INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The California rugby team beat Life University, 55-38, in the highest-scoring national championship match in D1A history to clinch the program’s 29th XVs championship title and 34th overall, including its five sevens titles. The championship is Golden Bears’ Head Coach Jack Clark milestone 30th national title, 25 of which are in 15-a-side competition.
“Very difficult game. There was a lot of resolve in both teams. It was punch-for-punch for 80 minutes,” Clark said. “I’m especially proud of our captain Charlie Walsh. He willed our team through some really challenging periods this season, and he’s now become one of the legendary Cal captains.”
Cal was first to put points on the scoreboard, with freshman Filip Edstrom successfully converting a penalty kick to give the Bears three points. Edstrom was later named Man of the Match for his superb performance.
Life scored a converted try in the seventh minute, but Cal answered with a try of its own at minute 15 to take back the lead. The Bears were playing deep in Life’s territory, grinding out multiple phases before senior Dom Paga punched it in on the goal line.
A penalty on the restart gave Life an attacking lineout which it mauled in for a try in the 17th minute. The Running Eagles scored once more off their maul three minutes later to extend their advantage.
Cal answered with two back-to-back tries of its own. The Bears were awarded an attacking scrum and senior Ieremia Ieremia had a good run to get within five meters and set up the try. The forward pack pick-and-jammed on the goal-line before freshman Oliver Kirk extended over the try-line for a score.
After the restart, the Cal backs took a turn at lighting up the scoreboard. Cal was moving the ball through hands before junior Rand Santos chipped a ball forward and fellow junior Max Threlkeld chased it down, scooping it up and running it straight into the tryzone unopposed.
Life scored quickly after the restart, but Cal only took three minutes to respond with another try. The Bears recovered an attacking lineout and sent it immediately to the backline. Sophomore Emmett Cook, who had just come off the bench for a blood substitution, caught a high pass over his head and charged into the tryzone to score. Edstrom was 4-for-4 on conversion attempts in the first half to make it 31-26 in favor of the Bears at the break.
It only took 40 seconds for Cal to score after the break. Life had possession, but Cal forced a turnover and put together multiple phases before freshman Masi Koi chipped-and-chased the ball all the way to the goal-line for a try.
Life scored a pair of tries, both of which came from their forward pack, to take a two-point lead. Cal stayed on it, and worked its way back into Life’s territory. After multiple phases within the 22-meter mark, junior Oliver Newall dove into the tryzone to take back the Bears’ lead.
Cal stayed on the attack in the remaining ten minutes of the contest and scored two more tries to seal the victory. Threlkeld ran a beautiful line and offloaded to Edstrom, who sent it to senior Joe Kirsten in support to race in for a try. After the restart, Life kicked it forward, but Santos chased it and recovered the ball in Running Eagle territory. He sent it to Koi on the wing and beat the last defender to dot down the final try of the evening. Edstrom was 2-of-4 on conversions in the second half.
Cal finishes the 2024-25 season with a 15-1 overall record.
Scoring Timeline:
Cal vs. Life
2:00 – Filip Edstrom 3
7:00 – Life 5, Life 2
15:00 – Dom Paga 5, Filip Edstrom 2
17:00 – Life 5
20:00 – Life 5, Life 2
23:00 – Oliver Kirk 5, Filip Edstrom 2
26:00 – Max Threlkeld 5, Filip Edstrom 2
29:00 – Life 5, Life 2
32:00 – Emmett Cook 5, Filip Edstrom 2
Half: Cal 31, Life 26
40:00 – Masi Koi 5
56:00 – Life 5, Life 2
62:00 – Life 5
68:00 – Oliver Newall 5, Filip Edstrom 2
71:00 – Joe Kirsten 5, Filip Edstrom 2
77:00 – Masi Koi 5
Final: Cal 55, Life 38
Starting XV:
1. Oliver Kirk 2. Cade Crist 3. Charlie Walsh 4. Hugo Schreuder 5. Tom Dixon 6. Dom Paga 7. Bryan Bogne 8. Ieremia Ieremia 9. Solomon Williams 10. Rand Santos 11. Masi Koi 12. Filip Edstrom 13. Max Threlkeld 14. Joe Kirsten 15. Oliver Newall
Substitutions:
Byron Finley (7:00), Emmett Cook (Blood Substitution 30:00), Oliver Teague (69:00), Michal de Beer (79:00), Cormac Saint (79:00)
It's hard to top Yosh Uchida, whose judo teams at San Jose St. won something like 45 national titles.concordtom said:
Congratulations.
What's the list of coaches with most team national championships (not a track coach who can have dozens of athletes competing under him each season)?
