The Loyola rugby team will face the task of playing the British Naval Team as a part of the bi-centennial celebration of the War of 1812.

Although Loyola faces Division 1 and 2 teams during the season, a more experienced team made up of men cur- rently serving in the British Navy will give the Wolfpack the biggest challenge of the year. The match will be played at Pan American Stadium in City Park at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 22.

‘Pack players are treating the exhibition match not only as an opportunity to display their talent, but also as a way to gain support for the sport at the university.

“It’s as serious as it gets where matches are concerned. We really just want to showcase what Loyola rugby is about,” said graphic design senior and rugby player Christopher Knibbs. “This is something big, not only for Loyola, but for the city because it’s the highlight game for that day.”

Although it is an exhibition match, Loyola Rugby Coach Sam Brock is not diminishing the magnitude of the match. There are numerous rugby teams in the city, though the director of the New Orleans Sports Authority referred the British team to play Loyola.

“To have the honor to be approached by the navy to play this match was a pretty big deal,” Brock said. “They could have approached any of those teams, and they approached Loyola, which I think speaks a lot for where our program has gone and where it’s headed. I would say this would be one of the biggest matches Loyola has ever played since Loyola has had a rugby team.”

The ‘Pack currently has a re-

cord below .500, though the team had several close matches against Division 2 universities such as the University of Southern Missis– sippi and Tulane University this season.

Garrett Galuszka can be reached at [email protected]