By Zach Waltz
Sports Assignment Editor
The men’s rugby team has made the transition from Division I-AA to Division I-A after moving to the Rugby East Conference from the Empire Rugby League.
Headlined by teams like Penn State, Wheeling Jesuit, Kutztown and Army, the Rugby East Conference is among the best conferences in the nation for DI-A rugby. Iona will also being making the transition from the ERL to the Rugby East.
Coach Clarence Picard said the change is a big move for the rugby program after just recently moving up from Division II.
“It’s a very significant change for us,” Picard said. “We’re going to be playing some of the top teams in the northeastern part of the United States. I think it’s going to be a great change for us.”
Picard said the teams in the Rugby East all play competitive rugby, which will be a big step up from their schedule in the ERL this past season.
“I’m obviously not going to predict wins and losses, but it’s just going to be a huge challenge to face the best teams and week-to-week test ourselves,” Picard said. “As a club, we’re going to be at the top of our game. We’re going to have to be efficient and get everyone working hard and playing well.”
One of the main things affected by moving conferences is recruiting. According to Picard, the move will highly improve Bonaventure’s ability to recruit better players.
“As far as recruiting goes, we think (changing conferences) is going to be a very positive thing for us,” Picard said. “The recruits we already have committed are very excited.”
Specifically, Picard said the transition will put St. Bonaventure in a position not only to recruit the best players from the area, but also the players who were considering other big rugby schools.
“I think it will really help recruiting locally, but beyond that, I think it brings us into the conversation with kids that were looking at the Penn States of the world or some of the stronger programs around the country,” Picard said. “They definitely are going to be considering St. Bonaventure. Any time we can spread the name of Bonaventure to new areas, it’s a really positive thing.”
Picard said he is looking to make a splash in the Western New York area and show that Bonaventure can be one of the top rugby schools in the nation.
“Honestly, it creates a little bit of a buzz,” Picard said. “I think the people around Western New York are excited about it. I think it shows that we’re going in a different, positive direction than we have in the past. It reaffirms that what we’re doing is good.”
Picard said he is hopeful that Bonaventure will soon be a highly relevant school in the rugby world.
“As more and more kids look to compete at a high level in rugby at college, hopefully, they’ll keep the Bonaventure name in their consciousness and keep it at the forefront of potential schools to go to,” Picard said.
While improving recruiting, Picard said the main goal in switching to the Rugby East was to play better competition for the money that players, parents, coaches, alumni and the university all invest in the program.
“I’m pretty excited about it, and the players are excited,” Picard said. “We get to play these great teams, but it’s not going to be any worse with the travel and expense. That’s one of our major expenses- when you bring 35-40 kids on a bus to stay in a hotel. You’re spending thousands of dollars. One of the biggest factors in making the decision was we wanted to get the best value because everyone’s giving a lot of money.”
According to Picard, travel expenses will stay about the same, but the competition level is going to increase tremendously, which was what made it an easy decision to move.
“You’d think by stepping up in conferences, you’re going to have to spend more money to travel more, and we’re going to be all over the place,” Picard said. “We have all these great games, and really the only change is we’re moving south rather than northeast.
“We’re almost having our cake and eating it too in the sense that we’re getting what we wanted as far as improved, steady competition, but at the same time, we’re not making huge financial sacrifices to do it.”
Picard said that the better competition may have an effect on the Bonnies’ record in coming years, but it’s worth the hit to continue to improve the program.
“We just didn’t feel like traveling six hours to win a game by several scores was the best value for our investment,” Picard said. “We’re willing to play in these tough games, and we know that we’re not going to steam-roll anyone. We’re not thinking undefeated next year, but we’re okay with that.”
