Know Thy Enemy ... Know Thyself

For those of us who are serious BYU Rugby fans, even BYU Rugby Superfans, there's really only one opponent out there who means anything to us. No, sorry folks, I'm not talking about that pack of Redskins up north ... Competitive though they are in rugby, the Utes haven't really shown that they are fit for a National Title bid in recent years and hence don't quite register as Public Enemy Number One as far as BYU is concerned.

No, my friends, I'm referring to that great Gold and Blue Beast that somehow snatches away the coveted National Championship trophy, year in and year out. What's their secret? Why are they so good? How do they do it? Who are they? Where can I get some of their magic potion??? The questions are endless, yet anyone even semi-familiar with the Golden Bears of Cal-Berkeley knows the general answer ... It's a conspiracy!!!

Take a look at a recent article on their team website, and you'll see what I mean:  

Bears Welcome 17 Freshmen: New Players for 130th Year of Team

You don't have to read between the lines to see the writing on the wall here ... heck, even the title says it all! 17 Freshmen recruits? Most teams are lucky to get 3 with any experience ... 130 years since the team's founding??  I don't even know many teams that have existed for more than 30 or 40 years ... Seriously??? There's got to be something fishy going on here ... Or is it all just Cal Rugby as usual? Hmmm ...

If I were to paint a picture of the typical American college rugby team's organization, it would probably look like a drab and murky blob of indistinguishable color, shape, perspective, and even purpose. Harsh as that may sound, it's the truth. On the other hand, here's what the Cal picture looks like:

Read through the above-linked article ... See how many of the player profiles say "son of Cal alum" or something similar. You can just feel how there is obviously more going on behind the scenes with alumni relationships, recruiting, and most importantly, the establishment of a standard. Cal Rugby means doing and being the best in everything. There is no conspiracy, no fuzzy math, no question about it. The expectations are high ... always ... period.

So ... what about the BYU Cougars? Who are we? Where are our alumni? What are we doing? How are we so successful* in rugby? (*excluding National Championship Finals) What is our standard? How high are our expectations? How clear and crisp is our program's picture?

Again, there are many questions ... but I would submit, my fellow BYU Rugby friends, that we all know the answers ... collectively, at least ... but what are we doing about it?

Are we merely a team of Mormons from Utah or are we a mix of players and fans all over the Nation and the World? Are the BYU Cougars merely the American-college-knockoff version of the New Zealand All Blacks or are they something unique unto themselves? Do we have an alumni organization, and if so, where is it? What does it do? Do we want to see BYU win a National Title without paying for a ticket or are we encouraging our kids to go to the next BYU Rugby Summer Camp? Do we really want BYU Rugby to achieve victory or to just participate for the "experience"? How high do we want to climb? How long do we want to be there when we make it? Why? Why does it matter?

Brothers and sisters, ladies and gentleman, BYU Rugby Fans, we are a Family; we are proud of each other; we personally and collectively care about one another's successes and failures.

On a personal note, two years stand out in my mind ... two final games that hold significant meaning for me: 2006 and 2009. I wish the former occasion would have been the setting for as much pride and joy as was experienced on the latter occasion, but it was not.

In 2006, BYU had one of the best, most-talented teams ever seen before in college rugby. Even critics and coaches alike affirmed the fact. For the first time in the BYU Rugby program's history, the team made it to the National Title match against none other than UC Berkeley.

I badly wanted to attend the match but did not think I was able to afford the trip. My older brother, Craig, was starting at lock for the team, and I wanted nothing more than to see him succeed and be rewarded for his hard work over the years. He was the pioneer of rugby in our family. The two of us helped start the first rugby club in our town; we knew what it was like to lose in a championship final, and we didn't want to experience that bad taste in our mouths ever again.

The match was incredibly close. BYU made a strong second-half comeback to put the score within 3 points of victory. BYU's final drive came so close to success. There was no shortage of close calls, no lack of guts or unfailing hope for the win. Yet, win they did not ...

That was a tough day for me, because I knew how tough it was for my brother. We never had much outside of each other, and so each other's success meant that much more to us. To get so close to victory and then be deprived of it almost seemed unfair; it was such a sickening feeling.

Turn the page to 2009 ...

The BYU Rugby team was having a great season, looking more strong and dynamic than they had in previous years. Though it was the first time in a long while that I did not have a brother on the team, nevertheless I had made a commitment to myself to support the team more so than I had done in the past. I made it personal.

