The American River College rugby team appeared on a bright green rugby field in San Jose, California on March 23 to deliver a 33-24 victory against the San Jose State Spartans to win the Division I AA Playoff title. This win stood as a rebuttal to the Spartans previous win against the Beavers earlier in March after being previously undefeated for the inaugural season of the ARC rugby program.

The opening drive by SJSU found the Spartans making the first points of the game, but the Beavers answered back, with Josefa Waqanikalou breaking past defenders and scoring ARC’s first goal of the game.

This score was followed in short order by a charge into the goal by Frank Leilua, knocking through several Spartan defenders attempting to bring down Leilua unsuccessfully.

The grinding match continued with an additional score by either side respectively, injuries on either side became frequent in the final half.

When the slug match was finished, the Beavers had clenched the DIAA title to the elation of the ARC rugby players, coaching staff and the fans that had made the pilgrimage to San Jose. 

Head coach Zach Swithenbank celebrates the legitimacy that this win has added to the program he coaches.

“We got to avenge that loss [to SJSU on March 9], take a state championship and prove that we belong in Division I sports,” Swithenbank says about the success of the program’s first season. “That’s a beautiful thing.”

The ARC rugby program gets a three week hiatus before going back on the turf for Western Regionals, beginning April 20 in San Jose and wrapping up May 5 in Houston.

“We’re going to try [to] qualify for Nationals and take the whole dang nation,” Swithenbank said.

The team’s hard work carries off the field, with Waqanikalou being rolled around in a canvas wheelbarrow by his teammate Michael Volavola, giving Waqanikalou’s knees a rest.

“We’ve gone through so much with the team and put in all of that work,” Waqanikalou said about the efforts of himself and his teammates. 

Waqanikalou went on to express that their work ethic was driven by the aspiration to be noticed by major four-year universities for a rugby scholarship.  

“We’re letting them know that there’s local people putting in work,” Waqanikalou said.

Volavola added a recommendation for prospective high school age athletes deciding their future.

“If you’re a senior in high school looking for a college, come to ARC,” Volavola said.

Anyone looking for further information about the ARC rugby program can visit the team’s club page online, or its Instagram account for updates.