NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Under the lights and in front of a national audience, the Norwich University men's rugby team will take center stage Friday night when the Cadets host the United States Coast Guard Academy as part of National Collegiate Rugby's (NCR) Friday Night Rugby series.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Cadet Memorial Field, with the matchup serving as a showcase for two historic Division II programs and conference rivals.
Friday night's contest marks Norwich's latest appearance in NCR's Friday Night Rugby series, continuing a tradition of bringing Cadet Rugby to a national audience. The program previously headlined the series in 2025 when Norwich hosted the University of Vermont on Halloween night at Sabine Field.
The opportunity comes during a new chapter for Norwich Rugby as the Cadets enter their first season under head coach Carrick Pell. Pell took over the program following the retirement of longtime head coach Bob Weggler, who spent 25 years building Norwich into one of the nation's premier Division II rugby programs.
Under Weggler, Norwich made 16 national tournament appearances across 15s and 7s competition, including four straight Sweet 16 and Elite 8 appearances after joining NCR in 2021. The Cadets also reached the national Final Four in 2021 and 2024 while establishing a tradition of competing on the national stage.
Pell brings his own championship pedigree to Northfield after leading Babson College to NCR Small College national championships in both 15s and 7s in 2023.
The Cadets opened the 2026 15s campaign with a hard-fought 24-17 setback against defending national champion Vermont on Sept. 19 at Cadet Memorial Field. Norwich responded in impressive fashion one week later, shutting out UMass Lowell, 17-0, at the Dog River Rugby Pitch.
Against UMass Lowell, Norwich's defense controlled the match from start to finish, holding the River Hawks scoreless while Aedan Kerr (Hillside, N.J.) scored the opening try. Eric Forcier (Colchester, Vt.) added a second try before captain Joe Whiteside (Killingworth, Conn.) crossed the try line following a UMass Lowell penalty. Kerr converted to help secure the shutout victory.
Whiteside has emerged as an offensive catalyst for the Cadets during the opening portion of the season, while Norwich's defensive pressure has been a defining characteristic of the team's early success.
The Cadets also bring a strong foundation from the spring, when Norwich earned its eighth consecutive appearance at the Collegiate Rugby Championship. The Cadets finished 11th nationally at the 2026 CRC Men's Division II Cup, including a dominant 36-0 shutout of Drexel in the tournament's final match.
Norwich also posted runner-up finishes at both the Chris Munn Rugby 7s Tournament and the Lt. Scott F. Milley Memorial 7s Tournament, continuing the program's tradition of competing deep into national and regional tournaments.
Friday night's matchup against Coast Guard provides another opportunity for the Cadets to build on that tradition while establishing their identity under Pell.
With the lights on, a national audience watching and two historic programs meeting on the pitch, Norwich Rugby is ready for another Friday night showcase.
Watch the match live: NCR Friday Night Rugby Live