Again, BYU succeeded in making it to the Final Match against Cal. Again, the match was incredibly close with seemingly numerous setbacks. Yet, Our Boys displayed an incredible resilience, staying in the game to the very end, putting up an unbelievable wall of defense, and maintaining an ever-attacking offense. The result was again a 3-point margin ... however, this time in BYU's favor.

Unforgettable ... in every sense of the word. I was happy; I was emotional; I was overcome by the miracle. I was proud of the team, the coaches, the fans. I was proud of myself, my contributions and efforts, my sacrifices and hopes. I was so glad to have brought my friends to the game, to have them witness what to me was an incredible victory, years in the making. My family couldn't believe it; my brother and other former players who weren't even there struggled to sleep at all that night. The feeling was so validating.

I've wondered at times if my volunteered involvement with and support of the BYU Rugby team is right ... if I should instead be spending my time and means on other pursuits ... But I'm always reminded of those days in 2006 and 2009 when the BYU Men's Rugby team experienced a great loss and a great win. The emotions there were real. And that's when I see how BYU Rugby isn't just some commercial sport that wants my money without seeing my face or knowing my name. Rather, it's directly tied to my family, my friends, my university, my sport ... and even indirectly, to my religion. It's part of my identity, perhaps the most unique part of who I am.

My friends and fellow fans of the BYU Rugby Family, let us join together to make something more than ourselves. We've already got a great thing going here ... the BYU Rugby team and community are the Best of the Best! Let's make sure that we know it, that our friends and family know it, and that even our opposition knows it.

Then, and only then, will we have a clear picture of who we are, what we want to achieve, and how we can achieve it. And if, after everything else, you're still asking yourself, "Why?", then all I can say is, "Come to a game, and you'll see!"

Merry Christmas and BYU Rugby Forever!!!
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If We Don’t Play on Sunday

By Jared McInelly (guest columnist), tight head prop, ’99.

“If we don’t play on Sunday, no one will.” – T-shirts worn by BYU Rugby team, 1999.

It was 1999 and the world was concerned with a global apocalypse caused by the Y2K problem. We, on the other hand, were concerned with one thing, beating Arizona.

It was the first time BYU rugby had gone to the Collegiate National Championship playoffs in almost 25 years. For a long time we’d petitioned the league to change tournament play so that no games were held on Sunday. For a long time they’d rejected our request. This year, however, something different was happening.

It began two years before when we started really winning games. 105-8, 65-0. BYU rugby was used to winning but these scores were big, and the team showed a level of consistency and advanced play that Coach Dave Smyth hadn’t seen before. We had chemistry and we loved to play the game. 1999 was the last year that a large group of us would be able to play rugby for BYU. So a couple of us approached Coach Smyth and asked him if we could take a run at the national championship. The thinking was that if we made a good run and got to a Sunday game, perhaps the league would change it to accommodate the cougars. We at least wanted to go for it instead of forfeiting our spot to the hated University of Utah (who, despite having a largely LDS team, didn’t mind playing games on Sunday). Coach Smyth was easily convinced. He had coached most of us for 4 years and saw the potential we had and wanted to test us against the best teams in the nation. We entered the tournament.

Since we had beaten everyone in our league, we were immediately seeded to play outside of Utah. We easily beat Central Washington, 58-6 and St. Mary’s, 42-10. I’ll never forget Dave Wheeler’s solo kickoff return for a try against St. Mary’s. Or Sean Brown’s devastating tackle against the huge, hard hitting Central team. Or Lincoln Nadauld and Eric Oh cutting and slicing through opponents like they were standing still. These wins put us into the sweet 16 tournament held at the Air Force Academy in Boulder, Colorado to play the University of Arizona, a team we’d barely beaten in Tucson earlier in the year.

We took the bus to Boulder.

When we arrived at the Air Force field we were greeted by 2 inches of new snow that was beginning to melt. By the time kickoff came around the field had turned into 6 inches of sloppy mud. It became one of the hardest games we’d ever played, everything in slow motion, with sticky sloppy mud grabbing at our cleats with every step. The scoring was minimal. By the end of regulation it was tied at 7. That put us into overtime. I remember thinking, “Man, I don’t know if I can play another minute.” But we pulled it together and kept battling despite our aching bodies and lactic acid filled legs. End of overtime, no one had scored. Second overtime ended, still no score. In the third overtime the ref told us that it was now sudden death. We’d go until someone scored. We’d now played over 100 minutes of serious rugby in the mud and we’d have to keep going.

