GAEL RUGBY ACHIEVEMENTS
Ronan Murphy scored the winning try in bonus time to cement the one-point victory over the All-Canadians
St. Mary’s players shone bright on the big stage, scoring all of the All-American tries in the game. All four players from St. Mary’s - Payton Telea-ilalio, Tavite Lopeti, Sean Yacoubian and Ronan Murphy - found the try zone.
Five Freshmen Breakouts From 2019 | Flo Rugby | Alex Rees
Joe Marchant, Saint Mary's
Arriving on the Moraga, CA campus of Saint Mary's College in August, Marchant was stepping into a program with a rich legacy of top-notch front rowers. Furthermore, he was joining a team already loaded with talent all across the board, with the front row being no exception.
However, his hard work earned him a consistent place in the starting pack for the Gaels, and his seven tries in eleven games are a testament to his abilities as not only a great scrummager, but also a valuable asset in open play.
Jonathon Hackett | 2017 Kevin Higgins College Scholarship Grant Recipient
Year: Freshman Height: 5'9" Weight: 195lbs
High School: De La Salle High School Hometown: Concord, CA
Grit and determination led 2017 Kevin Higgins College Scholarship recipient, Jonathon Hackett, to receive a rugby scholarship to one of the top programs in the nation. Hackett had always dreamed of competing at the highest level for football and wrestling, but when scholarship options drew short, he turned to rugby. His football and wrestling background allowed for an easy transition into rugby and molded him into a noteworthy player. Although his rugby experience might be limited, his opportunities are endless. Jonathon will be the first in his family to attend a four-year university, all thanks to rugby. Read more here.
USA Rugby Names All Americans for 2016 - 2017
Collegiate All-American First XV
#6 Alec Barton - Saint Mary's College
#7 Kevin O'Connor - Saint Mary's College
#9 Holden Yungert - Saint Mary's College
Collegiate All-American Second XV
#8 Vili Helu - Saint Mary's College
#15 Dylan Audsley - Saint Mary's College
Collegiate All-American Honorable Mention
#12 Aaron Matthews - Saint Mary’s College
Collegiate All-American First Team-Sevens
Dylan Audsley, Saint Mary’s College
June 29, 2017
Coach Tim O’Brien Named to USA Rugby Hall of Fame | By: Christian Portillo
MORAGA, CALIF. - Saint Mary’s Men’s Rugby Head Coach Tim O’Brien has been inducted as part of the Class of 2017 into the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame. O’Brien, along with nine other members, will be formally introduced as a member of the Hall of Fame at an upcoming induction dinner.
Although he is not one that does things for recognition, his accomplishments as both a player and coach deserve to be honored. O’Brien’s career started with the Palo Alto Rugby Club as a 17-year-old. When he moved onto the collegiate level, he took his talents to and excelled at Cal Berkeley. As team captain, he led the Golden Bears to consecutive national championships in 1980 and 1981. Click here for full article
2017 D1A Rugby National Champions SMC 30 vs. Life 24
Saint Mary’s Defeats Life University 30-24 for Third National Championship in Four Years | Christian Portillo
MORAGA, CALIF. - A year after Saint Mary’s lost in the D1A National Championship to Life University 24-20 in front of their home crowd, they had the opportunity to avenge themselves on Saturday at Saint Mary’s Stadium. Not only was it a chance to make up for last year’s heartbreak, it was a chance to break the tie between the Gaels and Running Eagles over the past four title matches. Life won the championship in 2013 and 2016 while Saint Mary’s repeated in 2014 and 2015.
In order to beat Life, Saint Mary’s knew that they had to improve on their sloppy 43-7 semifinal win over Arizona. Cutting down both turnovers and penalties was a focal point in practice over the past week and defense, as always, was also heavily emphasized. With this in mind, the Gaels were aware that they would have to play close to a perfect game to overcome the undefeated Running Eagles. Click here for full article
Saint Mary's wins D1A | Alex Goff, Goff Rugby Report
Dylan Audsley scored 25 points, Holden Yungert was MVP, the ground in Moraga, Calif. shook with the vibrations of the tackles between Life and Saint Mary's, and Kevin O'Connor was superb as the Gaels held of an excellent Life team 30-24 Saturday.
The lead changed multiple times, and we attempted to describe the activities in this report (click here).
But sometimes it's about the pictures. Read full article here
SAINT MARY’S BEATS LIFE IN CLASSIC AFFAIR, WINS THIRD D1A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP | Alex Solomon, USA RUGBY
MORAGA, Calif. – In a fifth consecutive D1A Rugby National Championship meeting between the two schools, Saint Mary’s College defended Saint Mary’s Stadium Saturday in a 30-24 defeat of Life University. Read more here.
Holden Yungert named MVP
Payton Telea named Florugby College Freshman of the Year!
D1A Rugby | Alex Solomon
California's All-Conference Teams Announced
LAFAYETTE, Colo. – As they did a season ago, the Saint Mary’s College Gaels went undefeated in the California Conference. This spring, the Gaels made good on their regular season by capping the season with their third D1A National Championship. The team’s impeccable form earned Saint Mary’s more players on the All-Conference team than any other California side.
The only other California Conference team to qualify for the D1A Playoffs, Canterbury’s ninth-ranked San Diego State, was second behind the Gaels with six players named to the 1st Team. Click here for full article
Florugby | Alex Goff
FloRugby Recognizes Top College 7s Players Click here for full article
Dylan Audsley, Holden Yungert, Aaron Matthews
USA Rugby D1A 7’s 2016 National Champions
Click here to read more
2015-16 Men’s Collegiate All-Americans
First Team XVs All-Americans
Dino Waldren
First Team XVs All-Americans & Division I First Team Sevens All-American
Dylan Audsley Viliami Helu
Second Team XVs All-Americans
Alec Barton-Boreno
Honorable Mention
Aaron Matthews Holden Yungert
Kevin O'Connor
Rudy Scholz Award: Player of the Year
Dylan Audsley
2015-16 All-Conference Team
Dino Waldren- Front Row
Henry Hall- Lock
Mike Tilson- Lock
Alec Barton- Back Row Forwards
Kevin O'Connor- Back Row Forwards
Chris McDonald- Scrum Half
Mike McCarthy- Center
Aaron Matthews- Freshmen of the Year
Vili Helu- Forward of the Year
Dylan Audsley- Back of the Year
Goff Rugby Report College Awards for the 2015-2016 Season
Player of the Year- Dylan Audsley
Top Freshman- Aaron Matthews
USA Rugby AIG Men's Collegiate All-American Tour to Queensland
Viliami Helu
Alec Barton
Dylan Audsley
Kevin O'Connor
Dino Waldren
2015 D1A Rugby National Champions
2014 D1A Rugby National Champions
2014 D1A All-Playoff Team for the forward positions
Props
Ryan Pratt Dino Waldren
Flankers
Luke Sauser
2014 D1A All-Playoff Team for the back positions
Scrum-halves
Joey Reavey
Fly-halves
Garrett Brewer
Centers
Kingsley McGowan
Wings
Nick Schlobohm Bubba Jones
Full-backs
Cooper Maloney
Goff Rugby Report College Awards for the 2013-2014 Season
Player of the Year- Garrett Brewer
Gael's take 2nd in the country in the 2013 Sevens National Championships in Greensboro, NC
2013 Battle in the Bay - Gaels come out as Champions
Gaels finished the tournament 6-0
2011-2012 Kingsley McGowan Tours with Team USA