WHEREAS, Fresno State’s club men’s rugby team completed its undefeated season with a 22-17 win over Kansas Jayhawks to earn its first national championship; and WHEREAS, the diverse team is comprised of Central California students and one student from France; and WHEREAS, the players had a full load with balancing being full-time students, working part-time jobs and attending three practices a week with games on the weekends; and
WHEREAS, throughout the season, the team went undefeated and was 16-0 overall, averaging more than 60 points per game; and WHEREAS, the team earned a spot in the championship game by beating Western Washington in the Division IAA West Coast Regional Championship match, 52-15; and WHEREAS, the rugby team competed in the Pacific Western Conference League Championship defeating Sacramento State, 36-0, earning its first Pacific West Conference Championship; and WHEREAS, the team rose to the occasion when pitted against rivals, winning the California Cup defeating University of San Diego (USD), 46-9; and WHEREAS, Head Coach Patrick Quan, Assistant Coach Leland Garrow, Assistant Coach Paul Carter, and Assistant Coach/Executive Director Mike Darling are responsible for one of the greatest turnarounds and significant season leading the team to a historic moment; and WHEREAS, Fresno State’s club men’s rugby team is poised to repeat their success in the coming years, signaling a new era of excellence as they prepare to defend its National Championship Title next year.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, Mayor Jerry Dyer and the Fresno City Councilmembers, do hereby proclaim Thursday, June 9, 2022 to be:
“Fresno State Men’s Rugby Day”
in the City of Fresno.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and
affixed the seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 9th day of June 2022.
CITY OF FRESNO
Office of Mayor Jerry Dyer