Submitted photos – The Jacks celebrate their national championship win in December.

By Ray Hamill — When you win a national championship, you get invited to the State Capitol.

The Cal Poly Humboldt men’s rugby will make the trip to Sacramento on Monday, where they will be greeted by Senator Mike McGuire and honored for their recent national championship, before being given a tour of the State Capitol.

The Jacks won their first-ever national title in the sport in early December, defeating Wayne State 20-15 in the National Collegiate Rugby Small Schools decider in Houston.

And the accolades for a team that has given the local university some national recognition don’t end there.

Last month, four of the Humboldt players were invited back to Houston to participate in the annual All-Star Shield Challenge.

Jason Uipi, Logan McDaniel, Dante Cappellano and Latu Kolopeaua were all named to the West Coast all-star team, known as the Grizzlies.

Two of them — Uipi and McDaniel — made the trip to compete in the all-star challenge, which included the best players from Division I, Division II and Small College rugby teams from all across the nation.

McDaniel, a sophomore lock, made the trip for the second straight year, having also been included as a freshman.

Cappellano, a senior who was the starting fly half on the national championship team, was also selected for the second straight year.

Uipi, a senior hooker, was also named MVP of the national final four tournament, while Kolopeaua is a junior No. 8.

All four all-star selections scored in the national championship game.

The Jacks will celebrate their 50th anniversary next season.

Humboldt’s Jason Uipi, left, and Logan McDaniel made the trip to Host to compete in the All-Star Shield Challenge.