The rugby team will no longer be playing at Appalachian State this weekend, nor against Tennessee next Sunday because of a scheduling change.

According to head coach Frank Graziano, Appalachian State was having problems both with field conditions and the flu.

“We didn’t want to travel all the way there to play on a torn up field, against a team that has health issues,” Graziano said.

He also said Tennessee’s team is having similar problems. However, it wasn’t difficult to fill the holes in the schedule.

“I’m always communicating with the teams on our schedule throughout the season,” Graziano said. “I’ve actually been talking to Tennessee for the past month.”

Graziano also said he contacts his upcoming opponents a few weeks before their games, in order to make sure everything will go smoothly.

Instead of Appalachian State, the women’s rugby team will travel to Southern Illinois-Carbondale at 1 p.m. Saturday.

In program history, Eastern (8-0) is undefeated in its three total games against their in-state opponent, the last win in 2002.

The Panthers won that game 19-12.

Next weekend’s game is a toss up between either Purdue or Michigan State, who play each other on Halloween. According to Graziano, the winner of that match-up will come to Eastern to play the Panthers.

“We worked it out so that the winner of the Purdue and Michigan State game will come to campus and play us,” Graziano said.

The game will be played either on Nov. 7 or 8 and will be the team’s Senior Day, including a pre-game ceremony.

The five players who will be playing their final game include fly half Chase Cain, center Ashley Jenkins, wing Crystal Jones and lock Stephanie Militello.

Junior flanker Tiffany Kennedy, who is graduating early, will also be honored.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7944 or ajmcnamee@eiu.edu.