Saint Mary’s has one of the weirdest schedules in DIA, but that’s OK.

The Gaels will bounce out of Christmas with a game this weekend, which is one thing, but the other thing is, it’s not as if they’re easing into it. Instead they’re playing PRP men’s club champion Life West.

Head Coach Tim O’Brien doesn’t care. His team has already logged a conference game, and is always looking to make it tougher on his roster. That’s why the team is going to Japan, and that’s why the Gaels play BYU twice every year and will play Army and Navy this year. 

Goff Rugby Report checked in with O’Brien after the Gales beat Santa Clara 93-0 in the fall. Here’s what he had to say.

Fun Fact

In July, the Collegiate All Americans scored four tries in beating Canadian Universities 23-22. Saint Mary’s players scored all four of those tries, and three of those players—Tavite Lopeti, Peyton Telea Ilalio, and Ronan Murphy—are back. (Sean Yacoubian was the fourth.)

He Didn’t Watch The Game

Trying to work a full-time job and find good games in the fall finally made something give, and O’Brien didn’t attend that Santa Clara game, missing the Gaels in action for the first time in a long time.

Thanks To Santa Clara

Because Saint Mary’s is the prohibitive favorite to win the California Conference, Santa Clara Head Coach Paul Keeler didn’t sweat too much the fact that he’d be missing some experienced players. O’Brien tipped his cap to Keeler, saying he appreciated the Broncos playing the Gaels early to help with the Saint Mary’s schedule.

Saint Mary’s Looked Very Good

Despite running out a very young team, the Gaels won 93-0, with freshman Mile McCormick, probably the best high school player in the game last season, scoring five tries. McCormick’s arrival at Moraga was low-key to say the least—encouraged to apply thanks to a current Saint Mary’s player, he hasn’t been seen in action by his coach yet. 

There are plenty of young players to watch out for in this team, including Kaipono Kayoshi, who was a lock/flanker at Granite Bay and basically could play almost anywhere; Lleyton Delzell, a versatile lock/flanker with lots of potential, and flyhalf Joe Yacoubian, who will be back soon after tearing his ACL last season.

Karl Keane out of Eastside HS in Washington is another with tons of upside, and Inoke Waqavesi, at Moraga after time with the USA 7s program, is dangerous from anywhere on the field.

No Baggage

Last season ended with the Gaels leading Cal and time probably up on the clock in the D1A semifinal. But instead of running out the clock and kicking to touch, they tried to mount one more attack, kicked deep, and ended up giving up the game-winning try.

Does that sting? O’Brien said it did for a short while, but they’re over it.

“That’s sport, and sport can be cruel,” he said. “It’s one of those life lessons. We had a player who had only been playing rugby for a few months. It happens. That said, we were really banged up, and Aaron [Matthews] was at about 40%. I don’t think we would have done as well as Cal in the final.”

Matthews will captain Saint Mary’s this season, with Ronan Murphy as the vice captain. 

Returning are props Payton Telea Ilalio and Joe Marchant, Murphy and Chase Jones in the second row, Lopeti joining Matthews in a superb midfield, and Tom Brusati stepping in at scrumhalf. This is a team to be worried about.