PRIYA COOPER / SPORTS EDITOR

MAXIMILIANO ACOSTA / ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

USD rugby has a long  history of success in both  Southern  Calif.  and  at  the  national   level. The team practices twice a week in the evenings on Manchester Field, and as of this semester, has just made the jump from Division 1AA (D1AA) to Division 1A (D1A), jumping from the second highest level to the highest level of college rugby. 

This  new  transition from D1AA to  D1A has brought a lot of excitement and a new layer of competitiveness  to the team that has yet to be seen.  Moving up divisions means USD is now recognized as a top program, competing against  tough nationally ranked teams.  Toreros have been playing D1AA for the past four seasons and have proven worthy, surpassing  teams  with dominance. 

In fact, USD rugby is coming out of back-to-back championship wins in 2022 and 2023 in the 7-on-7 competition. They also had back-to-back championship runs in the 15-on-15 in 2023 and 2024. Ever since USD took the first championship, they have been competing at a higher level.

USD rugby doing a lineout in a game versus SDSU. Photo courtesy of @sampuentesphotography

USD alumnus Dustin Braun played  as a  lock,  one of the forward positions directly  playing  behind the front row. In a 2025 interview with The USD Vista, he said that the team is aware  of  their  esteemed reputation. 

“We know we have a target on our backs,” Braun said. “Other teams see us as the alpha and want to take us down. That excites us.”

D1A league, previously called the  College Premier Division, is the highest  level  of  men’s  college rugby within the United States. This year,the Toreros are scheduled to clash against teams such as Stanford, USC and UCSB. Most recently this past weekend they secured a win against UCSB. Having played in the rain on Manchester Field, the final score resulted with their competition team tying 27-27 in the first match and a 64-0 win with their development team.

USD senior and rugby player, Daniel Suhr explained the biggest adjustment that the team has to go through. 

  “It’s an exciting opportunity for a lot of the guys as they get to showcase their talents that they have been building during the past couple years on the second side and at training,” Suhr said.“While the lineup will look a lot different this year, that doesn’t change the expectations that we have as a team. Now, each week is a new top matchup that will take extreme focus and preparation so that we can succeed as a team. However, just because we are playing better teams it does not mean that we need to change what we do. We will prepare with the intensity that we always have and set ourselves up to be in the best position to win on Saturdays.” 

   USD  senior Nate Leff also added some insight on what it means to change league play for the team at this point in his career. 

“Playing at D1AA for the past years has been great, but being able to jump up to D1A and being in the top of the top with the best competition in the U.S., is huge and it’s a start to something new. So we’re excited to get that going and grow the club even more. It has grown a lot from when I first started as a freshman to now.”

  After having recently appeared off three straight D1AA national championships, and being victorious in two of them, USD rugby is looking to take that momentum into the D1A division. 

   “We are going to be taking it one team at a time, one match at a time, as we look to continue to build on our program’s historic success,” Suhr added.

With about half the lineup of seniors graduating last year, Suhr mentions that it is necessary to have new players step up and fill in key roles that were left from last years’ team. 

 Leff also commented   on   being  in a  leadership  position   on the team. 

“So this year we have a lot of new guys, a lot of underclassmen,” Leff said. “So being an upperclassman, specifically on leadership, is fun, because I kind of get to help lead the new guys, and they get someone to look up to. Leading with my fellow upperclassmen leaders is awesome because we all get to help grow the team and build the culture that we want based off the past few years.”

 Leff shared his favorite moments from the season so far and how the connections they are building will benefit the team next season. The fall season acts as a preseason, with national competitions happening in the spring.

  “So far I think the best part has been meeting all the new guys and recruits that have come in just forming that bond because it’s going to set us up for a good season in the spring,” Leff  said. “This semester is a lot about getting to know each other and kind of getting that connection off the field, because if we have the connection off the field then it makes the moments on field a lot easier and the game just flows so much better.”

  For the guys on the team, it’s not just about playing hard — it’s about getting people to actually notice. Leff explained how the team is supported by  the school but also  wishes for more  engagement  from the students. 

  “I know I could speak for the whole team, we wish we just got more people to understand what rugby is in the first place, and it starts with just getting people out and coming to watch,” Leff said. “Having  people out and watching the game is always a good time, because it also pushes the boys on the field to play better, and it creates a stronger environment. As far as understanding the level of competition, it’s like playing D1 football  like  the  top  of  the  top, best of the best in the country. And it’d be nice if they understood how hard we’ve worked to get to this level.”

  USD  sophomore  and rugby player Luke Roe described what it’s like to come off a national runner-up season and he attributes it to his hard working team and coaches who have always held everyone  with the highest standard. 

  “That has only intensified this season,” Roe said. “Our team aims to continue excelling on the field, in the weight room, and in the classroom.”

  Although  USD’s rugby team didn’t take the win last week they proved in the standings that they are up for this years’ challenge. This game is just a small glimpse of what is to come, but is yet still not predictive of how they will do this season. USD rugby plans to take Grand Canyon University to the pitch on Nov. 22 at Manchester Field. 

USD rugby kicked off their season on Nov. 15 against UCSB. Photo courtesy of @usd_rugby/Instagram