Catholic Routs Georgetown 49-7: Men’s Rugby Home Opener

On Friday, September 11, under the big lights at Cardinal stadium, the team turned up strong, coming off a September 5 win against Severn River (14-10) and a preseason win against the University of Maryland. 

The stands were packed with parents of players, rugby alumni, and current students, with a general hum and vibe that was electric. 

It’s not every day that Catholic University and Georgetown go head to head in an athletic match-up on campus. But men’s rugby is changing that story in 2026 with a season of Division II matches and a cross-town DC rivalry that lit up last Friday night. 

After five decades of being a club sport, rugby was elevated from club to a premier team sport in May 2025, and they posted a 6-1 record in the 2025-2026 season. This year, the Cardinals are meeting the challenge of a more demanding schedule, with matches against teams like the Hoyas and the return of  “Capitol Cup/Best of DC” rugby. 

These two teams have been playing one another since the 1960s, in the days when they were known as the “Turkey Thicket” rugby club. By 1990, the Capitol Cup tournament had become a formal event marking the end of the school year for the four major DC university rugby teams: American, Catholic University, Georgetown, and George Washington.

In the Scrum

The rivalry against Georgetown has only gotten more heated as the years have passed, and on the 11th, our Cardinal rugby team did not disappoint. 

No matter what the formation —  scrum, ruck, maul, or lineout —  the Cardinals held off the Hoyas for a 49-7 win. 

“Starting our conference season off against a school like Georgetown and in front of so many alumni and parents was a great test for us, and the boys really rose to the occasion!” said John Solomon (or “Solly”), head coach of the Catholic University rugby program. “They continue to challenge themselves each practice and game and reset the expectations higher each week.”    

Solomon has coached the Catholic men's rugby team for the past 16 years, and his leadership has been instrumental to the program’s success on the national stage. 

Having proven themselves at the club level – with a Sweet 16 run in the National Collegiate Division III tournament, four Elite 8 appearances, and consecutive trips to the Final Four in 2022 and 2023 – the men’s rugby program has made its definitive mark in Catholic University athletics history.

Keep up with Catholic Cardinals men’s rugby schedule, game stats, and other news throughout the year – and follow them on Instagram.