It’s times like these where men are really tested. It’s why we play sports; to put us in situations where we are required to go beyond ourselves. Beyond what we think is possible. We had come a long ways, sweating and bleeding, running sprints around the old Smith Field House indoor track, pushing the rusty old scrum sled all over half of Provo until our legs and backs ached only to have Smyth yell, “Again.” We’d beaten Utah and everyone else who had come up against us. It seemed impossible but we dug deep and found the courage to keep fighting.

Two minutes into the third overtime Arizona put the ball into a scrum. Their wily scrum half pulled it out and rocketed the ball to the inside center. The pass followed a nice arc but he’d miscalculated the path of his intended target and the ball sailed behind the receiver, dropping to the ground with a thud. Jeff Bradshaw, our scrum half was on the ball instantly. But instead of taking the time to stoop and pick it up, he kicked the ball down field. It skidded across the mud stopping about 10 m short of our try line. The race was on. Jeff and two Arizona players converged on the ball. At the last second Jeff dove for the ball and the two Arizona players landed on top of him. The momentum of the three carried them, like kids on a slip-in-slide, through the mud and muck and into our try zone. The ref threw his hand in the air and blew the whistle. A try! The game was over; BYU beat Arizona in triple overtime, in the mud, to advance to the final 4.

The field and sidelines erupted. The screaming, hollering and spontaneous jumping and high-fiving were finished off by the whole team running down the field and sliding on our bellies through the mud. The league refused to change the game from a Sunday, so we were forced to forfeit. But we had gone as far as we could. We’d beaten everyone that came against us. And to us, it was a national championship.

It took several more years of protests and an eventual lawsuit to convince the Collegiate Rugby league to change the tournament to a Friday-Saturday schedule. They finally agreed to make the change if BYU made it to the playoffs. We’ve gone every year since then and, as many of you know, finally won our first true National Championship exactly 10 years from that magical season. In talking to those who watched and coached the team that won the national championship in 2009, it sounded like there were many similarities between the style of play, work ethic and team chemistry of that team and those of us who played in 1999. Having played for the 1999 team, it was good to see things come full circle. I felt like we finally earned what my teammates and I had fought for on that muddy field in Colorado so many years ago. I know that all of us that have ever played rugby for BYU felt pure joy in the victory.

I heard later that the University of Arizona was so upset by losing to us in the playoffs and our subsequent forfeiture that they refused to ever play BYU in rugby again.


Jared McInelly currently resides in Seattle, Washington with his wife Camille and 4 beautiful kids. While his rugby days are over, he still enjoys watching the highlight video from the glory days (currently on YouTube, including the last play of the Arizona game where Jeff scores the winning try in overtime). Jared is currently working on a book chronicling his journey from football dropout to starting tight head prop for the Cougar rugby team as they took their first run at the national tournament in 25 years. He also works for National Instruments as a Technical Sales Engineer.


Editor's note: If you played for the ’99 team, Jared would like to get in touch with you as part of his research for the book. Please contact him at jaredmcinelly@hotmail.com.

Click the following links to view highlights of the legendary '99 BYU Rugby team: BYU Rugby Highlights '99 Part 1
BYU Rugby Highlights '99 Part 2
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BYU Rugby: A Bright Future... of Blue and White

As I was leaving the Wilkinson Center today, I happened to glance up at the TV monitor to see some highlights of the BYU Rugby team playing in an ad for the 2009 highlight video... I couldn't help but think of the great things that happened over the course of last year's season... and of the great advances that have occurred for the benefit of the team within the last few months...

Just yesterday, for example, I had the opportunity to speak with newly announced Cougar Rugby Foundation President Aaron Webber (interview forthcoming), and I can assure all alumni and fans in the ranks that the future of BYU Rugby looks bright indeed. This man, a BYU Rugby alum himself, well recognizes the obstacles preventing the team from developing into a full-fledged, self-sustaining program. I am confident, that with Aaron Webber at the helm of the CRF, we can look forward to the BYU Rugby team making great strides to become the program we all envision.

In the same breath, I wish to applaud the BYU Rugby coaching staff for their various efforts to build the rugby team into an established program, especially in the last year. As if winning a National Championship wasn't progress enough, the BYU Rugby team now enjoys a new and improved website with several great features never available in the past... and only more to come in the future.

