WESTWOOD, Calif. – While UCLA Men's Rugby continues to compete at the highest level of collegiate club rugby, the program's success extends far beyond the playing field. During the 2025-26 academic year, Bruins once again demonstrated that excellence in rugby and excellence in the classroom go hand in hand.

UCLA Men's Rugby student-athletes recorded an impressive 3.65 cumulative team GPA during the 2025-26 academic year, reflecting the program's commitment to developing high-achieving students and future leaders.

The academic results were exceptional across the roster. More than 76% of players maintained a cumulative GPA above 3.55, while 18 student-athletes earned GPAs above 3.75. Seven Bruins earned Dean's List recognition, and numerous players received departmental honors, scholarships, and academic awards.

Beyond the classroom, more than thirty five student-athletes completed internships, research opportunities, leadership positions, and professional development experiences with leading organizations including KPMG, PWC, BNP Paribas, Marsh, UCLA Health, California ISO, Anchor Point Capital, Oak Investment Management, and Echelon Partners.

These achievements are particularly noteworthy given the demands placed on student-athletes competing in one of the nation's premier collegiate rugby programs. Balancing full academic schedules with daily training, strength and conditioning sessions, extensive travel, and competition requires exceptional discipline, commitment, and time management. All as club sports student-athletes without any of the traditional privileges provided to Varsity programs within UCLA Athletics.

"Our players continue to prove that success at UCLA Rugby is about much more than what happens on game day," said UCLA Men's Rugby Director and Head Coach Harry Bennett. "They are pursuing challenging degrees, conducting research, earning internships with world-class organizations, and preparing themselves for successful careers after graduation. We are incredibly proud of the standard they set both academically and athletically."

Academic Spotlight: Nico DiMatteo - Excellence on and off the field

Among the program's many academic success stories, graduating senior and Club President Nico DiMatteo exemplifies the student-athlete experience at UCLA.

DiMatteo will graduate with a degree in Business Economics and a minor in Accounting while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. He graduated summa cum laude, earned an A+ in every economics course he completed at UCLA, made the Dean's Honors List every quarter, and was recognized by the UCLA Department of Economics during graduation ceremonies.

His accomplishments extend beyond the classroom. DiMatteo earned scholarships from both the UCLA Economics Department and the Accounting Minor Program while conducting economic research examining the impact of the Tijuana sewage crisis on local communities and businesses. Throughout his time at UCLA, he also completed multiple internships spanning finance, accounting, and strategy consulting that took him all across the country.

Following graduation, DiMatteo will begin his professional career with KPMG in New York City as a Strategy Consulting Associate, whilst also taking on responsibilities with the UCLA Rugby Alumni Association Board of Directors.. 

Despite his remarkable academic achievements, DiMatteo credits UCLA Rugby as one of the primary drivers of his success.

"UCLA Rugby gave me structure, accountability, and a strong support system throughout my four years," said DiMatteo. "I studied with teammates, got advice from older players who had already taken some of my classes, and was constantly surrounded by people who pushed me to stay disciplined. Being in that high-performance environment helped me grow because it taught me how to hold myself to a higher standard in everything I did."

DiMatteo believes the lessons learned through rugby directly contributed to his professional development.

"Balancing a full academic courseload with practices, lifts, travel, and games forced me to manage my time, communicate clearly, and stay organized under pressure," he said. "Those lessons carried into the classroom, into my internships, and into the way I approached every opportunity at UCLA."

Reflecting on his collegiate experience, DiMatteo emphasized the impact rugby had on his overall UCLA journey.

"A big part of my success at UCLA came from being surrounded by teammates and coaches who supported me both on and off the field," he said. "Rugby gave me the structure to succeed academically, the friendships to enjoy college, and the competitive environment to grow as a person."

Academic Spotlight: Pierce McMahon - A Non-Traditional Path to UCLA

Not every UCLA Rugby student-athlete arrives in Westwood through a traditional pathway, and few stories better demonstrate the transformative power of higher education, collegiate athletics, and UCLA Extension than that of Business Economics student Pierce McMahon.

After high school, attending a university like UCLA seemed out of reach. Instead, Pierce enrolled at UCLA Extension and Santa Monica College after guidance from Coach Bennett, with the goal of transferring into UCLA and getting to play rugby for the Bruins. Pursuing an opportunity that would ultimately change the trajectory of his academic and professional career.

During his two years at Santa Monica College, Pierce excelled academically, earning a 3.9 overall GPA and a perfect 4.0 GPA in his major coursework while balancing the demands of rugby training and competition. A critical component of that journey was UCLA Extension, where he completed an extensive course load and earned a Digital Marketing Certificate before transferring to UCLA.

The transferable UCLA Extension coursework allowed Pierce to begin earning UCLA academic credits while still attending community college, providing both a pathway into the undergraduate degree environment and valuable professional skills that would later support his entrepreneurial ambitions.

"UCLA Extension was a key part of my journey to UCLA," Pierce said. "The opportunity to earn transferable UCLA undergraduate coursework while attending Santa Monica College allowed me to build credits toward my degree, demonstrate my academic ability in UCLA classes, and strengthen my transfer application. Looking back, Extension played a significant role in helping make my transfer to UCLA a reality."

Pierce's academic success ultimately earned him admission into UCLA's highly competitive Business Economics program, one of the most sought-after majors on campus. Since arriving at UCLA, he has continued to thrive academically while competing for UCLA Rugby and growing his business, MPM Productions, into a full-service digital marketing agency that is now being rebranded as Mention Marketing.

Looking back, Pierce credits UCLA Rugby, Santa Monica College, and UCLA Extension for helping create a pathway that once seemed impossible.

His story serves as a powerful example of how UCLA Rugby student-athletes are leveraging alternative educational pathways, including transferable UCLA Extension coursework, to achieve academic success, professional growth, and a degree from one of the nation's leading public universities.

Building Leaders Beyond Rugby

The achievements of UCLA Rugby's student-athletes reinforce the program's commitment to developing well-rounded individuals prepared for success long after their playing careers conclude.

As the Bruins prepare for a new era of competition in National Collegiate Rugby, the program remains committed to fostering an environment where academic excellence, personal growth, and athletic achievement are equally valued.

The accomplishments of the 2025-26 academic year serve as another reminder that UCLA Rugby continues to produce not only outstanding players, but exceptional students, professionals, and future leaders.