On Saturday, November 23, 2024, the UCSD Tritons hosted the annual Rugby City Championship, San Diego’s premier rugby tournament. It was an action-packed day that showcased thrilling competition and the determination of the Tritons on their home turf.

Opening Match: UCSD vs. SDSU

The tournament started at 10 a.m. with UCSD taking on San Diego State University. With a strong starting 15, the Tritons dominated possessions early. Powerhouse forwards like Daniel Carrillo and Gauthier Bodet led the charge with hard-hitting carries, while the backline’s agility and precision set the stage for an explosive start. A brilliant sequence of play saw Henry Bakeman break through three SDSU defenders to score under the posts.

UCSD’s relentless pressure continued, creating opportunities for players like Luca Boccalato, who capitalized on an opening to score a try in the corner. Despite the Tritons’ commanding performance, SDSU managed a daring counterattack, breaking through the Triton defense to score a try of their own just before halftime.

The second half opened with UCSD under pressure, leading by only seven points. The front-row dominance of Gerard Luzon and Daniel Carrillo proved pivotal, as the Tritons consistently overpowered SDSU scrums to regain possession. However, minor errors allowed SDSU to score another try, narrowing the lead to only two points. Responding to the challenge, the Tritons turned up the intensity, maintaining territorial advantage. Sam Fisher’s decisive try off a penalty sealed a hard-fought 19–10 victory, with Sebastian Chilcott successfully converting two out of three tries.

The Championship Final: UCSD vs. USD

Fired up for the finals, the Tritons faced defending champions USD. A well-placed kickoff from Sebastian Chilcott allowed UCSD’s loose forwards to gain early possession deep in USD territory. Strong drives by the forwards brought the Tritons tantalizingly close to the try line, but USD’s disciplined defense held firm, forcing errors and turning them into scoring opportunities.

The defending champions displayed their experience, capitalizing on UCSD’s mistakes to score multiple tries. Despite the uphill battle, UCSD delivered standout individual performances. Chilcott’s dazzling footwork breached USD’s seemingly impenetrable defense, while Henry Bakeman’s relentless power consistently demanded multiple defenders. Gauthier Bodet showed remarkable resilience, delivering ferocious tackles and strong runs despite recovering from a recent injury. In the backfield, Ruben Rodrigues demonstrated excellent positional awareness, exploiting USD’s errant kicks. Ultimately, the Tritons fell to USD with a final score of 45–0. Despite the loss, the captains and coaching staff commended the team for their effort against the reigning National Champions.

The Final Matches: Development and Determination

To close the day, UCSD faced the second teams of USD and SDSU. These games provided valuable opportunities for new Tritons to gain experience. Many players, despite participating in their third match of the day, displayed unwavering commitment and leadership.

Among the rookies, Jaan Andersons stood out with his physicality in the centers, while Malcom consistently broke through defensive lines with explosive runs. Though the Tritons didn’t secure victories, the matches proved to be a significant developmental milestone for the team’s younger players, whose growth was evident with each passing minute.

Looking Ahead

The Tritons are proud of their performance and grateful for the incredible support, particularly from the UCSD Women’s Rugby team, who cheered them on through all four matches. With the lessons learned from this tournament, the Tritons are gearing up for the 2025 season, aiming to claim the League Championship and establish their dominance in Southern California rugby.

Go Tritons!