SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Think Buster Douglas stepping into the ring to take on Mike Tyson. Or consider the United States Olympic Hockey team skating onto the ice at Lake Placid to face the Soviet Union’s Olympic squad. In the history of athletics, the battle of the underdog against the behemoth has captivated the minds of fans from all across the world for centuries. On April 23, 2016, this list of showdowns grows at The Fiesta Bowl Rugby & Balloon Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale. Tickets are now on sale at TheRugbyBowl.com. 

At 5:10 PM on that day, the fields of Scottsdale Stadium will be transformed from the Cactus League, home of the San Francisco Giants, to host a match between the nationally-ranked Arizona State Sun Devil Men’s Rugby team against the experienced and grizzled Mexican National Rugby team. ASU is young and features players with a great deal of potential, but limited rugby match experience. On the other hand, the Mexican National Rugby team was on the cusp of qualifying for the prestigious Rugby World Cup, but just fell short. "We are very happy of having this invitation from Arizona State University to play a friendly match. We expect a very tough game that will help us improve our performance and keep creating the style of game we want,” said Mexican National Team head coach Ruben Duque. “Without a doubt it will be a great opportunity for the Mexican National Rugby Team to prepare the RAN 2016 which is our start of the Japan 2016 RWC qualifiers."

Rugby matches between a collegiate program and a national team program can be found in the United Kingdom. There, the Oxford and Cambridge University squads sometimes compete against opposing national teams. In the United States, however, these types of matches rarely take place. 

“This is a true battle of David and Goliath,” said ASU Men’s Rugby Head Coach Gary Lane. “A match between a national rugby team and a collegiate rugby program is unheard of in the United States.”

The sheer difference between the two teams is best exemplified by the size mismatch between an average ASU player and a Mexican National team member. An average Mexican national team player is more than 30 pounds heavier than his ASU counterpart.

ASU is led by players such as Alex Sandstrom, a Rugby All-American from Wisconsin, and Bailey Stringer, a 19-year old from Las Vegas who started college at the age of 17. In addition to these young players, ASU Rugby is receiving a great deal of recognition and respect from all across the country. The team entered the season ranked in the Top 15 of collegiate rugby programs. 

Even though the team is gelling, and these players have a great deal of potential because they hail from strong athletic backgrounds, no amount of training will prepare them for the competition that awaits at the Fiesta Bowl Rugby & Balloon Classic. 

“Our team has had a very productive winter of training as we’ve incorporated weightlifting and training techniques from the Australian Brumbies Rugby squad,” said Lane. “Additionally, we’ve played well in our matches so far this spring and as a result, we’re ranked fairly high. With this momentum, the guys are enthusiastic and brimming with  anticipation for the unusual challenge that awaits ASU Rugby.” It will be the first visit to Arizona for “Los Serpientes”, as the Mexican National Team is known. 

After the ASU-Mexico match, the Fiesta Bowl Rugby & Balloon Classic will host a Hot Air Balloon Glow, perfect for fans looking to unwind after a competitive rugby match. Two world-famous Lucasfilm approved hot air balloons, Yoda and Darth Vader, will be making their first ever appearance in Arizona at the post-match balloon glow.