Add to all of these advances the amazing schedule prepared for the team this season: a game this weekend against an emerging collegiate rugby presence, the University of Delaware; a Homecoming match against our rival Utah for the Wasatch Cup to be broadcast nationwide on BYU-TV; and a later match against the same University of Utah to be held in the 20,000-seat capacity, Rio Tinto Stadium... not to mention the usual playoff and National Tournament games at season's end...

And so, my beloved BYU Rugby Fans near and far, I share with you a bright image of the future... a deep sea of blue and white, spanning the nation over: BYU Rugby fans coming out of the woodwork lining up to embrace the nation's greatest team. It can happen... It will happen... It is happening already, right before our very eyes...

We are truly blessed... all of us: BYU Rugby players, coaches, staff, alumni, fans, friends, and family alike. Though outsiders may scoff as they please, no one close to the team can deny that the camaraderie experienced, the personal developments realized, and the relationships forged all serve to make BYU Rugby more than just a team... more than just a sport... it's a family that forms part of who we are and what we do...

As a member of that wonderful family, I take pride and joy in doing what I can to make it better... and I invite each and every one of you to do the same. After all, you never know what amazing things might happen as a result of your efforts!

Now, as concerning me and mine, well, you already know that we're keeping it 'in the family' from here on out... BYU Rugby Forever, my friends... onward and upward we go!
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BYU Rugby Memories: Adam McMurtrey

My story may stand out as unique. You see, I had never played rugby before attending BYU. The only relationship I had with rugby was that my high school English teacher had a picture on his wall of a rugby guy getting 'lit up' by another player. I thought to myself back then, "Man, that is a tough sport!!" That is probably what attracted me to it!

My older brother, Richard, joined the team my freshman year of college. I decided to join too. My athletic abilities and experience in football were paying off during conditioning. I tried out for the BYU Lacrosse team and made it. At the same time, I was practicing with the rugby team too. I wanted to play with the tough rugby guys—the BEST rugby guys, so that one day I could become the best. The decision to play rugby instead of lacrosse was an easy one, and later I realized, the best one!

Practice then was on the freshman field by the track, on the football field, and in the IPF. We practiced in the snow many times! The BYU rugby club was smaller then, but very prestigious. I was more than excited to practice every other day, and train on my own on the in-between days. That is where I met my great friend, Jacob Sohn.

We trained so hard. He couldn't stand that I was skinnier but could lift more weight and run faster than he could. He was a hard-hitting stud, and I couldn't stand that he could hit people and tackle people better than I could. Honestly, I couldn't tackle very well.

Jacob and I started to push each other. We would run sprints together on the off-days. I would push him hard in the weight room and in running sprints, not allowing him to stop until I was tired. As a result, he became one of the starting players as a forward.

Jacob had his way of pushing me too. We got together in the IPF on off-days where he coached me one on one how to tackle better. Tackling and hitting hard was a huge struggle for me. I was scared to hit people hard. But, getting tougher through Jacob's personal coaching and yelling at me, "HIT ME! HIT me!!", incredibly improved my self confidence. I began to put some muscle and tackling ability behind my athletic strength! Soon, I was playing on the JV squad during games. To me, I had come far: from zero playing experience (ever!) and little rugby skills and knowledge of the game to 100 percent involvement, skill enhancement, and knowledge of the game. I credit my improvement to Jacob, the "Polys", and the excellent coaching staff.

BYU Rugby changed my life forever, and I am SO thankful for the opportunity to join the team! What a prestigious honor!!! I gained self confidence! Man, I was playing BYU Rugby!! Incredible!! And, thanks to Sohn, I was hitting harder, running smarter, and staying strong. Thank you, BYU Rugby, for the experience of a lifetime!!! I look forward to cheer for the team in 2010 and on!
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BYU Rugby Preseason Report: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Nearly two months ago, the BYU Men's Rugby team held it's annual, Fall semester tryouts. While I must admit I was somewhat anxious to see who would be returning, I was especially intrigued to see what new players would come out of the woodwork...

Amongst the 50+ players hitting the bags, I am pleased to say that a few familiar faces from last season are back in the mix, namely, Pila Vimahi, Haini Leaaetoa, Sean Howard, Mike Price, Mikey Su'a, Apenisa Malani, Joey Mount, and Andrew Harrison. Also, a number of notable players have returned to the Cougars after serving LDS missions: TJ Allred, David Root, and Ryan Roundy.

