After a 23-year-long hiatus, the Sacramento State men’s rugby team has once again claimed the Division 1-AA No. 1 national ranking.

Head Coach Steve Seifert gave all the credits to his players.

“I walked into this program and had a group of athletes that were already here,” Seifert said. “They had established proper behavior patterns, training patterns.”

For the coaches, this achievement was a testament to their leadership and guidance. They have instilled in the players a sense of discipline, focus, and determination that has propelled them to the top of their sport. 

“We sat down together and set those expectations as a group and then looked at what they wanted to accomplish, and laid out what it’s going to take to reach those goals,” Seifert said. “So it’s constantly striving to be better and better both on the field and off the field.” 

Rugby Is A Game Of Attrition 

Despite facing numerous challenges, the Hornets persevered, practicing and playing tirelessly to improve their skills and build a cohesive team dynamic. Taking one game at a time, the team’s performance improved, and they began to make a name for themselves in the rugby world.

“The biggest thing is we’ve got good numbers this year,” Seifert said. “This year we did a great job recruiting and got a bunch more boys into the program. We’ve got 42 on the roster, and we’re averaging 32 at training every single time.” 

Keeping a strong core of athletes training against each other has been a big deal for the Hornets. Because players are often injured, the coach trains all his players and pushes the next man up, which makes all the players at the top train even harder to keep their spot. 

It’s a Special Year

Assistant coach Daniel Hodge said the success the Hornets have experienced has been a product of the efforts the players have given to succeed.

“For me, I think this season is really just a testament to the work and the culture that’s been built in this program for the last three seasons,” Hodge said. “It’s just clear, I think I’ve been around a lot of different championship programs. This is one of them.”

Anyone watching the rugby team can see the results of the work each player has put in individually and the work that the coaching staff has put in to get everybody to this point. 

The Hornets won the D1-AA California Conference championship with a 42-27 victory against Fresno State on April 8, and that allowed Sac State to hold onto the national No.1 ranking as compiled by the Goff Rugby Report. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 3 in the nation. 

This is the first time in more than two decades that a Sac State sports team has been ranked No. 1 nationally. Brenden Purcell was on the coaching staff when the Hornet rugby team won the national championship in 2000.

“They were national champions in 2000,” Purcell said. “I was a part of that. However, over the past couple of years, a new coaching staff has come in and kind of set the foundation for building the culture, and our players upped the amount they trained, on and off the field. 

What’s Next For The Hornets

The road to the top was far from easy. The team faced countless obstacles, from injuries to financial struggles. But through it all, they remained committed to their goal of becoming the best rugby team in the country. 

As the Hornets look ahead to the Div. 1-AA national championship in Houston, Texas, on May 7, they remain committed to building on their success. 

Coach Seifert said he believes the Hornets deserve the national ring.

“We’ve certainly put the work in,” he said. “Championships are a process, it’s not something that is given to you. These boys have put a tremendous amount of work in not just not just this year, but the last four years. Their personal sacrifice will pay off very soon.”