The LSU Men’s Rugby Club team will play Florida in the semi-finals of the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference Championship on Saturday, after finishing the regular season undefeated.
LSU clinched the top seed in the western division of the SCRC for the third straight year.
LSU hopes to complete the perfect season with a conference championship and a national bid to play in the United States of America Rugby College Championship.
Led by veteran players club President Daniel Clesi and two-time SCRC Player of the Week senior eighth man Will Middleton, the development of the team throughout the season has prepared more inexperienced players for postseason play.
“We have come together as a cohesive unit a lot better,” Clesi said. “Everyone is used to playing with each other now that wasn’t playing with us before. Each different game has been a different experience. Other teams have throw out different strategies. It helps refine your skills whenever other teams target your strengths.” 
In 2013, LSU came into the conference tournament as the top seed out of the west SCRC after a 5-1 regular season. However, the team did not earn a bid to play in the USA Rugby Championships after it dropped the SCRC semi-final match against South Carolina, 36-28.
“Last year, we lost to South Carolina in the SECs by a try, so the big target we have is to beat South Carolina,” Clesi said.
The Tigers may be able to get revenge this weekend because South Carolina is in the semi-finals as the top seed from the east, after finishing the regular season with an undefeated record.
If both LSU and USC win in the semi-finals, LSU would play the South Carolina for the SCRC Championship on Sunday.
LSU has been dominant in the majority of its games this season, but the largest difference between last year and this year is the team’s victories over top competition, Clesi said.
The club defeated the defending SCRC Champions Tennessee, 41-18.
“The pretty decisive win against Tennessee was a good indicator [of the development of the team since last season],” Clesi said. “That was good preparation for [Florida] because they play a similar style.”