And while Army has trained under an entire team of coaches, Harvard rugby cannot hire a single coach for the whole year.

Nonetheless, Wayshak says the Crimson has benefitted from its underdog status.

“In a lot of ways, it can make the experience better,” Wayshak said. “You’re not spoon fed, and you have to work for everything you get.”

The Crimson has done its share of hard work.

“We don’t have a coach during the offseason,” Kersey said, “and with the nasty weather, the captains had to organize tough indoor workouts.”

Forced to accomodate varsity athletes, Harvard’s players met on the indoor track late at night to do sprintwork.

During spring break, they went to England to play against top British clubs.

“We got a chance to play against some really good teams and we really learned a lot about the game,” Wayshak said. The England trip was also a bonding opportunity.

“Our team really came together [in England],” Wayshak said.

The Crimson lineup is well-balanced, but a few standout players have been crucial to Harvard’s success.

Senior back Peter Danner and freshman center Tim Mailer wowed spectators on the west coast with fast and clever maneuvering against Utah and Penn St.

At first, Kersey said the crowd at Stanford was cheering for Utah.

But by the end of the game, when Mailer or Danner would get the ball in their hands, the stands erupted in cheers.

“This weekend, being at Stanford will feel like going back to home field,” Kersey said.

The Crimson players will be able to watch the game from the comforts of their own homes when it airs on college sports network, CS-TV, on May 14.

“That’s really cool,” Wayshak said.