Top college rugby teams continue to try to challenge themselves in their schedules, and Arizona State is no different as the Sun Devils enter their preseason camp.

ASU has a little more than two weeks until starting the 2016 15s season, with nothing less than defending DIA champions St. Mary’s Gaels the opponent on January 16.

It gets no easier after that, with UCLA, Utah, and Cal rounding out a month’s worth of games.

This is a tough list of games, but not that much different from rivals Arizona, St. Mary’s Cal Poly, and others. No one wants to dodge the tough opponents.

“We have this annual fixture with St. Mary’s,” said ASU Head Coach Gary Lane. “It’s a really good intro to league play. They are a quality program with quality athletes and we go after some of the same athletes. It sets us up to find out where we are.”

Lane said last year’s first games, which included the Gaels and BYU, helped the program set the bar for the level of play they needed. The opening month this season does the same.

“It’s pretty action-packed this season,” said Lane. “If you want to be at the top of the college ranks, you have to play that schedule. If you want to be ranked in the top 10, you need to play teams in the top 10.”

Arizona State finished up its 15s season with the Varsity Cup, and then their annual Rugby Bowl game which, this year, will be against the Mexican National Team. The Fiesta Bowl football event has tied the Rugby Bowl in as a sanctioned Fiesta Bowl event, and supported it.

By the time that game rolls around on April 23, Arizona State will have played as many as nine ranked teams.

Arizona State Schedule

Preseason Camp Jan 3-Jan 9

Jan 16 v St. Mary’s

Jan 23 at UCLA

Feb 6 v Utah

Feb 13 v Cal

Feb 27 at Arizona

March 5 at Oregon State

March 19 at San Diego State

April 9 Varsity Cup Commences

April 23 Rugby Bowl v Mexico National Team