Clemson men’s rugby, ranked No. 3 nationally, secures spot in conference championship final amidst strong fall season

A little more than 10 minutes into Clemson rugby's conference tournament semifinal against LSU on Nov. 2, the visiting Tigers were threatening to tie the match at 5-5 when Campbell van Rooyen stood tall. With his back against the try zone and LSU running straight at him, the graduate student ripped the ball free to give Clemson possession. The play was indicative of Clemson's relentless effort on this day and proved to be a key moment early as the ACC Tigers seized momentum, scoring 21 points over the next 20 minutes of play to lead to a 49-14 rout.

With the win, the men's team advanced to the championship match of the Southeast Club Rugby Conference (SCRC) on Nov. 9 in Hendersonville, Tennessee at 7 p.m. ET against the University of Kentucky.

"The week leading up to the match with LSU, we were very focused," says Owen Tucker, a fifth-year senior who facilitates much of the offense from his scrum-half position. "Campbell had a pivotal play creating a turnover, and we were able to capitalize and run away with it."

Talk about an understatement. Tucker had a successful try on a dip-and-score moments later, and van Rooyen concluded the first-half scoring at the five-minute mark, giving Clemson an insurmountable 26-0 lead. For nearly 53 of the 80 minutes, LSU was held scoreless - a testament to Clemson's stout defense.

"It's easy to defend hard when you know the person next to you is doing the exact same thing," says van Rooyen. "If you've got that culture and you're one big family, it makes defending and putting your body on the line for the betterment of the team so much easier."

The win wasn't as easy as the final score indicated for Clemson as hundreds of fans - students, families and alumni - cheered the team on to victory in the semifinal on a picture-perfect day at the Pier, an off-campus housing development that serves as home to the club's rugby pitch. When it was all said and done, players made their way to the large contingent clad in orange and purple and offered three cheers of "Hip hip hooray!" while thanking the crowd for its support.

A fall to remember

Clemson is in the midst of a memorable fall season in the 15s. In addition to the semifinal win over LSU, the Tigers knocked off local rivals Georgia (45-20) and South Carolina (29-17). Heading into Saturday's championship final, Clemson is ranked No. 3 among all schools (45 total) in Division I-AA. Kentucky is No. 1 and reigning national champion in the 15s.

"This is something we've circled on our calendar as a goal," says Tucker, a St. Louis native who is set to graduate in December before heading off into the construction business with a general contractor. "First, we wanted to get to this game. Now that we're here, we want to win it. It hasn't been easy, but it's the result of working really hard and being unified."

Tucker served as the club's president last year before handing the leadership reins over to his vice president and fellow senior, Cole Frank. Much like Tucker, Frank came to Clemson with rugby experience and wanted to play at the collegiate level. He was a four-year letterman at Wando High School in Charleston, one of South Carolina's largest schools.

"(Coming here) was one of the best decisions of my life," says Frank, who leads the club's executive committee charged with securing funding, sponsorships and other important responsibilities. "I love everyone on the team and have made lifelong friends."

Frank didn't make many friends with the opposition in the SCRC semifinal. After putting Clemson on top 5-0 with a speedy cut-back from his wing position, he later ran over and through an LSU defender - drawing gasps from the sea of spectators.

"I used to be a forward and now I've transitioned to being one of our backs, but I still like to bring the physicality to the back line along with my speed," he says. "I enjoy the physical aspect of the sport."

So does van Rooyen. The team's captain and vocal leader, the native South African is one of two international players among Clemson's starters. He transferred to Clemson after completing his undergraduate degree at Queens University in Charlotte. Rugby has been part of his life since he was a young child.

"I've been playing since I was five years old," he admits. "I was contacted by a recruiting agency to come play rugby in the U.S., and I love it so much. I'm so happy to see it growing here in the states."

One of the team's new and already integral pieces this fall has been another homegrown talent, Pete Hayes. Also from Charleston, Hayes played club rugby with Frank prior to his college journey that began at Life University in Atlanta. He transferred to Clemson this fall and serves as the team's fly half.

"I played soccer up through seventh grade and then was the kicker on my football team," says Hayes, a construction science and management major. "I was able to take the same skills and translate them into rugby."

Hayes converted all but one of his kicks in the win over LSU and provides Clemson with a scoring threat at nearly any time on the opponent's half of the field.

Building a championship culture

The sport of rugby dates back more than 50 years at Clemson, but it's arguably as healthy as it's been in a long time. In 2007, the Clemson Rugby Foundation was founded by former coach Jim Gaine as a support system for the club.

A few years ago, in a coffee shop in Summerville, South Carolina, Gaine was wearing a Clemson Rugby shirt when a man approached him to ask about it. His name was Troy Hall, a former professional rugby player and Team USA representative from 2008-15.

"It was 2019, and my family had just moved from Oregon," Hall says. "It was a very organic connection. A few months later, I drove up to Clemson to see what was going on up here. I ended up getting hired midway through the next summer in 2020."

The move has paid huge dividends for Clemson Rugby. The club was able to connect with an alum who knew a developer with the Pier, securing dedicated field space for a full-size pitch. Hall has been active in the community, too, putting on clinics for kids during the summer months. In just over four years, he's built the program around his philosophies of culture, competitiveness and connection.

Hall grew up on the Coromandel Peninsula in a small beach town in the northern part of New Zealand. He's played professionally in the United Kingdom, Australia and United States. He met his wife, a native of New York, while playing professionally in Australia. Now, they're raising three children together in Clemson.

"I'm loving life in 2024," he says. "This is a great place to live and coach. And now, rugby is a legitimate option for someone who comes to Clemson. We work hard and run the program with high standards, and we get many students who come out because they want to be around a group of guys who work toward a national championship."

This year's leaders are no exception.

"Troy's experience is invaluable," Frank says. "We come in with varying levels of experience, but he can teach completely new players or guys like Campbell who have played for 15 years. It's something you definitely want in a coach."

"We have a life outside of the sport, and Troy understands that," adds van Rooyen. "He values who we are as people and wants the best for us, on and off the field."

Editor's note: The SCRC championship final against the University of Kentucky will be live streamed on the Club Rugby YouTube channel. The match begins on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. ET from Hendersonville Rugby Complex in Tennessee. Visit club rugby on Facebook or Instagram for more information.