It will be a quiet fall for Life University on the game field, but not necessarily on the training field as Had Coach Tui Osborne welcomes his new freshman class.

Most of the fall games for the undergraduate college team will be for the JVs, giving Osborne some time to see what players he has, and where they fit in. Meanwhile, top players on the undergraduate team will be with the Life University Elite Training Group, that includes members of the Life University men’s club team, as well.

That ETG team will have its own schedule, facing the likes of Old Blue, NYAC, and Boston, and some players, perhaps exciting young back Zander Van Schalkwyk, will get some time with the big boys. (Life will not play in an ACRC Bowl Game this year, opting to keep just one varsity undergraduate game, October 16 against Clemson, on the fall schedule.)

“The schedule is by design,” said Osborne. “It allows us to concentrate on training, and get some of our players some higher-level games while we concentrate on development.”

Osborne told Goff Rugby Report that, despite the fact that Life has made three straight DIA finals, winning one and losing two very close contests against St. Mary’s, the coaching approach will change somewhat.

“We realized we need to be strong up front to compete with St. Mary’s,” said the coach. “We needed to be more clinical, as well. I think this year as a coach I am trying to be a bit more detailed. I think I went into the job assuming some kids know things. That’s not always the case. I want everyone to know his role and to do it well. And then with hard work we can achieve our goal of contestant improvement.”