This weekend it’s the Big Game in the New England NSCRO as South division leaders Eastern Connecticut State face off with undefeated Babson.

ECSU is 3-0 and finished runners up in New England in the 2014-15 National Small College Rugby Organization season, behind now DIAA team New England College. Coached by Ray Aramini and Joe Pardee, ESCU are known for their community work, and also for winning rugby games. Aramini said this weekend’s clash will be a tough one.

Babson has been working toward challenging the top teams in New England.

"We anticipate a very physical, disciplined match against Babson,” said Aramini. “Babson Rugby is a program with a storied and strong  history and it is anticipated that this will be the match of the regular season for Eastern Connecticut Rugby. We, at Eastern, have been improving slowly this season and have to execute the finer points of the game to be successful"

Babson has some rugby claims to fame, not least of which is alumnus Jacob Sprague, who played for the USA at prop before an illness cut short his playing career. Head Coach Carrick Pell uses some terminology from his Marine Corps days - Top 6, Center Mast, and Rock Hard mean using your head, you heart, and strength through hard work to be successful.

“We are a very young and inexperienced family and are very excited about the opportunity to play ECSU, because they are the class of the table,” said Pell. “While we are both undefeated, they have dominated the two teams that we were only able to pull away from at the very end.  It will be a great learning experience and challenge to attempt to match up against them.”

Pell has seen 26 different players suit up for the Beavers, enabling him to find the right combinations for Saturday’s clash. 

“We have a long way to go, but when we play as one - Top 6, Center Mast, and Rocky Hard, then we win, regardless of what the scoreboard says,” said Pell. “We need to do everything better. It is a very simple sport: tackle, catch, pass, run, and communicate.  Those are the tangibles that we need to continue improving each week.  Additionally, the bringing the intensity while managing it with a cool head is the intangible tail that we will constantly chase.”

ECSU plays Babson at 6pm ET at MacDowell Field at Babson College, Wellesley, Mass. on Saturday.