Photo: St. Bonaventure Men’s Rugby Instagram
BY: KYLE MAIER, SPORTS EDITOR
As the clock struck zero on the 2023 National Collegiate Rugby Division I National Championship last December, the St. Bonaventure men’s rugby team ended on the wrong side of the scoreboard, losing 35-10 to Notre Dame College.
Nine months later, as the Bonnies open their 2024 season at home against Navy Saturday, the team aims to use the title loss as fuel for the season ahead.
“[The loss] was definitely a tough pill to swallow, but I feel like it has now lit a fire in everyone’s belly that’s going to be very hard to put out,” said junior Flanker Rohan Welsh. “The team is very motivated for the upcoming season and hope that we can bring the championship back to Bonaventure this year.”
Daniel Neighbour returns for his second season as Bonaventure’s head coach after a 6-4 regular season record and two postseason wins in 2023.
Neighbour described how the roster trained throughout the offseason to remain a championship-caliber unit.
“Preseason started for [the players] in the summer; our strength and conditioning coach prescribes individual workouts according to their goals,” said Neighbour. “We then brought them back two weeks early for preseason camp. It’s very intense, with two practices a day, classroom chalk talks and personal development classes to help them grow on and off the field.”
Junior Hooker Reynard Boshoff emphasized the benefit of vigorous preseason preparation.
“We had a very good preseason where the boys were forced to push themselves to new limits,” said Boshoff. “Our coaching staff was well prepared, and we just had to fall in and commit to the vision we have for this season.”
Boshoff illustrated the impact he looks to have on his team as a 2024 captain.
“All I want to do is give it my all both on and off the field,” said Boshoff. “As captain, I believe it is crucial to lead by example. Whether we are lifting weights, working out, playing a game or in the classroom, we should always give it our all.”
Welsch said he looks to serve as a leader for his teammates as well.
“I think it’s very important to set the expectation level high for yourself so that others can follow and we can grow stronger as a team,” said Welsch. “I know that when I was an incoming player, I was watching the upperclassmen and following their lead, so that’s the picture I want to paint for the rest of the boys in the squad.”
Bonaventure has many incoming players, with its 2024 roster featuring a colossal 21 freshmen.
Freshman Prop Gavin Wooten explained how he looks to contribute going into his first season with the program.
“I am going into this program to make a statement not for myself but my team,” said Wooten. “I want to prove that we deserve to be the best team in the nation and show how dedicated we are in pursuit of a national championship run.”
A national championship pursuit begins with a matchup against an established opponent in the Navy Midshipmen.
Neighbour detailed the Brown and White’s preparation for the contest.
“We played the Buffalo men’s club in a scrimmage in Buffalo and learned a lot about our roster,” said Neighbour. “Since then, we’ve had some great contact sessions within the squad and have been layering on more technical points each week. We are hoping to draw big crowds to our game and are excited that it’s all happening on our Alumni Weekend.”
Kickoff begins at 12 p.m. at the Tom 80’ and Michelle Mara Athletics Field Complex. The match can be streamed on ESPN+.
maierkj22@bonaventure.edu
