know we’re gonna do good against Boise. This is technically an unofficial regional conference championship, just because Boise is the only other person that we haven’t defeated,” Brannan said.
As the season continues, the men’s rugby team is hoping to advance to the Midwest Regional Championship in Missouri.
The team also values continuing to be close and connected amongst themselves.
“My five years here, this has personally been not just the best team, but the best camaraderie I’ve seen out of all the guys, and what we have been building throughout the years,” Reese said.
