BYU rugby will play the Navy Midshipmen for the 2014 Varsity Cups semifinals this Saturday, April 26, at 1 p.m. at BYU's South Field.
BYU (16-1) opened up the 2014 Varsity Cup playoffs with a convincing win over Dartmouth with a score of 70-15 on April 19 at Annapolis, Md. If BYU chalks up a victory over the Midshipmen in the semifinals, the Cougars will have the chance to play in their ninth straight title game and to have the opportunity to win their third straight National Championship.
BYU center Jared Whippy looks for an open gap against the St. Mary Gaels on March 8. BYU won 35-21.
'They look more athletic than Dartmouth,' said sophomore scrum half Luke Mocke of Navy. 'We really have our eyes on the final. We're looking to build off of our second-half against Dartmouth.'
Navy is coming off a 64-10 win over the Texas Longhorns in the Varsity Cup quarterfinals.
BYU rugby is known for its high-scoring, fast-paced offense, gritty defense and southern-hemisphere style of play under the direction of head coach David Smyth. BYU features players from around the world, representing more than five countries on its roster.
BYU captain Kyle Sumsion leads the team on both ends of the ball with solid tackling and effective passing.
Center Paul Lasike is back from playing spring football, providing another scoring option for the Cougars.
'They're both just powerhouses in what they do,' Mocke said of Sumsion and Lasike. 'They're so good at what they do, helping out with the forwards and opening up better hits.'
The Varsity Cup National Championship is scheduled for May 3 at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, and will be broadcast live on NBC Sports at 2 p.m. (MT) For event information, including ticket information, please visit www.VarsityCup.us.