Aug. 22, 2012

Venue Maps and Directions: Fri. Beekman Park | Sat. Lincoln Tower Park | Fri. Cal Schedule (WEBCAST LIVE, Free Admission, All Times Eastern): Notre Dame 5:40 p.m., Navy 7:30 p.m., Ohio State at 9 p.m. | Facebook | Twitter | Register With Cal Rugby

BERKELEY - The Golden Bears kick off their 2012 fall 7s season in a four-team tournament at the Buckeye Sevens Invitational, held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14-15, on campus in Columbus, Ohio.

California meets Notre Dame at 5:40 p.m. ET on Friday evening, followed by Navy at 7:30 p.m. ET and Ohio State at 9 p.m. ET at the university's Beekman Park. These 14-minute matches on Friday will be webcast live on Ustream.tv.

After day-two matchups are determined by day-one results, Saturday's two finales at 9 and 9:30 a.m. ET at Lincoln Tower Park will feature the Rugby Bears in a spirit-building tilt toward the football clash at noon ET that day between Cal and Ohio State at nearby Ohio Stadium.

The Bears' opening match Friday at the inaugural Buckeye 7s features a reunion with the Fighting Irish and could once again pit Cal's Brad Harrington, a 2012 7s All-American, against his brother David, a senior at Notre Dame.

The two Harringtons last met in June at the Collegiate Rugby Championship 7s, where Cal shut out Notre Dame, 29-0, in pool play.

Navy was also a pool opponent at the CRC 7s this past summer, with the Bears beating the Midshipmen, 21-10.

The last time Cal played Ohio State in seven-a-side rugby was at the 2011 CRC 7s, where the Bears defeated the Buckeyes, 38-0. That Ohio State team included Nate Ebner, a two-sport student-athlete who was selected by the New England Patriots as a defensive back in the 2012 NFL Draft.

"Away we go into our first-ever fall 7s season," said Cal head coach Jack Clark. "It's all new to us, playing in multiple tournaments leading up to an opportunity for a championship, so we have much to learn."

The USA Rugby College 7s Championships are scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at in College Station, Texas.

Coach Clark said the new autumn structure "will be really challenging, but challenging in a good and exciting way."

The Bears return the vast majority of its team for 2012-13 and add an exciting freshman class that includes solid 7s experience. Captain Seamus Kelly has returned to campus after his summer call-up to the U.S. National Team travel squad looking to lead Cal into a solid season opener. He is likely be joined by 7s All-America selections Harrington and Jake Anderson, and a complement of players who will vie for positions on the travel roster.

Admission is free to the Buckeye Sevens Invitational.

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2012 BUCKEYE 7s INVITATIONAL

Fri. Sept. 14 at Fred Beekman Park
Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/0K6Cm
Paid parking is available at university lots located south of the venue on the south side of Carmack Road. Two foot bridges across Carmack Road provide from lots to fields. Handicap parking is available next to Pressley Hall, closer to the venue.

Sat. Sept. 15 at Lincoln Tower Park
Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/0aeGM
Paid parking is available at university lots located in three locations: (1) southwest of venue on John Herrick Road off Cannon Drive, and north of venue on (2) east side and (3) west side of Ohio Stadium.

Free Admission