Top-ranked single-school team Gonzaga opens up its season this weekend against well-regarded Virginia program West End.

This game will be a challenge for West End, but is also the beginning of a very challenging season for Gonzaga. The DC-area defending NIT champions will take on defending HS Club NIT champs Royal Irish a week later, and after that it’s a long road of mostly ranked teams. Gonzaga will host Pennsylvania contenders Cumberland Valley and Doylestown the weekend of March 5 and 6, before starting the league season against Good Counsel at March 10.

That game preceded an 11-day trip to Spain which will include three games. And then it’s back home for Georgia’s Phoenix club, St. John’s, and then, on April 10, longtime rival Xavier HS out of New York City.

Gonzaga hosts the Jesuit Rugby Classic April 16-17, which always draws an impressive crowd, and then it’s two more league games with Georgetown Prep and DeMatha.

Gonzaga will take a trip to Cleveland to play the top two teams from Ohio, St. Edward and St. Ignatius. Then it’s back to face Salesianum and into the MAVRC semis and final.

But it all starts this weekend against West End, the defending Virginia state champions.