Key Topics

Brendo’s rugby journey

• Starting at San Francisco Golden Gate as a sophomore

• Lessons from coaches Mike Caravelli and Tony Wells

• The influence of the “15 vs 15” philosophy

Saint Mary’s College rugby

• Why he chose Saint Mary’s

• The impact of Tim O’Brien and the program’s culture

• The power of the alumni network

Building a coaching career

• Volunteering for seven years at Saint Mary’s

• Joining the USA U20 pathway

• Learning foundational coaching from J.D. Stevenson

Entering professional rugby

• Assistant coach and academy role with the Austin Gilgronis

• Working with international coaches and learning professional systems

• Experience coaching in Super Rugby Americas with the American Raptors

Utah Warriors and MLR coaching

• Role as Attack and Backs Coach

• Team success leading the league in tries and points

• What it takes to run a professional weekly training cycle

Player development in the United States

• The importance of core skills

• Why players must be able to carry, pass, and kick

• How watching professional rugby improves decision making

The future of professional rugby in the US

• MLR’s reset to a smaller league

• More opportunities for American players

• The importance of community support for the league and national team

worldrugbyshop.com

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goffrugbyreport.com

Episode Overview

Nate sits down with Alex Goff of Goff Rugby Report to break down the current state of high school and college rugby, with a focus on NorCal’s competitive depth and what it takes to reach Nationals.

NorCal Parity

Both the Premier club division and Single School Open division are wide open. Multiple programs are capable of winning championships, which makes rankings volatile but raises the overall standard week to week.

College Rugby Growth

Programs like Grand Canyon University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are rising through strong coaching, affordability, and early playing opportunities. Parity at the college level continues to grow nationwide.

Nationals Selection Criteria

Financial stability, early application, strength of schedule, sportsmanship, and roster integrity all matter. Preparation for Nationals starts long before playoffs.
Strategic Scheduling

NorCal programs are encouraged to plan now for MLK and Presidents Day 2027 matchups, especially with cold-weather teams seeking tours. Cross-regional play strengthens teams and builds relationships.

For coverage updates or corrections, contact Alex directly at:

agoff@goffrugbyreport.com

worldrugbyshop.com

rugbynorcal.org

goffrugbyreport.com

In this episode of the Rugby NorCal Podcast, we spotlight the University of California, Santa Cruz Rugby program and what makes it one of the most compelling D1A club rugby programs in the country.

UCSC Rugby competes weekly against varsity powerhouses while maintaining a gritty, athlete-led culture rooted in accountability, adaptability, and academic excellence. The discussion covers the program’s identity, recruiting standards, and long-term development model for student-athletes.

What it means to compete at the D1A level as a club program

The “Skill, Systems, Mindset” coaching philosophy and how it develops versatile, decision-making players

How UCSC supports late-entry rugby athletes and long-term development

The impact of the Black and Gold Society, UCSC Rugby’s alumni network providing funding and career mentorship

Academic and rugby expectations for prospective student-athletes (3.5+ GPA, 16–20 hrs/week rugby commitment)

Positions currently being recruited for D1A competition

Former Slug Jackson Zabierek shares how UCSC helped him transition from a high-school football player into a complete rugby athlete, ultimately reaching Major League Rugby with the Chicago Hounds.

Prospective players are encouraged to:

Create a profile on Next Phase Rugby

Email UCSC Rugby staff with “Rugby” in the subject line

Visit slugrugby.com

This episode is a must-listen for high-academic student-athletes, parents, coaches, and alumni interested in collegiate rugby pathways and sustainable program building.

worldrugbyshop.com

rugbynorcal.org

goffrugbyreport.com