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BYU Returns to DIA

  • 25 Feb 2021
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By Saturday afternoon, four of five DIA (previously “DI Elite”) teams will have played their 2021 season openers. This weekend, the league focuses on the first of two BYU vs. Central Washington University games, this one occurring in Ellensburg, Wash. BYU was a founding member of the competition in 2016 and returns after two seasons competing in USA Rugby’s DI spring competition.

“Yes, it’s been the plan,” BYU head coach Tom Waqa said of returning to DIA. “We wanted to compete and then challenge ourselves with the good teams at that level. So it’s always been the plan to progress, but the situation with Covid helped. The DI competition is not happening right now, so this is the only competition that is structured and organized to compete at this time. So in that regard, it worked out well for us.”

The squad is the same size as years’ previous, however, the pandemic did lower the numbers at tryouts.

“It’s understandable. People are more reserved and didn’t want to come out,” Waqa said. “But we were able to practice while following all of the rules and regulations and keeping everyone safe. We had two [intrasquad] scrimmages, which really helped the team as a matter of preparation and getting ready for the season. We’ll take what we can get. We’re just thankful that we can play.”

Former USA U20 center Rachel Strasdas, who is fresh from a USA 7s camp in Chula Vista, will serve as captain this Saturday, and fellow senior and No. 8 Taylor Johnston is vice captain. Both bring lots of good experience to the pitch and were part of the 2019 USA Rugby DI Spring Championship squad.

“We have some players who are returning from their church mission,” Waqa considered changes in the squad. “One in particular was a high school standout – Kathryn Stowers – and she’s back now. We also got [USA U20] Kanani Uluave from Lindenwood. There are a few others here – Kate Gormley from Idaho, who was in the high school high performance program, and some on-campus athletes – that will be promising. I’m just excited to have the mix we have and hopefully put something together and compete.”

Also back is USA U20’s Matalasi Morrissette, who spent the fall with the USA Women’s National Team 15s residency in Glendale, Colo. The flyhalf was selected to the Stars vs. Stripes match as well.

BYU and Central Washington have been playing a home-and-away set the last few years, and so there is a good amount of familiarity between the programs. With that said, teams have advanced through the Covid-19 era at different paces, and so the teams could be at different stages in their return to form.

RELATED: CWU ‘Chomping at the Bit’

“Central Washington is a good team and they have some standout players from the high school system that have been recruited,” Waqa said. “We expect the best from them, nothing less. They will be very physical, I know that, so our contact game has to be on par with that standard. We have to make our tackles. That’s basically what it is. And we’re going to bring some defense into this game.”

The trip to Washington was supposed to kick off five weeks of consecutive matches for BYU, but the March 6 game against the University of Arizona has been canceled. The Cougars will host the Wildcats rematch on March 13 and then hopefully travel to Grand Canyon University (Phoenix) for a DI friendly on March 20. BYU will then welcome Lindenwood University to Provo, Utah, on March 27.

RELATED: Lindenwood Takes 2 DIA Games vs. Life

“The teams playing at this level are setting the standard, and we know where we need to get to,” Waqa said. “But it’s not something we push for; we just want them to get better day by day.

“For me, we have to be mindful of the situation we’re in, and so we want to be very reserved,” the coach alluded to the uncertainty that comes with rugby during Covid-19. “Everyone is so excited to play – that’s an understatement. And I’m really excited as a coach to just watch my team play, and hopefully I can do a good job coaching. The players know what’s at stake – this is a league game and every game counts – but we’re taking it day by day.”

Like all DIA matches, For The Fans will live-stream Saturday’s game at 11 a.m. Pacific. The match can also be viewed on YouTube. Stay tuned for game-day rosters and post-match interviews with coaches and players.

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