As far as the newbies go, well... we've got some potential, folks, very raw potential that is! Although a number of the fellas dawned Highland and United rugby garb, it was obvious that quite a few of the other hopefuls were recently-recycled from the beloved BYU Football team's cuts the day before. And although these boys looked pretty fit to be sure, their 'deer-in-the-headlights' performance in the recent scrimmage against UVU left some of us Super Fans wondering...

Now, before I spout off in a fit of circular logic, let me at least give this report some order... I'll break it down in three parts: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

The Good: BYU Rugby is BYU Rugby is BYU Rugby.

Okay, that may sound lame, but let's face it... BYU has had some truly scattered performances in past preseasons. But somehow, someway, our BYU coaches and players always find a way to corral any errant emotions, individualistic play, or disorganized execution to produce a winning team by the time the regular season gets into full swing.

At the recent tryouts, I must say that I was impressed by the intensity with which the coaches kept the boys moving. One specific drill had them switching positions on the ground at Coach Wayne's call before finally hopping up to hit and wrap the bag. That may not sound too difficult, but when you consider that there were at least 10 stations to cycle through continuously, then you can only imagine how tiring it was. Good to see the bar has been raised! (Note to football recruits: Welcome to rugby where the tackling never stops!)

One positive here for the team thus far: it looks like we've got some pretty physically solid fellas in the ranks, especially in the forwards. Now... if they can get BYU Rugby in their brains and down to their fingers and toes, then we'll have a good crop of talent for next season!

The Bad: BYU is going to further limit the amount of players on the BYU Men's Rugby roster to some 40 players or so.

You would think that the university would be more willing to expand the program after its first National Title rather than handicap it... Yeah, it's an interesting thought. But perhaps we fans just need to maintain the optimistic viewpoint held by the BYU Rugby coaches that a smaller roster actually improves the team's potential for development. We'll see...

Another area that looks to be somewhat shaky this preseason is the BYU backline (I know, say it ain't so!). Just when it looked like Our Boys had really put together a solid crew to take the load off the forwards, it's back to the drawing board. Yes, there are some solid returning starters in Dylan Lubbe and Tupu Folau, but the rest are basically still in the woodwork.

I hate to say it, but if the BYU backline can't return to that high level of fluidity we saw last season, then all of us BYU Rugby fans might be witnessing a whole load of rolling mauls and PCs from the forward pack as in previous years...

Prove me wrong fellas, please... for your own sakes!

The Ugly: The total slop of a scrimmage many of us witnessed take place between BYU and UVU a couple of weeks ago was sad to the point of receiving the label, "DEMOTIVATING."

Considering the lack of publicity for the match, a relatively large crowd still turned out on a rainy night only to witness garbage in motion (sssssuuuuupppppeeeerrrr ssssllllloooowwwww mmmmmooooottttiiiioooonnnn) ... sorry, but that's not rugby, my friends. True rugby carries with it a pleasant, aesthetic quality; rubbish does not.

I thought and still believe that a scrimmage is meant to be a point of observation and learning for coaches, players, and especially new recruits. Too bad staring at a pile of dung doesn't improve your rugby skills or understanding whatsoever...

And to think I was tempted to pitch the blame on the newly converted football players... But no, I'm not going to do that, folks, as fun as it would be (and as much as they appeared to have zero clue about what to do on the pitch). Instead, I'm going to throw the whole blanket over all of us who know better: coaches, players, alumni, and otherwise rugby-enlightened individuals. If we don't help out, then who will???

So here it is, my friends, after a brutal dose of soapbox speak... I invite you to share your thoughts, offer some coaching and expertise, give of yourselves, or do something, anything, to continue in the growth and improvement of what we all hope every year will be BYU's greatest sports team, the BYU Rugby team!

For starters, or "for newbies" I should say, I offer my house as a venue to learn more about rugby on the big screen.

All of you football players that don't know what people keep telling you to do: come on over, watch some rugby, and ask questions. Take a moment in your off-time to get rugby in your heads! All of you high school transplants, secondary, and starters: Come on over and teach each other the game; learn and see how BYU should get it done every time!

