The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Rugby Team will play for its first national championship this weekend in the club’s 47-year history.
The Golden Eagles won the Bluff City 7s tournament in Memphis, rewarding Tennessee Tech with an automatic qualifier. Tennessee Tech Rugby Head Coach Siaosi Moleni said he wants to take rugby to new heights in Cookeville.
“The goal is to see the program flourished,” Moleni said. “I’m sure there’s amazing athletes right now that are in class at Tech that just don’t know that they’re rugby players,”
The Golden Eagles led by sophomore Lane Travis, who won a game in overtime on an 80-yard run. Moleni said the feeling was similar to that of winning a gold medal.
“We knew if we would just make sure the ball would get to him without dropping it, we would have a good chance,” Moleni said. “Once he got the ball, he just, he poured everything into it, into that long run.”
Moleni said it is a dream to give back to the sport of rugby.
“I’ve always wanted to be a part of this team ever since moving here,” Moleni said.
Moleni took over the program nine months ago. Moleni had previously played rugby most of his life. He had begun coaching around the Upper Cumberland prior to taking the position.
The Golden Eagles advance to Boyds, Maryland Friday to compete in their first ever national championship.
