Golden Nuggets: Cal Rugby Showcases Sport's Growth

Women's Basketball

A trio of California Golden Bears will tip-off the 19th season of the WNBA with Brittany Boyd, Layshia Clarendon and Reshanda Gray all named to opening-day rosters as the season begins Friday, June 5.

Baseball

Six Golden Bears were announced to 2015 Pac-12 Conference Baseball All-Academic teams, conference Commissioner Larry Scott announced today. Senior reliever Chris Muse-Fisher, junior reliever Jesse Kay and junior outfielder/first baseman Nick Halamandaris were each named to the Pac-12 All-Academic first team, while junior outfielder Devin Pearson, senior first baseman Chris Paul and junior outfielder Sean Peters were all honorable mentions.

Softball

Softball senior Mary Lee led the Golden Bears with a Pac-12 All-Academic First Team selection, the league announced Thursday.

Major League Baseball

Tyson Ross, who pitched and won for the Padres last night, flew to DC to watch little brother Joe make ML Debut with Nationals today.

— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) June 6, 2015

Inside the Lair

Student-Athletes Making Impact In Community

This feature originally appeared in the Spring edition of the Cal Sports Quarterly. The Cal Athletics flagship magazine features long-form sports journalism at its finest and provides in-depth coverage of the scholar-athlete experience in Berkeley. Printed copies are mailed four times a year to Bear Backers who give annually at the Bear Club level (currently $600 or more). For more information on how you can receive a printed version of the Cal Sports Quarterly at home, send an email to calbearbackers@berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-2427.

By Jonathan Okanes, Cal Athletic Communications

Tour Cal's athletics facilities and it won't take long to realize that the Golden Bear programs around campus have realized an important part of their mission as intercollegiate sports.

Whether it be lacrosse and softball's work with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation or the men's and women's swimming & diving teams' partnership with Team IMPACT, Cal student-athletes from every corner of campus are endeavoring on projects bigger than themselves and their sport.

"I am extremely proud of the work our student-athletes are doing in the community," Director of Athletics Mike Williams said. "Our student-athletes recognize the position they are in as role models. We are quite fortunate to have such an incredible group here that truly understands the importance of making a difference in the lives of others, especially those faced with difficult and sometimes life-threatening circumstances."

Rugby

College Rugby Tournament a Showcase for Sport's Growth

Last weekend, fans crowded into PPL Park, home of the Philadelphia Union, but they weren't there for an MLS game. The turnout was for the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship. And they sure got their money's worth.

Throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final games were played in high school and womens' divisions, but the main event was the college men's final.

During regulation time, the University of California Golden Bears and the Kutztown Golden Bears battled for the lead. At the half, the score was tied 7-7. With 30 seconds left in the second half, a penalty was called on Kutztown, giving Cal a man-advantage. The game ended in a 12-12 tie and continued into sudden-death overtime.

On his last play in a Cal rugby uniform, senior fullback Jake Anderson ran the ball 55 yards for the winning try of the game. The final score was 17-12, and Anderson was awarded MVP of the tournament. He was also Cal's high scorer in the tournament, as well as its all-time postseason points leader.

Attendance of the two-day tournament was record-breaking, with almost 25,000 fans between Saturday and Sunday.

"All the discussions about rugby's growth, especially the fast-moving Olympic sport of Sevens Rugby, have been building," said Jonathon First, the president of United World Sports, in a press release about the event.. "The level of crowd engagement and enthusiasm this weekend really solidified what we have been working towards for the past few years. This event is becoming the 'must attend' not just for rugby fans, but for fans of sport in general."

FIFA Women's World Cup