Suffice it to say that the window of potential for improvement is wide open, and thus BYU Rugby Forever invites you and I to do our part... After all, we want BYU Rugby to continue to be BYU Rugby for a long, long time!!!
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BYU Rugby Assistant Coach Kimball Kjar: Interview of the Week

In a departure from the usual, "Interview of the Week" introduction, I would like to preface this particular interview with a personal story. And while I'm sure Coach Kjar probably doesn't recall this experience, there's no way I would soon forget it...

As a freshman, I tried out and made the BYU Rugby team in the Fall of 2001. At that time, Coach Kjar was also on the team as a junior or senior starter. He had recently been selected to be a member of the US National Team, and so many of us new players didn't know what to expect.

It wasn't often that he practiced directly with all of us less-experienced players, and so I think many of us harbored a sort of uncertainty and intimidation with respect to his capabilities. There came a day, however, when we had to do tackling drills... against Eagle and All-American Scrumhalf Kimball Kjar...

Suffice it to say that we got a firsthand lesson in destruction... and I say we because it was actually three of us players that tried to take him down at the same time... Yeah... "tried"... we might as well have been trying to uproot a tree trunk! He carried the three of us probably a good ten meters or so before stopping (that is, I don't think he ever got taken down)...

Thank goodness we were all on the same team! That's all I have to say about that... ;)

And so, without further ado, BYU Rugby Forever humbly presents this week's guest, a former BYU Rugby star, All-American, US Eagle, and now BYU Rugby Assistant Coach, Kimball Kjar. (Paul Meyers Photo)


BYU Rugby Forever:
Throughout your rugby career, you essentially ran the gamut of opportunities available in the realm of American rugby. Now that you are off the pitch, acting as an assistant coach, how has your perspective of the game changed? What factors enabled the transition from player to coach?

Kimball Kjar:
The perspective is simply flipped. When you’re playing you need to know what your coaches are thinking and what their expectations are in order to perform to your best ability. As a coach you are asking yourself questions about what the players are thinking and what their expectations are. Anticipating those things as a player and a coach is one of the things that I believe make a player or coach successful.

BYU Rugby Forever:
What is your end-goal with respect to the future of the BYU Rugby program?

Kimball Kjar:
Primarily, I want to continue to help make BYU rugby what it was for me—a place where a person can grow mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The uniqueness of our goals and objectives on and off the field make our program a brotherhood compared to no other and those relationships will be carried for the rest of a player’s life.

After that, I think I’d be dishonest if I didn’t say I wanted to see us continue to win rugby games, win the Wasatch Cup and compete every year for a national championship.

BYU Rugby Forever:
What adjustments will the BYU Rugby team have to make this year with cutbacks being made to the former, near-50-man roster? Any potential depth issues? Other concerns?

Kimball Kjar:
There are benefits and drawbacks. You just have to focus on what things you have control over—good or bad. Fortunately, we have a great staff and support system behind the scenes of the program that make any cutbacks in roster size a good thing. We can focus on recruiting more poignantly, our trainings are more focused and the pace is at a higher level since the talent continues to increase every year amongst our entire team.

With all this we can as coaches focus on developing a team that is playing at a high level instead of having to spread ourselves over 80+ players like we used to in the past. But looking back on last year when we were first faced with the cut in roster size, the benefits have clearly outweighed the drawbacks.

BYU Rugby Forever:
Please describe your experience during the 2009 National Title match against Cal Berkeley. What did the win mean for you and for the program? Future implications?

Kimball Kjar:
Words can hardly describe how pleased I was with last year’s team. They faced adversity from every corner and proved to be one of the most mentally-tough teams I’ve seen at BYU in a long time. They proved their mettle throughout the season and in that title match to come back against the best program in the country.

Honestly, I think it got a big monkey off our back of being the consummate doormat rival of Cal for three years in a row, but I believe it will open up greater and more competitive rugby across the country. If the 2009 season was any implication of the rising standard of collegiate rugby, then the future is bright for not only BYU, but for other teams to compete against the best like Cal. Teams like Arkansas State, San Diego State, Dartmouth, LSU, PSU, Army and others are showing that rugby on the collegiate level has a bright spot in USA Rugby’s future.

BYU Rugby Forever:
As a coach, what points do you primarily focus on with players to ensure their skill development, personally and collectively?

