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It is hardly a surprise, but the Golden Bears are your 2015 PAC 7s Rugby champions!
After a perfect 4-0 record, including shutout wins over Stanford, Colorado, and Oregon State (Utah managed 5 points), the Bears took care of ASU in the semifinal today.
.@CalVarsityRugby gets it done vs. the Devils! #PAC7s pic.twitter.com/MOmFCsQKMM
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) November 8, 2015
In the final, Bears faced a UCLA squad that beat Utah 19-0.
PAC 7s Final: California 17, UCLA 5
#PAC7s Cal starters v UCLA cup final: Robles Battaglia A. Salaber R. Webb Barrientes Milne Coleman #GoBears
— Cal Varsity Rugby (@CalVarsityRugby) November 8, 2015
It was a close affair but the Bears got a second try (and conversion) just before the half to go up 12-0. On the first possession of the 2nd half, the Bears got another try to go up 17-0. UCLA managed a try at the dying seconds of the match, but it was Cal 17, UCLA 5 in the final.
The @CalVarsityRugby Golden Bears win their fourth #PAC7s title in four years! pic.twitter.com/F7bnbcFVJh
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) November 9, 2015
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PAC Rugby 7s Championship
TV: Pac-12 Networks
When: 1 pm PT on (Championship match is scheduled for 3:05 pm PT)
Announcer: Former Golden Bear Colin Hawley will call the matches
Cal Rugby is hosting the PAC Rugby 7s Championship this weekend, where 10 of the 12 Pac-12 schools are present (the Washington Schools inexplicably does not have teams despite being located between two rugby powerhouses between Cal and University of British Columbia (the school that play the Bears yearly for "the World Cup").
Bears are in pool A with Utah, Colorado, Oregon State, and Stanford.
Sunday is the championship knockout round and Pac-12 Networks will have the final 7 matches. These are rugby 7s matches, which means they are merely 7 minutes per half for a total of 15 minutes per match (including one minute halftime). It's fast pace and fun, as well as the format that will be played down at Rio for the 2016 Olympics game.
Bears have won three PAC 7s conference title in a row and will be looking for a four-peat.
Golden Bears are perfect in fall rugby 7s so far this year. Can they go through the entire fall season undefeated? Utah and UCLA are expected to be the main challengers to the Bears. How much have they closed the gap? Expect the Bears to roll through everyone today.
GO BEARS!