Cal Rugby Goes Undefeated, Wins 30th National Championship

The Cal Golden Bears rugby team sealed a perfect 14-0 season Saturday night, defeating Navy 36-22 in Indianapolis to claim their second consecutive national championship.

The victory marks Cal's 30th national title in rugby 15s competition and their first undefeated championship season since 2011. Head coach Jack Clark, now in his 43rd season leading the program, has guided the Bears to an astounding 29 of those 30 championships.

Cal came out flying, with Oliver Teague scooping up a loose ball just one minute into the game and racing 60 meters for an opening try. The Bears never looked back, building a commanding 26-5 halftime lead behind explosive runs from Rand Santos and Masi Koi.

Navy, whose only two losses this season came against Cal, refused to quit. The Midshipmen had rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit just last week in the semifinals, and they pushed hard in the second half.

Playing a man down for much of the final period, Cal faced their toughest test when Navy's Drew Baublitz scored to cut the lead to 31-22 with 12 minutes remaining. But the Bears stayed calm, controlling possession and burning precious clock.

Nate Comiskey sealed the championship with his second try of the game and 23rd of the season, crossing the goal line with about a minute remaining to spark celebrations among the Golden Bears.

Why This Inspires

Excellence sustained over decades is rare in college sports. Jack Clark has built something extraordinary at Cal, creating a culture where players consistently rise to championship-level performance year after year.

The back-to-back titles represent Cal's first consecutive championships since 2016 and 2017, showing that this program knows how to reload and maintain its standard. Against a Navy team known for physicality and resilience, the Bears showed they could match toughness while unleashing their signature speed and ball handling.

This perfect season reminds us that sustained success comes from commitment, leadership, and refusing to settle for anything less than your best.