Jan 16- Arizona has announced the sides that will kick off 2026 with a trip to the Bay Area this weekend for a match-up with St. Mary’s College.

The match in Moraga will feature two top-ten teams, with the Gaels sitting at #6 in the nation. Matteo Berenger captains the side from Fullback while stand-in vice captain Dalton Slaughter fills the shoes of Tanner DeMassa. “Tanner will be back soon and he’s been a great resource in training helping us get back on the same page. This is also a chance for us to recognize Dalton, who continues to play a huge role in the team and show that leadership and form that made him an All American last year” said Director of Rugby Sean Duffy.

 

Slaughter will have the usual tandem of Isaac Morrill and Henry Langrish alongside him, while in the back row Liam Parker gets the start at openside flanker in DeMassa’s place. In the finishers, a group of experience and youth is ready when called upon, including first-year Scottish prop Jack Lister and veteran Jack Kerrigan. “We’re seeing a great young talent grow up in front of us as he continues to get better every week. Between he and Jack we are hoping to display some of that depth you want over the course of the long season” said Duffy. 

Berenger will lead a backline that will feature a 9-10 combination of Lucas Smith and Saxon Gerstl, while USA U20 camp invitee Jake Schumacher pairs with Nick Morgan to give the Wildcats real threats wide. “The boys are ready and have a great week of training. First week back and we are building nicely. We understand the task that is St. Mary’s and we’re confident that if we perform at our best we will get the job done” said Gerstl.

 

The match will be the first of 2026, but an opportunity to play quality opposition early which will benefit the 10th-ranked Wildcats. “St. Mary’s is a well-coached side and we had a tight one last year. We’ve got some new concepts, a couple new faces, but the same energy and goal. We want to push ourselves in our scheduling to prepare us for what we hope will be a long Spring season” said Duffy.

 

The Wildcats and Gaels played a 12-10 thriller in Tucson last January, with Arizona looking to get their first win of 2026. Arizona 2nd XV will also take on the Gaels, playing St. Mary’s 2nd XV immediately following the 1st XV match.

 

To catch the match live, click here.

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Arizona's full schedule can be found here.​​

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Arizona vs St. Mary's

1- Isaac Morrill

2- Henry Langrish

3- Dalton Slaughter - VC

4- Chris Grosse

5- Andreas Andersson

6- Jacob Jaffe

7- Liam Parker

8- Aiden Kemp

9- Lucas Smith

10- Saxon Gerstl

11- Jake Schumacher

12- Tom Manning

13- Brody Johnson

14- Nick Morgan

15- Matteo Berenger- C

16- Carter Hertstein

17- Jack Kerrigan

18- Jack Lister

19- Braedon Butte

20- Logan Shea

21- Connor McIsaac

22- S. Catchpole

23- Parker Beilke​​​​​​​​

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Arizona 2nd XV vs St. Mary's 2nd XV

​1- Dominic Zapata

2- Carter Hertstein - VC

3- Geno McKenna

4- Jamie Clegg

5- Matt Grau

6- Takumi Kawamura

7- Logan Shea

8- Will Barrett

9- Declan Postin

10- Jano Jansen van Vuuren

11- Nico Enegren

12- Lance Barker

13- PJ Enegren

14- Jackson Kutcher

15- Jimmy O'Connor- C

16- Hunter Gabrielsen

17- Max Tenery

18- Scott McGhee

19- Lachlan Teissier

20- Nicholas Lake

21- Jonny Rix

22- Eli Zsemlye

23- Brendan Doebel

24- Kieran Quinn

25- Sergio Ruiz Sanchez

 

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