When the Penn State men's rugby team faces off against the Dublin University Football Club at 7 p.m. tonight, the formations on the field may resemble those of rugby, but the name of the game will be opportunity.

In playing Trinity, the official rugby club of Trinity College Dublin, the Penn State Ruggers have been granted the opportunity to face the oldest rugby club in the world (est. 1854) as well as one of the most successful and tradition-rich collegiate programs in the sport.

"We aspire to be the best, so we have to play the best," Penn State head coach Don Ferrell said.

Trinity, who regularly finishes near the top in the All Ireland U20's, one of the most competitive leagues in the sport, represents a higher level of competition than the Ruggers would normally be able to face only drawing from clubs in the USA. Foreign collegiate sides are on a different level than can be found here.

"Even though they're in a rebuilding year, you're still not exactly comparing apples and apples," Ferrell said.

Rich in tradition, Farrell views the visiting squad as the ideal collegiate program to model Penn State after.

"We're trying to emulate them," Ferrell said, "and when you're looking to emulate someone, this is about as good of a program as you can find."

One such example of the difference in said tradition is the location of the opposing teams' field.

Trinity's complex is located in the heart of Dublin's city centre. Tonight's game has to be played on Penn State's west campus practice field because of an intramural game scheduled on the Ruggers' game field.

"You can see where rugby sits with everything," Ferrell said. "It's getting better, but it's still not there yet."

There is a good sign for the Ruggers, though.

This is just the second time Trinity has visited the United States. They've played Penn State both times, making other coaches around the country jealous of the opportunity Penn State has been provided with this game.

Tonight represents an opportunity for the Ruggers, a chance to test themselves against an unfamiliar foe.

It also presents an opportunity for the Penn State community, a chance to see Trinity play on this side of the Atlantic.