The Penn State men's rugby team opens its fall season against the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Tooters today and are ready for a well-fought match.

The match will be played at 7 p.m. on the East Fields, located across from Beaver Stadium.
The Ruggers have been practicing frequently and recently had their alumni game in preparation for the start of the season. The team hopes to shake off any rust it might have accumulated since it last played in the spring.

"This will be our first real game in a while," head coach Don Ferrell said. "It is going to be nice to actually hit someone other than ourselves for a change."

There has been no real scouting thus far, as it is the start of the season.

The only preparation has been practice by both squads.

IUP also had an alumni game to help prepare for the season.

The Ruggers have played the Tooters for a long time.

They are quite familiar with each other, and both teams will be looking toward a good match. Ferrell thinks that IUP has a strong team.

"They are pretty solid," Ferrell said.

"They have been in a bit of a rebuilding stage, but that does not mean they will not put up a good fight. There is somewhat of a rivalry due to the close proximity of our schools. This is usually a very spirited match between us."

Things are not officially set with the Ruggers' roster.

Ferrell has been keeping an eye on players to see where everyone eventually winds up. He is looking to see which players fit in various positions and situations, and he hopes everything will soon fall into place.

Of course, a win to start the season is always something a team desires. Ferrell hopes that a win would also help give the team an idea of where it stands in the league.

"A win in the opener would help us gauge where we are at this point. It is helpful to know where we are against other teams," he said.

The coach hopes for sharp execution and strong defense in the match. It will be crucial toward a victory, he said.