Senator Corbett Congratulates Life West Gladiators Men’s Rugby Team

Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-East Bay) congratulates the Life West Gladiators Men’s Rugby team on their successful inaugural competitive season.  

The team earned victories at both the Northern California Rugby Football Union (NCRFU) Men’s Division III Championship and the USA Rugby Men’s Division III Pacific North Conference Championship. 

Related article: Senator Corbett Recognizes Hayward’s Life West Gladiators Rugby Team

The Gladiators went on in their post season to play against other undefeated teams representing the seven other regional conferences in the United States, and qualified for the national championship title match held on Saturday, May 31st in Madison, Wisconsin.

Last weekend, the Gladiators competed for the USA Rugby Men’s Division III National Championship title against one of the oldest rugby clubs in the United States, New York’s Old Blue Rugby Football Club, established in 1963. The match ended 25 – 7 Old Blues, ending the Gladiators’ 15-game winning streak and earning them the silver medal as runners up for the national championship title.

The Life West Gladiators were undefeated in their 2014 regular season (10-0) and—having reached the highest level of competition in the NCRFU in their first season of competitive play—expect top seed in the 2015 NCRFU season in a field of ten Division III teams or an invitation to move forward into Division II from Division III.

The Life West Gladiators are a community team associated with Life Chiropractic College West, based in Hayward, California. While formed in 2012, this was the team’s first competitive season. Team players come from throughout the East Bay area, including Union City, Hayward, Fremont and San Lorenzo. The team’s diverse heritage includes Tongan, Samoan and Fijian players, as well as African-American, Canadian, Anglo-European and Latino competitors, exemplifying the greater Bay Area’s rich cultural diversity.

“I wish to congratulate the Life West Gladiators Rugby Team on their outstanding season,” Senator Corbett said.  “There is no doubt that this amazing team—led by their dedicated team leaders and coaches—has demonstrated true sportsmanship, hard work and commitment in reaching the national championship game and attaining second in the nation after a very demanding first season in competition.  I wish them the best of luck in the years ahead and commend their contributions to the community and the sport of rugby in the East Bay.”

—Submitted by Office of Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett