BYU Sets for Las Vegas Showdown with Aggies

Published: Thursday, 7. February, 2013 in category College Rugby

The BYU Cougars hit the road again this weekend to take on Texas A&M in Las Vegas this Saturday.

The match is a challenge match between the two teams held in conjunction with the USA Sevens’ Las Vegas Invitational. Kick-off is set for 9.20am PT on Saturday.

The Aggies and Cougars last met in Las Vegas in 2010 and 2009 with BYU coming out on top both times 37-7 and 36-15 respectively.

Texas A&M for their part has started the 2013 season 0-2 with two tough home losses to LSU and Arkansas State. LSU won the hotly contested match 31-19 two weekends ago, while 2012 National Runners-Up ASU frustrated the Aggies 70-7 last Saturday.

BYU captain Ryan Roundy said the fixture with the Aggies is a good one for both teams.

“We don’t quite know what to expect,” Roundy commented, “But from their program’s history Texas A&M is always a physical and a tough team to play. I don’t think their record speaks to the team that we’ll see on Saturday. We’re expecting both teams to have a great game and to get a lot out of the match.”

In years past BYU has played a number of games at the Las Vegas Invitational, but the match-up with Aggies is the lone fixture for the Cougars this weekend.

“Given the weight of the season’s full schedule,” said BYU head coach David Smyth, “We didn’t feel it was necessary to play a number of games in Las Vegas. But we wanted to play a strong team and Texas A&M definitely brings that to the table. We have a lot of respect for Craig [Coates--Director of Rugby] and what he and his staff are doing at Texas A&M.”