Back to back! Cal Rugby caps a perfect season with a 36-22 win over Navy
Jack Clark's squad has won the program's 30th Rugby XVs national title
It was easy for long-time Cal fans to take Cal Rugby’s success for granted until we could not. Last year, Cal Rugby ended its national title drought with the first national title since 2017. The 2026 team did even better on Saturday night in Indianapolis, Indiana by completing a perfect season (17-0) to repeat as CRAA D1A National Champion!!
California Golden Bears earned their second victory over the United States Naval Academy on the season. The hard-fought 36-22 win capped the first Cal Rugby perfect season since 2010-11.
This 35th overall, 30th in 15-a-side competition, championship is Golden Bears' head coach Jack Clark's milestone 31st national title, 26 in Rugby XVs and 5 in Rugby 7s (which Cal only competes in regionally in the fall in recent years).
Cal Bears struck first when Oliver Teague picked up a loose ball and evaded a few Navy defenders for a try just over a minute into the 80-minute contest.
While it looked like that Cal would quickly add to that score on a couple of opportunities, the next score was by Navy in the 12th minute out of a driving maul, but conversion was no good to allow Cal to keep a 7-5 lead. The Midshipmen would not go away quietly.
Cal showed its grit in stopping Navy’s deep drive into Cal territory that was halted by a penalty in the 20th minute. Bears responded by moving the ball quickly the otherway down the field.
Senior Solomon Williams passed the ball wide to Masi Koi, who sprinted ahead of the Navy defense, breaking two tackles to cross midfield. The Bears forced another Navy penalty, kicking the ball inside the 22 for a lineout. Finley received the lineout, giving the ball back to Cade Crist, who mauled forward for the Cal try, increasing the lead to 12-5.
A high tackle penalty that turned into a yellow card on Navy resulted in ten minutes of man advantage for the Bears. Cal capitalized with a 26th minute try (Seamus Deely) and conversion (Filip Edstrom) and then in 35th minute when Masi Koi saw some open space in front of him and turned on the boosters.
The Koi try and Edstrom conversion (good off the post) made it 26-5. Bears tried to add to that lead in the first half stoppage time but the score remained that going into the second half.
Navy struck first early in the second half by converting a penalty kick for 3 points in the 45th minute.
In the 48th minute, a strong run by Masi Koi set up a long pass from Rand Santos to the outside to Oliver Newell, who passed behind his back to Max Threlkeld. Threlkeld then found Nate Comiskey who scored the try to make it 31-8.
Yellow cards called on Cal allowed Navy to make things interesting. Cal’s homecoming win over Navy actually saw the Bears scored the clinching try despite a 13-on-15 disadvantage. Navy would take advantage this time with tries in the 51st minute and then the 68th minute to make it 31-22.
With a two possession advantage, Cal does slow down the attack slightly to run down the clock. However, the Bears would not simply stop attacking. Nate Comiskey added to his team leading try total when he emphatically scored in the 79th minute.
This year’s seniors experienced a loss to Navy in the national title game in their freshman year. They concluded (maybe, since some of them might still have eligibilities) their Cal careers with back-to-back national titles.
Masi Koi was named the Man of the Match, but all 17 Cal Bears who played in this match had their moments.
For the second consecutive year, California Golden Bears rugby has turned Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis into a Bear Territory!
Check out some sights and sounds from the celebrations:
"Our best wishes to Navy, they're tough men and good players," head coach Jack Clark said. "I hope this doesn't sound arrogant, but I had great trust in our team today. I believed we would play for each other and expand into the moment. I was a little worried that I wasn't my normal worried self."
Forwards Byron Finley and Seamus Deely were interviewed after the match by Alex Goff of Goff Rugby Report. Cal’s played far fewer players in this title contest than Navy, who made a bunch of changes as early as the first half.
Congratulations to Cal Rugby on remaining a bright spot that all Cal alumni can be proud of! The program has returned to that sweet spot where it is always blending upper- and lower-classmen. There will be some big holes to fill next season, especially for the backfield duo of Solomon Williams and Rand Santos, but Cal got a bunch of reserves who are ready to step up, many who had already made some big contributions to this perfect season.
The Cal Rugby dynasty is in a good spot.
Scoring Timeline:
Cal vs. Navy
1:00 – Oliver Teague, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
12:00 – Jake Cornelius, 5 (Navy)
21:00 – Cade Crist, 5
26:00 – Seamus Deely, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
34:00 – Masi Koi, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
Half: Cal, 26, Navy, 5
44:00 – Roanin Krieger, 3
48:00 – Nate Comiskey, 5
61:00 – Tanner Call, 5, Roanin Krieger, 2 (Navy)
68:00 – Andrew Baublitz, 5, Ronin Krieger, 2 (Navy)
79:00 – Nate Comiskey, 5
Final: Cal, 36, Navy, 22
Starting XV:
1. Oliver Kirk 2. Alex Vieira 3. Cade Crist 4. Byron Finley (Talae Tuimaunei 68') 5. Seamus Deely 6. Brice Muller 7. Ryan Wenstrom (Elliott Lewis 79') 8. Oliver Teague 9. Solomon Williams 10. Rand Santos 11. Masi Koi 12. Filip Edstrom 13. Max Threlkeld 14. Nate Comiskey 15. Oliver Newall
Fans can also relive the entire match on YouTube or just fast forward to the end to see the celebrations.
Cal Rugby’s 35th national titles across both 15s (30) and 7s (5) is Cal Athletics’ 106 team national championships. Here is the list of Cal Rugby national titles:
1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013^, 2014^, 2015^, 2016, 2016^, 2017, 2017^, 2025, 2026
^ indicates Rugby 7s titles
This Rugby 15s title adds to Cal Athletics’ national championships haul this school year that already included three individual titles from swimming: Claire Weinstein in Women’s 500y Freestyle and Yamato Okadome in Men’s 100y and 200y Breaststroke. In case you missed it, that is 52 consecutive years of national titles (individual, team, relay, etc.) in completed, regular (AKA non-COVID-interrupted) school years; this national championship streak, which dated back to 1973-74, is full of Cal Rugby success and honestly only this impressively long thanks soley to Rugby’s success in a few of those years.
We shall see if Cal Men’s Crew can add to this list. The IRA Championships will be held at the end of May (May 29-31) from Lake Natoma, Gold River, CA in Sacramento County.
ROLL ON YOU BEARS!