Humboldt champions honored at state house
The National Champion Cal Poly Humboldt rugby team was honored in Sacramento on Monday. California Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire led the ceremony honoring the team on the senate floor. The Lumberjacks’ undefeated season ended with a 20-15 victory in the national title game over Wayne State College in December, solidifying their status as the champion of National Collegiate Rugby’s Small College Division.
“This amazing team is the pride of California. We couldn’t have been more excited to host the national champs in the Senate today and give them the recognition they deserve,” said Senator McGuire. “This pack of fierce underdogs battled every step of the way to an undefeated season and proved every pundit wrong. This is truly a historic achievement — we’re all Lumberjacks today!”
The Lumberjack rugby team was joined by university president Tom Jackson Jr. as the squad gleefully showed off their championship trophy. Additionally, the rugby team’s terrific season is recognized with a billboard along Highway 101.
Although rugby is not a sanctioned NCAA sport, its club divisions are filled with highly competitive programs. Many of the best teams hail from elite private colleges on the East Coast, such as Endicott College, who Humboldt beat in the semifinal round to advance to the title game.
The history of rugby is very strong at Humboldt, having been played for 49 years at the school. The team made an appearance in the Division II national title over 15 years ago, but had since dropped into the more fitting Small College Division. This year’s national title is the first in school history.