It's FloRugby's No. 2 versus No. 6 this weekend as Saint Mary's hosts BYU in what has become one of the best home-and-away rivalries in college rugby.

The Cougars travel to Moraga without a lot of rugby under their belts since the fall, but plenty to feel good about. New head coach Steve St. Pierre led the team to a Rocky Mountain Conference title and is now looking at a serious run in the D1A playoffs.

Watch Saint Mary's vs. BYU LIVE on FloRugby Saturday, Feb. 16, 1 p.m. PT

"I am very happy with how the guys have committed to what we're working toward, and with so many good assistant coaches helping me and the support of BYU, it's made it all a lot easier," said St. Pierre.

So has the form of some of the players. Lock James Mocke and No. 8 Kevin Sorensen have emerged as key leaders in the pack—Mocke is a force in the tight five. Meanwhile, out wide, Zach Webber has emerged as a canny and intelligent flyhalf.

Young Cole Semu has enjoyed a strong freshman season.

But perhaps the player of note is Connor Parry. The fullback, who played his high school rugby at Snow Canyon High School in Utah, has blossomed in his third year at BYU. 

"He's just come into his own," said St. Pierre, of the hard-running fullback, who scored five tries in five games last fall while adding 44 more points with the boot.

BYU has lost Eagle hopeful Calvin Whiting, who opted to sign with the Utah Warriors of Major League Rugby, thus ending his college career a little early. St. Pierre said that while that's a loss, he has the depth to recover.

The main trouble for BYU is that the Cougars haven't played. Last week's game with Central Washington had to be called off, so while they had a busy fall, it has been three months since they played an actual game. Saint Mary's, meanwhile, has been playing every week, except last week.

Last week was part of an academic break at Saint Mary's, and so the rugby team took the weekend off. Except that former All Black captain Buck Shelford was in town traveling with a New Zealand trade group. Connections were made and soon Shelford was joining Gaels assistant coach Johnny Everett in running a voluntary clinic.

So even on an off weekend, they were active.

The problem for Saint Mary's head coach Tim O'Brien is that Saint Mary's has dominated. Wins over Central Washington, Utah Valley, UC Davis, Santa Clara, UC Santa Barbara and Glendale Academy were by an average score of 78-3 (oddly, the exact score of the UC Davis game).

BYU's record from the fall—5-0, average score 72-3—is basically the same. 

"There's such a spread now in the level of competition that you don't really know very well where you're going to be in a game like against BYU," said O'Brien. "We know we'll be pretty well-pressed; it's a challenge that will keep everyone dialed in."

It's a huge game then because it's a measuring stick, but it's more than that.

"We started this home and away gig with them and it’s been an enormous benefit to our program," said O'Brien. "It’s also developed a great relationship. And in addition, it's not just the A-side game. Last year’s B-side game at BYU (pictured) was as intense a sporting contest as I’ve been around. We won that game—I still don't know how—but it's that kind of contest for all of our players that develops our depth."

That depth, the bench, may tell the tale for Saint Mary's. At prop, hooker and in the backs they have players on the reserves who could easily start. 

And the great thing is, they play on Saturday, and then get to do it again in a few weeks.