The Penn State men's rugby team is taking no chances leading into the USA Rugby Division I College playoffs.

Since the national tournament's round of 16 is being played at State College from April 20-22, the Ruggers do not want to risk any damage to its field because of the recent change in weather. The team rescheduled its match for tomorrow against the Barbarians, a USA Rugby Division II squad, to next Thursday at Holuba Hall.

The break over Easter weekend now gives the Ruggers a much-needed opportunity to heal. The team has suffered several injuries to many key players recently, and, in addition to the players lost earlier in the year, the total injuries has risen to an alarming level.

Last weekend in the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union (MARFU) championships, Penn State lost one of its captains, All-American Auggie Manelick, and one of its rising young scorers, center Austin Manelick. Winger Alex Jaffe, one of Penn State's leaders in tries this season, broke his hand and had surgery this past week.

"Those injuries aren't the end of the world," Ruggers capatin Nic Grala said, "but it's just another addition to our list of injuries on the year."

The injury list had some key players on it before last weekend. Flanker Steven Wak has been hurt throughout the season, and eightman Matt Miller re-injured his knee in the first spring scrimmage.

Losing valuable team pieces has given Penn State's bench players an opportunity to show that the season does not hang solely on its stars. The team's depth showed itself in last Sunday's MARFU championship, when the Ruggers, with many starters sitting, battled back from a 20-point deficit in the second half against perennial power Navy to send the match into overtime. It took two extra periods and a lucky bounce off of a missed penalty kick for Navy to win the MARFU title. Throughout the match, Penn State head coach Don Ferrell said the play of the bench was remarkable.

"As a unit, the whole team showed a lot of heart," Ferrell said. "We got to see the true depth of our team."

Overall team fitness has helped the Ruggers continue to be a competitive, dominating team throughout this injury-plagued season.

"We're confident with whoever we have out on the field," fullback Luke Roberts said. "Being able to rely not only on our starters is a big confidence booster."

The extended break granted to the Ruggers could be the difference between star players returning rusty or recovered. The Manelick brothers and Wak were expected to be ready for this weekend's match, but the longer time between matches gives them more time for rehabilitation.

Miller could be back in time for the national semifinals, if Penn State makes it that far. In order for this to happen, though, the bench players will have to continue to show the strength and determination they have displayed in previous weeks.

"We're in the heart of the season right now," Grala said. "This upcoming part of the schedule will be a test of the ability of our bench."