The winner of Saturday's match, which begins at 1 p.m. on the Minor Field pitch, earns the right to compete in the National Rugby Union Collegiate Division III Final Four, to be played in the spring.
Saturday's contest marks the second year in a row Hamilton has competed for the regional title, having lost last fall to Bentley College, the eventual Division III national champion. Hamilton advanced to the regional title game with a convincing 15-0 victory over rival Niagara University on Saturday. It was the Exiles' eighth shutout in nine games this season. Hamilton's A-Side has surrendered only three points all year.
The men's rugby program has grown from a squad of about 18 that did not win a game in 2004 when the current seniors were first-year players to this year's undefeated team that numbers nearly 50.
"We've built this program over the past four to five years," said senior captain Jon Milgrom. "And we have a strong freshman and sophomore class."
The Hamilton A-Side is comprised primarily of juniors and seniors and is led by Milgrom and fellow captain Steve Rowe '09. They said the Exiles' strength is their balance and ability to adapt to different playing conditions. A wet, slippery field on Saturday, according to Rowe, will likely result in fewer points being scored.