Kimball Kjar:
I was an effort-based player. I wasn’t always the handiest or most expert player, but I made up for it with my preparation and maximum effort on the field. I expect the same from the players I coach. In other words, we train our backs like we expect them to play—fast, hard, dynamically and smart. It’s the individual player’s onus to take charge of training in that fashion and it’s the group’s responsibility to ensure that the individuals are adhering to the same high level objectives.

In that way, the group becomes a self-governing entity that only needs mild correcting and coaching along the way. I wish I could say I had anything strategically to do with our back’s play in that national championship comeback, but it was their internal will to win and rugby acumen that aided to the team’s success. Not my coaching. That game was a good example of our preparation model: the basic skills coupled with effort beget sound rugby principles, and those principles coupled with good decision-making from the individual player and team begets a successful outcome. I try to build our back line play around those ideals.

BYU Rugby Forever:
How can we BYU Rugby alumni and/or fans everywhere better support the program? Thoughts?

Kimball Kjar:
We are one of the luckiest programs in the country to have the following and support of the fan base that we do. I can’t say how many times I’ve been stopped by someone to say congratulations on our national championship. The community around BYU and here in the state has firmly latched on to our success and the administration has been great with helping us off the field.

Our Alumni have always been there for us and we couldn’t have done any of this without not only their financial support, but also their leading our program to where it is today through their own contributions on the field when they played without the chance to compete for a national championship. We hope that we can continue to live up to the ideal set by our Alumni, our administration and our many fans. Keep cheering the Cougars on!

BYU Rugby Forever:
Many thanks for the insights, Coach Kjar. Best of luck this season!

Kimball Kjar:
No worries. Thank you as well.
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BYU vs. Cal: "The Miracle" photos

My beloved BYU Rugby fans... if you have never taken a moment to check out the BYU Rugby photo archives this season, I encourage you to do so now. Paul Meyers has captured Our boys' finest moments as they snatched the National Title throne right out from under Cal, a moment that many of us will never forget! Please take a few minutes to enjoy the plethora of photos by clicking the following link:

National Championship, Final Match: BYU vs. Cal Berkeley


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BYU Rugby Forever: A personal note...

To all the faithful BYU Rugby fans, friends and family out there,

I want to offer a personal note of gratitude and appreciation for all your support as well as reiterate to you my solid commitment to assist in growing BYU Rugby into the top program in the nation.

Not quite a year ago, my younger brother Brett (the youngest of us 4 Clark brothers), left on an LDS mission to Kennewick, Washington... and interestingly enough, it was the first time since the Fall semester of 2000 that not one of us brothers was on the team...

At the time, I was dabbling in the new world of blogging and so decided to create a blog devoted to the BYU Rugby team. I figured that, although past injuries/surgeries had rendered me unable to confidently fill a spot on the team, I could still do my part from the stands... I could truly and undeniably be the #1 BYU Rugby fan out there, encouraging all around me to get excited about and involved in the greatest BYU sport ever!

Over the months since that moment, I have participated in myriad activities to spread the word, to unofficially represent BYU Rugby on the net. I have posted numerous comments on websites, forums, and articles. I have improved the popularity and interactivity of this blog thanks to the help of friends and family. I have pursued opportunities to build interaction with players and fans alike. In my madness, I even transformed the crazy idea of a high-quality highlight video into a reality. All this in the name of promoting BYU Rugby... forever!

Why did I do all this, folks? Why?

I don't know. All I can say is that a desire to support the team in my family's absence caused a strange (r)evolution to occur within me. Desires and wishful thinking converted into action and effort. The result of these, when strongly attached to emotion, was PASSION nigh unto obsession. I wanted people to know, to care, to appreciate, and to get involved. And the more I did, the more I cared... even to the point that I stopped attributing my efforts to my own name; instead, I became "BYU Rugby Forever."

Now I know that may sound completely nuts, but I just want to say that it was all worth it. It's almost uncanny, almost too good to be called a coincidence. Honestly folks, what were the odds that BYU would win a National Championship this year??? I know I wasn't 100% sure about it... but I was sure that I wanted to push as hard as I could to see that day come, the sooner the better. So say what you will about my craziness... I say it was all worth it. The feelings I felt; the moments I experienced; the friendships and relationships I made... all very worth it!

And perhaps even more remarkable in this whole mess is the fact that I chose to make a highlight video this year of all years... the year when none of my family members were on the team... the year that I could've justifiably gone my way and only showed up at the occasional game... the year that I really shouldn't have had a central reason to care!

