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Lake Larsen<\/strong> | Sports Editor<\/span><\/p>\n In the final match of fall term on Nov. 3, the Men\u2019s Rugby team left the field after their lopsided victory over Willamette University unsure of the future. The team knew their only chance at playoffs was to win the bid for hosting the National Small College Rugby Organization\u2019s Challenge Cup Pacific Coast Regional Championships. While they finished their fall season with back to back blow out wins, the loss in their first match on Oct. 7 against reigning conference champions Central Oregon Community College may have kept them out of the playoffs. But little did they know, massive news was in the making.<\/span><\/p>\n During the winter break, the national rankings were posted on the NSCRO website. Consisting of over 240 Men\u2019s clubs, Western had never before found themselves ranked inside the top 40. However, due to their outstanding play, the Wolves were nationally placed at 30. This national ranking was especially notable as no varsity or other club sport team in the 2018-19 school year had been able to achieve an honor such as this. <\/span><\/p>\n But despite this historic achievement, the men of Western rugby remained fixated on the end goal of playoffs. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not trying to make it a big deal of it,\u201d said head coach and Western alumni Sean Pomeroy. \u201cWe\u2019re at the bottom of the rankings, we want to be up higher, so we\u2019re trying to stay focused.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n This focus is of the utmost importance for the Wolves as alongside their news of a national ranking, it was announced that Monmouth would play host to the Challenge Cup Pacific Coast Regional Championships. Before leaving for winter break, the players and coaches were unsure if a post season would be in the picture due to only one team from the conference being invited to the challenge cup. But after the news that their bid to host was accepted, the playoffs would be be on the Wolves\u2019s home turf, giving them an invitation to participate.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf we didn\u2019t host (the challenge cup) we wouldn\u2019t have been in,\u201d mentioned Pomeroy. \u201cWe started to hit our stride toward the end of the season\u2026 so we\u2019re going to use this opportunity to turn some heads and show why we are nationally ranked.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The NSCRO Challenge Cup Pacific Coast Regional Championships is set to be held March 30 and 31 on the intramural field on Western\u2019s campus. With the winner of this tournament receiving an automatic bid to the National Championships, the Wolves are hoping they can use the home field edge for one last push.<\/span><\/p>\n