St. Mary's Rugby is the oldest athletic club at the school and carries a proud legacy of rugby excellence. Coached by the legendary Patrick Vincent, a former New Zealand All Black captain, from 1968-1983, the Gaels went from a fringe sport to one of the most popular on campus, building a winning tradition along the way. The team has continued to grow over the last few years, revitalized by a new coaching staff and increasing alumni support. The Gaels finished the season ranked among the top ten college rugby teams in the country for three consecutive years. Head coach Tim O'Brien was named coach of the year by American Rugby News following the 2006-07 season.
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| All-American Kingsley McGowan |
The Gaels best season was the 2007-08. The Gaels reached the semifinals of the USA Rugby National Championship losing to Cal 41-31 in the semifinals, and finished the 2007-08 season ranked #2 in the nation for Division 1. The Gaels were led that season by Kevin Swiryn, who went on enjoy a rugby career with the U.S. national team. The Gaels reached the quarterfinals of the 2011 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships. St. Mary's won the 2012 West Coast 7s tournament, with a semifinal 17-12 win over favored Cal, and a win in the final over Cal Poly 35-19 The Gaels finished third at the 2012 California 7s, and secured an at-large bid at the 2012 national championships.
While the Gaels are without their All-American star Kingsley McGowan (former Houston St. Thomas player) as a result of a knee injury, they still have plenty of firepower to go around. Garrett Brewer, Augie Heath, and Bubba Jones are all fast, elusive runners. The Gaels also have a formidable pack with the likes of Mike Haley, Kelly Harris, and Tim Maupin. St. Mary's poses an impressive challange to the Aggies on day 1 and the Ags will have to be fully focused and playing their best rugby when they step on the field against the Gaels.
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