But... for whatever reason, I did choose to care; and that has made all the difference for me... and for you. Yes, for you also, my friends, because now ALL can enjoy what was the most amazing season ever; ALL will be able to witness the miracle that is BYU Rugby's first-ever National Championship, compliments of BYU Rugby Forever's insane effort to capture it all on video.

Now, although this is the part where I should demand respect and thanks and praise and money, I instead want to offer my thanks. Thank you, first and foremost, to all the BYU Rugby coaches, players, and staff for validating all my efforts and attempts to show the world you are the best. Thank you, to all the fans that have gone to all the games this season, cheered on Our boys, and supported them always. Thank you, to all the fans, friends, and family that have supported me in my efforts to support the BYU Rugby program. And a final thank you, to God for the great privilege and overwhelming opportunity to be a small part of something amazing. Thank you all; I am so humbled by your graciousness.

I can only end here by saying that this is merely the beginning... but you know, we've really got something going here, something great! Call it luck, call it madness, call it whatever you want...

I just say we keep it up and call it, "BYU Rugby Forever"!

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BYU RUGBY: 2009 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

To everyone within the sound of my voice (which is actually nonexistent after yelling my head off this weekend!), it is with great pleasure that I announce that Our boys, Our team, Our BYU Men's Rugby team has defied all odds and won their first-ever, National Championship!!! Final score, BYU 25, Cal Berkeley 22!!! MIRACULOUS!!! (Photo by Laura Vincent)

Words cannot adequately express the emotion, the tension, and the anxiety felt during the game, nor the exhilaration, ecstasy, and sheer joy experienced by all BYU fans, present and abroad, when the referee blew the final whistle...

And to be perfectly honest, folks, the fact of the marvelous win still has not fully sunken into my spinning head! Yes, I was there... but I'm still in shock. Since last July, I have been writing on this blog with the faith that BYU would win a National Championship... but who knew for sure that it would come this year!!!

I know, I know... You're wondering how it is that the unofficial #1 BYU Rugby Fan had any doubts. Well, let me assure you that I share what I know. I say it how I see it... and if something doesn't look good, then who am I to falsely say otherwise? The fact is that Cal, the dynasty (or dinosaur, whichever you prefer), has ALWAYS been so dominant that no one, including myself, has ever been able to say with 100% confidence, "Today we will beat Cal!" So, no false hope here, just faith based on the facts as I see them...

Ironically though, I think many of us fans had more faith than in previous years... I mean, seeing BYU down at halftime isn't usually a time for high fives all around; rather, the fact that BYU had advanced in the face of similarly tough competition earlier in the tournament actually gave many of us BYU faithfuls a healthy dose of confidence... after all, it isn't every day you see Cal try-less at the end of the first half!!! To the unknowing spectator, a halftime deficit doesn't look too promising... but when that deficit is only 5 points against Cal (12-7 at the break)... well, let's just say that you have plenty of reasons to be fired up!!!

And also don't forget (the stats don't lie) that BYU has tended to be a "second-half team" this season, more often breaking their opponents' spirits in the final 20 to 30 minutes, notching points, and turning up the defense to seal the victory. Against more solid competition in this year's championship matches, BYU wasn't any different... it's just that they didn't score as many points, and they had to dig deeper than usual to bury the opposition!

Either way you cut it, my attempts to justify BYU's win are still only feeble at best... and though I could continue to rant and rave (as you know I will later!), I'll pause for now, let the emotions cool a bit, and give all of you BYU fans a chance to read up on the game, to hear all the other views and perspectives on Our boys' miraculous comeback win. The BYU Rugby team has done more than their part, and their work is done for now... but for some of us, it's only just begun! BYU Rugby Forever!!!

Read away, my fellow BYU Rugby fans:

"BYU DETHRONES CAL TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP"
"Bears Defeated by BYU in Final, 25-22"
"BYU Knocks off Cal, Wins First National Title"
"BYU scales the mountaintop"
"BYU BEATS CAL"
"AN AMAZING NIGHT FOR BYU, COLLEGE RUGBY"
"BYU rugby wins first national championship"
"National champions"
"Y. rugby club claims national title"
"Cal men fall to BYU in championship game"
"BYU stuns Cal to end five-year reign in rugby"
"Quest for Sixth Straight Title Falls at Foot of Davies, BYU"

(Photo courtesy of David Herschorn - The Daily Californian)

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