As a Sports Club at UC Davis, our students lead the club’s operations. This comes with unique benefits and challenges. Aside from the rewards of athletic competition, our student leaders also gain skills in leadership, collaboration, problem-solving and financial management.
Congratulations to the following students athletes who have accepted this challenge and responsibility for the upcoming season:
Captain: Francis Schumann
Majoring in Viticulture and Enology, Francis has played rugby for 3 years. Previously, he competed in soccer and swimming and was the captain of his HS water polo team. He wants to help the team make the playoffs and is graduating in 2024. Read his Captain's Letter here.
Vice Captain: Jack Hansen
Majoring in Managerial Economics, Jack has been playing rugby for 6 years. This summer, he was selected for the U23 CA Grizzlies tour to Chile which was a great experience. Previously, he's competed in football, basketball and track & field, and he was Captain of his HS rugby team. After graduation in 2025, Jack aspires to become a paramedic firefighter.
Club President: Mateo Escobar
Majoring in Statistical Data Science Major with a Minor in Economics, Mateo has been playing rugby for 7 years. Previously, he played football and rugby in HS and played in the the CA State Rugby Championships. Mateo also works for UCD's Athletic Department and hopes to work in Sports Analytics after graduation in 2024.
Vice President: Spencer Bryan
Majoring in Systems and Synthetic Biology with a Minor in Economics, Spencer is entering his 2nd year of rugby. Formerly, he played football and was the captain of his HS wrestling team. He aspires to be an Orthopedic Surgeon after graduation in 2025.
Treasurer: Azeh Kani
Majoring in Neurobiology, Physiology & Behaviour, Azeh has played rugby for 10 years, including stints in South Africa and Florida. He's also competed in football, cricket and track.
Field Manager: David Alferez
Majoring in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behaviour, David has played rugby for 2 years. Previously, he's played football, baseball and track & field, and was a Captain of his HS football and baseball teams. He's expecting to graduate in 2026.
Travel Coordinator: George Zavala
Majoring in Computer Science, George has played rugby for 2 years. He previously played football, baseball and golf. The highlight of his rugby career so far was scoring his first try on the Canada tour last fall.
Recruitment Chair: Travis Orem
Majoring in Communications, Travis has played rugby for 2 years. Previously, he competed in water polo, swim, football, wrestling and volleyball, and served as the Captain of his HS water polo and swim teams.
Fundraising Chair: Maxwell Burns
Majoring in Data Science and Economics, Maxwell is entering his 2nd year of rugby. He previously played soccer and basketball and was the Captain of his HS baseball team. He aspires to be a CDO of a nonprofit after graduation.
Social Chair: Joe Lenning
Majoring in Applied Mathematics, Joe has played rugby for 2 years. Previously, he played basketball and football. and he aspires to start his own business after graduation in 2025.
Social Media Chairs: Josiah Silafau and Jacob Himan
Majoring in Human Development, Josiah has played rugby for 2 years. Majoring in Managerial Economics, Jacob has played rugby for 8 years. Collectively, they'll tag team social media this year.
Merchandising Chair: Nic Allen
Majoring in Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, Nic has played rugby for 3 years. He previously competed in track & field, basketball and martial arts. After graduation he aspires to start his own biotech company.
It’s not easy for these students to balance academics, athletics and administration, so we invite and encourage you to support these individuals in any way you can. Through this newsletter and the website and any other ways you support, you can expect to get to know more about these leaders, on and off the field, as the season progresses.
Club leaders gather with Coach Malpass and some new recruits at a pre-season training.
Past and present leaders come together for a preseason recruiting session.
Please consider supporting our 2023-2024 fundraising effort. Click the image to make a donation.