After going a whole pre-season without a game and having to step out of the UCSD Scrum By the Sea tournament due to COVID protocol, the UC San Diego Women’s Rugby Club had its first game on January 29, 2022 against the UC Los Angeles Women’s Rugby Club. Nerves and excitement were high for the Tritons’ first home game. With 21 rookies and 2 veteran players in the lineup, most had never even played a game before. Coaches Kirstin Maurer, Derika Legg, and Wing Ly were examples of the Triton passion at every practice to build this rookie- hefty team from the bottom. From after practice workouts at Spanos to pre-practice conditioning with Coach Wing, the UCSD Women’s Rugby Club was ready to endure the rigor and competition of the sport.  The Tritons started the game strong, holding up UCLA for the first 20 minutes before they scored a try. UCSD continued to prevent UCLA’s advances. Forwards and Backs equally contributed to impressive tackles and charges throughout the game to halt UCLA. Big or small, every player bravely contested UCLA players of all sizes. Despite losing the game, UCSD Women’s Rugby Club held their head up high, embracing the loss as a learning experience. After the game, the UCSD Women’s Rugby Club reflected on what they could improve on for their next match against Arizona State University Women’s Rugby Club at ASU.

Score: 0-53 ucsd vs ucla