Davenport and Lindenwood are meeting in Elkhart, Ind. Saturday to face off for the first time in both teams’ short but decorated histories.

Originally, a couple of other teams were set to join the reigning DI-AA and DII National Champs in Elkhart for a jamboree of sorts, but when that fell through, Davenport and Lindenwood decided to play nonetheless.

“With the restructuring, it’s hard to find games in the fall season if you don’t play in a league,” said Davenport coach Kruger Van Biljon. “Ron (Lazszewski) was also looking for games and he couldn’t find much, and it worked out in the last minute, and we’re going to use it to look at some guys.”

Both Van Biljon and Lindenwood’s Laszewski stressed that Saturday’s contests, A and B side games, shouldn’t be overhyped, as rolling subs will be in effect and they’ll both be testing different personnel combinations.

Lindenwood will be making the trip without two RUGBYMag DII All Americans – openside flanker Tyler Black and fullback Morgan Findlay. Black is out with a broken hand and Findlay with a nagging back problem.

Regardless, National Champions are meeting on neutral ground, which will make for a spirited day of rugby.

“It’ll be fun and it’ll be our toughest game of the fall,” said Laszewski, “so everybody’s chomping at the bits… We’re excited about it. Anytime you get a chance to compete with a proven good team like that it’s what you crave.”