Don't you just love a team without a country?

OK, maybe not a country, but how about a team without a conference? American college rugby has more than a few of those... BYU, Central Washington, Navy, Grand Canyon, Lindenwood-Belleville... and, of course, American International College.

AIC has felt a little on the outside at times, as the college itself plays in a variety of sporting conferences. But in rugby, the offseason has been especially difficult, as the entire East Coast Rugby Conference -- the league the Yellowjackets won last season -- dissolved, with most of the teams becoming part of the Liberty Conference.

Most, but not all. New England College and American International were left without a conference affiliation. AIC, which hopes to get into the Rugby East and has scheduled a couple of its teams, will also compete as a DIAA independent this season.

The Yellowjackets kick off with a clash against Army at West Point on September 2 and in October will take on Notre Dame College (which joined the Rugby East this season). NEC and AIC play each other twice -- they may as well since they're both in the same boat -- and nearby UMass and Iona are also on the docket. The Yellowjackets and Iona played in a Bowl Series game last fall, which AIC won.



Yellowjackets head coach Rob Guiry said he doesn't know exactly what he's got this year, but he's optimistic about his team.

AIC graduated several key leaders, but has a couple key returners in skillful flyhalf Jihad Khabir and hard-nosed No. 8 Matty Jones. Also back in the fold are junior Nic Franklyn, who will be moving back to his original position of hooker for this season, sophomore lock Tommy Clark, and junior fullback Michi Magistrali.

As for recruits, Carmen Consolino, the Wisconsin select side captain, and Demi Ajeigbe from London Scottish Academy will battle it out in camp with returners Cal Harrington and Colton Larkin.



There will also be a lot of competition in the front row, where two players with men's club experience, Daryl Bagley (Milwaukee Barbarians) and Josh King (Montauk), will be looking to make an impact. At center, Texas high school state champion Kyle Brown, Justin Rumsey of the Virgina select side, and football convert and Boston 13s rugby league player Rob Dixon have tons of potential.

Berkshire's Shamall Schoonmaker and Italy U18 national team member Filippo Banzato, a transfer from Lindenwood-Belleville, will look to duke it out as well in a crowded midfield.



Speedsters Eric Folson (Washington, DC) Chris Miles (Pelham, NY), and Malik Wilbon (Amherst, MA) will compete for time in the back three, and they will have some chances as three talented wing/fullbacks in Christian Adams, Royaal Jones, and Lui Sitama will be taking the fall off to focus on academics while preparing for spring 7s.



"We only graduated two players from our [Collegiate Rugby Championship] team last year, and with the return of Sitama and the contributions from a lot of these freshman we expect to put forth a really strong 7s squad," Guiry said.

The fall season will end for AIC in the Bowl Series (location to be confirmed but in the Northeast somewhere). In in the past three years, the Yellowjackets have beaten Bowling Green, Clemson, and Iona in bowl games. But right now, Guiry and the Yellowjackets are looking at Army first -- even if that game will be treated a bit more like a scrimmage by the teams.

"I'm very excited to start with Army," Guiry said. "It should be a great test."