Provo, UT--The BYU Cougars have released their 2012 schedule in what will prove to be another challenging series of matches.

"Scheduling continues to be a top-priority for us," said BYU head coach David Smyth, "The teams we'll face this season are some of the best in country at any level. Our team will be challenged in all aspects of our game."

The Cougars' 2012 schedule includes another tough Western Conference schedule, 2 matches with top Rugby Super League teams and a marquee non-conference home match against the reputable St. Mary's College in mid-March.

BYU starts the season off on the road in the Northwest with a trio of games in as many days.

The first team the Cougars will  go up against will be Central Washington University in Seattle, Wash. on Thursday, January 26th. Last year CWU finished 3rd in the Pacific Conference behind eventual National Champion Cal Berkeley and St. Mary's College. The Wildcats also recently placed second in the Collegiate 7s National Championship this past weekend displaying their speed and athleticism.

BYU will follow their Thursday match with a fixture against the University of Washington on Friday. The Cougars will meet the Huskies  for only the second time as they last played in the 2005 playoffs with the Cougars winning a come-from-behind victory 29-24.

The Cougars will round-out their 2012 Northwest tour with the first of a duo of matches against RSL teams as BYU will face 2011 RSL semi-finalist Old Puget Sound Beach. The match against OPSB will be the first meeting between the two teams, but will likely provide some familiar faces as former Cougar All American and current USA Eagles player Alipate Tuilevuka will suit up for OPSB.

"This trip to the Northwest is going to test our mettle early," said Smyth, "Each of these teams will challenge our team in different ways and it will be a great way to start the season to see where we're at."

The Cougars will then travel to Las Vegas (www.lvirugby.com) over President's Day weekend where they will face a familiar rival in Penn State. BYU and PSU have a long standing tradition with over 7 meetings in the last 6 years. The Cougars stand 7-0, but know the Nittany Lions will be poised for an upset and their first win over their western rival.

BYU will also host the first-ever Cougar Invitational February 17 and 18 in Provo where they will host in-state rivals Utah Valley University and other teams to be confirmed.

The Cougars next match-up will see an regional rivalry renewed as BYU hits the road to face the RSL's Denver Barbarians February 25. After not playing in 2011, the Barbos and the Cougars will renew a series that dates back to 2007 with Denver holding a 2-1 series edge.

Playing two RSL teams isn't by chance says Smyth.

"We're constantly looking to play the top teams in the country to measure where we stand," he said, "Playing Old Puget Sound and Denver gives us some great opportunities to grow and develop as a team against some of the best teams in this country."

Following the Cougars' matchup with the Barbarians BYU will head straight into their conference schedule as they hit the road to Tempe, Ariz. and face off against Arizona State on March 3.

After being on the road consistently through January and February the Cougars will host a 3 game home stand with a home opener on South Field against the Air Force Academy on March 10.

BYU will then host cross-town rival Utah Valley University in a non-conference mid-week match.

The Cougars will close out their three-game home stand with another non-conference match against the Gaels of St. Mary's College on March 17. Having taken 2nd in the Pacific Conference in 2011 the Gaels boast a number of returning All-Americans.

A quick two-game jaunt to Colorado and Wyoming will round out the Cougars' travels in 2012 as they take on Colorado State University and the University of Wyoming on March 22 and 24 respectively.

BYU will close out their 2012 season with another 3-game home stand against top Western Conference foes Arizona, Utah and Colorado.

Notable within the Cougars end-of-season home stand will be BYU's defense of the Wasatch Cup as they host rival the University of Utah on South Field on April 7.

The Division I playoffs begin with the quarterfinals on May 5th on the higher seeded teams home field, semifinals the following week at a site to be determined and the season concludes with the national championship being hosted again at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah on May 19.