Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Navy
Men’s Rugby Set to Take on Navy in Star Series Match
September 27, 2024 | Men's Rugby
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point Men's Rugby team (3-0) will travel to Annapolis to face the Naval Academy Midshipmen (4-0) in the highly anticipated Star Series match presented by USAA.
Both teams enter the match undefeated in both their seasons and Rugby East Conference play, placing them first and second in the conference standings.
The Black Knights have recorded a dominant non-conference win over Indiana (54-7) and two victories against Rugby East Conference opponents Mary Washington (27-7) and Southern Virginia (48-7). Meanwhile, Navy has secured two non-conference wins against Mount St. Mary's (Md.) (36-8) and Maryland (62-14), along with conference victories over St. Bonaventure (41-23) and Penn State (35-10).
Army head coach Matt Sherman commented on the upcoming challenge, saying, "We are very excited to head to Annapolis. We know the challenge ahead is massive, as Navy has started the season very strong and has again put together one of the best teams in the country." He continued, "However, our focus is internal. We're confident in the work, growth, and preparation our team has put in this fall. We believe if we focus on climbing to our new best on Saturday, we can earn the victory."
This will be the 12th varsity meeting between the Black Knights and Midshipmen. Navy has won the last two 15s matches in 2022 and 2023. The Black Knights aim to end Navy's winning streak this weekend.
Army captain Joe Manning reflected on the significance of the rivalry, stating, "Army-Navy games are always special. This year is no different. Both teams are among the top in the country and undefeated. It's a great opportunity to test ourselves on the road, in a hostile environment. Although this is one of the toughest scenarios we'll face this year, we're ready. If we stick to our plan and perform at our best, it'll be a winning performance."
Vice-captain Nate Gould echoed Manning's sentiment, adding, "It's been a few years since we've beaten Navy. The team of 63 guys has been working extremely hard, and we're motivated to get a win after a fast start to the season."
Kickoff in Annapolis is set for 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 28. Fans can catch the action live on The Rugby Network.
