One of the great rivalries in college rugby gets reignited this weekend with Saint Mary's taking on Life University.

These two teams don't play each other a lot, but when they do it means a lot. Since 2013 Life and Saint Mary's have faced off five times in the D1A national final. Saint Mary's has a 3-2 advantage over Life on that score but overall the two teams are tied in terms of D1A titles—each has four. Life and Saint Mary's also met in Moraga, Calif. three years ago as a fall capper for the Running Eagles. The Gaels won that one 31-29.

This weekend at the CRAA Fall Classic, the Gaels and the Running Eagles will reacquaint themselves with each other in the Palmetto Bowl game in Spartanburg, SC. 

For Life this has been a solid fall, as they joined Navy and Army with 6-1 records in the Rugby East. The season included a 23-20 victory over the US Naval Academy and also a somewhat surprising 29-26 loss to Queens University Charlotte. With a powerful forward pack and an impressive kicking game, all capped by a high work rate, this is a Running Eagles team to be wary of. For Saint Mary's, it is still early days but they have taken the field a couple of times. For Head Coach Tim O'Brien the issue is not only rebuilding with talent after graduating several top talents from the 2023-24 D1A champs, it is about replacing the off-field leadership.

The Gaels have a new leadership group but will miss the likes of Erich Storti and Kaipono Kayoshi and more. This game, with the accompanying long travel, will be an important early test for them all.

Also on the Slate

Arizona plays Mount St. Mary's Sunday afternoon in the Battle of Cowpens Bowl. Despite the fact that the meat of their season is yet to come, Arizona has indeed played some games, most notably against Colorado State and University of San Diego, both decisive wins. This is a relatively experienced Arizona side led by fullback Matteo Berenger (20 points against USD) and center Mattox King (two tries vs USD), but they showed off some freshman and sophomore talent, too. Playing a team that finished an impressive 5-2 in the Rugby East is an excellent test for the Wildcats.

MSM, for their part, found their confidence boost not in a big win, but in a loss. On September 28 the Mount lost 21-19 to Life in a game they all felt they should have won. That feeling of frustration was channeled into a determination to do better and after that Mount St. Mary's finished their Rugby East season with four straight victories. The team have built nicely since then but also have embraced the work rate needed to perform at the higher levels.

St. Thomas University is a team looking to move into D1A. After an impressive showing last year, their first year as a school-supported program, they now take on an Ohio State team that won the Big 10. Ohio State has had their shaky moments—failure to close out the odd game was an early-fall issue. But with an influx of young talent on the field and in the coaching staff, OSU is dynamic, physical, and can beat you in a number of ways. St. Thomas is one of those teams that can score on you from anywhere, which is how they won last year's Bowl Game against Air Force.

The D1AA All-Star Bowl features conference all-star teams from the Heart of America Conference and the Florida D1AA Conference. More here: HOA All-Stars to Play Florida All-Stars at CRAA Fall Classic

Southern Virginia plays Air Force in a game that promises, most likely, plenty of points. Both teams like to run it, and while SVU was winless in the Rugby East, they can't be dismissed because of that.

Penn State fields two teams in the Fall Classic. Their men's team takes on Arkansas State. These two teams showed up ready to go a year ago, and both won their bowl games in impressive fashion. This year we see an Arkansas State team perhaps still trying to find its feet, and having gone 2-1-1 in the Midwest Conference. Meanwhile, Penn State has a new coach and over the course of the fall have been starting to log some good results. Yes they finished 2-5 in the Rugby East, but they did beat Queens 50-39 in a bit of an upset, and in a non-conference game defeated Davenport 19-12 in November. 

Both teams have much to say in this Spartan Regiment Bowl.

And in the other showing for Penn State, their women's team takes on Air Force in the first CRAA Fall Classic women's bowl game. More on that match here: Air Force, Penn State Women Bowl Game Highlight Fall Classic