ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy men's rugby team (0-0) returns to the pitch to launch its 2026-27 season this Saturday, squaring off against St. Bonaventure (0-0) at 11 a.m. at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis, Md.
 
Fans can stream the game on the Navy Athletics YouTube page, with links available on navysports.com.
 
Notes for Traveling Fans

• Admission to the Prusmack Rugby Center is free.
• Spectator parking is located in the lots on the north side of the Brigade Sports Complex (64 Greenbury Point Road, Annapolis, MD 21402). Overflow parking is available in the open space on the west side of the facility.

 
Season Preview
Seniors Trevor Gayron and Edmund Soeder will serve as team captains for the upcoming season. Gayron was a key contributor during the 2025-26 campaign, making 11 starts in 12 appearances and scoring three tries for 15 points. Throughout his Navy career, Gayron has accumulated 28 appearances with 22 starts, tallying four tries and 20 points.
 
Soeder, a two-time Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA) All-American, provided essential depth for Navy last season, seeing action in 12 games with four starts and scoring one try. Soeder has amassed 43 career appearances and 15 starts, totaling four tries and 20 points during his tenure with the Midshipmen.
 
Navy also returns its program's all-time leading scorer in tries, Andrew Baublitz, who has scored 38 times in his career. Baublitz recorded 11 tries last year and finished second on the team in total points with 55.
 
The Mids begin their season with four of their first five games on their home pitch at the Prusmack Rugby Center, including the Army-Navy Star Game on Sept. 26.
 
2025-26 Season in Review
Navy advanced to the CRAA National Championship game for the third time in four years, highlighting a 2025-26 season that saw the Midshipmen finish with an 11-2 overall record. As the top seed in the CRAA East Bracket, Navy defeated Mary Washington (40-11), Army (38-10) and Life (35-21) before falling to No. 1 California (36-22) in the title game.
 
The Mids also captured their fourth-consecutive Rugby East Conference championship with a 5-0 league mark. A major highlight of the regular season was a thrilling 21-16 comeback victory over No. 5 Army in West Point, sealed by a walk-off try from Avion Ganse in the 78th minute to win the Star Game.
 
Navy outscored its opponents 541-246 throughout the season, averaging 41.6 points per game while the defense allowed just 18.9.
 
Scouting St. Bonaventure
St. Bonaventure finished with an 11-2-1 record last fall, capped by a 55-19 national championship victory over Queens in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Playoffs.
 
The Bonnies have an experienced group returning that feature 29 upperclassmen (18 juniors and 11 seniors). Last season, the St. Bonaventure offense averaged 37.7 points per game, while the defense allowed 18.0.
 
Navy vs. St. Bonaventure
Saturday's game marks the fourth meeting between the two programs and the first since 2024. Navy has won all three previous matchups by an average score of 28.0-11.3.
 
The Midshipmen return three scorers from their 41-23 victory against the Bonnies two seasons ago: Baublitz, Aidan Gerber and Adam Mertens.
 
Navy Sports Magazine
Gayron recently spoke with Tim Nolan on the Navy Sports Magazine Show to preview the upcoming season. The full interview is available on the Navy Athletics YouTube channel.