This weekend, the Temple Rugby Club will pursue its quest to be crowned the best collegiate rugby team in the nation as it takes the field at the USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship Invitational (CRC) at PPL Park.

Founded in 1980, Temple Men’s Rugby has steadily gained stature as one of the university’s most successful athletic clubs. The team has won the Mayor's Cup and Liberty cup numerous times, and in 2003 won the Division II Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union (EPRU) championships. Since then, Temple has moved up to the Division I level and has qualified for the EPRU championships for three years in a row.

Temple standouts Chase Haberstroh and Devin Sugg were among those named Keystone Rugby All-Conference in the 2013 season. The duo looks to continue their successful season this weekend at the Chester, Pa., home of the Philadelphia Union. The team will compete against rugby powerhouses like returning two-time CRC champion Dartmouth and locals Villanova, St. Joseph’s and Penn. The squad plays the opening round in Pool C with University of California, Kutztown University and Virginia Tech University.

Temple’s Women’s Rugby team will also compete in the Women’s Collegiate Rugby Championship that begins Friday at Drexel University’s Vidas Athletic Complex and concludes with finals on Sunday at PPL Park.

As the hometown favorites, Temple Rugby has established a reputation for having the largest and loudest fan section — and you can be a part of it. Tickets are on sale at the CRC website. In addition, NBC Sports and Comcast will broadcast the invitational throughout the weekend.