October 26, 2025 | Oceanside, CA

UCLA Men's Rugby delivered a strong response at the West Coast Sevens this weekend in Oceanside, advancing to the championship match after a dominant semifinal performance and an encouraging rebound from their previous tournament at Stanford.

The Bruins opened the two-day tournament on Saturday with two wins from three pool games, a result that secured their place in Sunday's semifinals. UCLA showed improved structure and urgency, building momentum as the day went on and setting up a highly anticipated clash with Grand Canyon University (GCU).

Sunday's semifinal proved to be the Bruins' standout performance of the series so far. UCLA ran in seven tries in a 49–0 win over GCU, showcasing pace, precision, and clinical finishing across the park. The emphatic win earned them another shot at rivals Cal in the West Coast Sevens Final—a rematch of WC7's tournament in Los Angeles earlier in October.

But against a polished Cal side, the Bruins struggled to replicate their earlier form. Cal's relentless pressure and experience saw them claim a 43–0 victory, leaving UCLA to settle for the runner-up spot.

Despite the result, Head Coach Harry Bennett said he was proud of how his young squad responded following their disappointment at Stanford two weeks earlier.

"I'm really pleased with how the boys bounced back," Bennett said. "We showed great fight and improvement across the weekend. But consistency is still what lets us down in big moments—we're learning from that."

Bennett also praised the tournament organizers for revitalizing competitive college rugby sevens on the West Coast. Last year's WC7's series was the start and this year, the entire series has exceeded expectations.

"We're extremely grateful to the organizers of the West Coast Sevens for bringing back meaningful and competitive rugby sevens to the region," he said. "Sevens is such a vital aspect of college rugby and the growth of the game at this level. I encourage more college programs to participate as the collegiate level has been such a strong pipeline for the senior USA Men's squad for many years."

The presence of USA Men's National Team Head Coach Zac Test, other pathway coaches and high profile players throughout the series added extra motivation for players hoping to reach higher levels of the sport.

"Having national coaches and pathway representatives in attendance gives real purpose to these tournaments," Bennett added. "It shows players that there's a genuine route from college rugby to the national stage."

With a renewed sense of confidence and a clear picture of the standards required to compete with the nation's best, UCLA will look to build on their performances in the WC7's as they prepare for the XV's season moving forward.