After an eligibility controversy which bumped them from the Pacific Mountain West playoffs, UC Irvine has severed ties with coach Vince McLeod.

“We’ve decided to go separate paths, and Vince has been asked not to return next season. The rugby team at UCI is still planning on being very competitive next season,” Anteaters president and captain Gavin Creps told RUGBYMag.

McLeod played an ineligible player in two league matches, resulting in forfeits.

“We all trusted our coach. Of course we did. We hired the guy because we trusted him,” said Creps.

“We have a good relationship with Vince McLeod. The UCI rugby team will always have a good relationship with him. There’s no ill will there. We just decided to go separate paths.”

Hoping to move past the controversy and into a successful 2012/2013 season, UCI is searching for a backs coach with managerial capabilities. Before the forfeits were levied, the Anteaters sat in third in the Pacific Mountain West, behind two top-10 teams -- UC Santa Barbara and San Diego State.

“I’ve got 55 guys coming out to practice, we had an A, B and C team,” said Creps. “I have a team that has so much potential and so much talent, but I can’t find a good head coach or a good backs coach. We have an amazing forwards coach, but I’m having a lot of trouble finding a backs specialist.”

To inquire about coaching UC Irvine, contact Gavin Creps at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it