By BRANDON ZINN
BYU rugby faced it toughest competition and suffered its first lost this season when it traveled to Canada and played two games over the weekend.
BYU’s first game was against University of Victoria on Friday.
The University of Victoria is known for being the best team in North America.
BYU lost the game 36-26 despite outscoring the Vikes 19-10 in the second half.
Cougar head coach David Smyth attributes the team’s late arrival to its slow start and 26-7 deficit at half time.
Due to visa problems with its international players, the team was delayed at the Canadian border and arrived just 15 minutes before the game was scheduled to start.
Smyth said the Vikes came at the Cougars like a bolt.
Smyth also said that BYU did not have the time it needed in order to warm-up properly.
The Cougars did better the second day and defeated the University of British Columbia, 20-10.
Smyth said playing in Canada gave the team, “a world of experience playing rugby at the top level.”
