Alexandra Clarke in last year’s spring title match. •
The Southern Independent Rugby Conference (SIRC) begins this weekend, placing 16 DII teams into the matrix season. There has been some shifting of teams into different pools, but one thing is for sure: All eyes will be on Tulane, last year’s SIRC runner-up that went on to win the DII spring championship.
[Read about the Green Wave’s spring title run.]
“The most interesting thing that came from [the spring championship] wasn’t necessarily from the school initially. The greater rugby community in New Orleans showed massive amounts of support and accolade for their success,” Tulane coach Jessica Mallindine said.
A headlining feature in the local newspaper followed, which prompted formal recognition from Tulane’s president.
“But it was mostly the outpouring of support [from the community] that was phenomenal because no one anticipated what happened happening,” the coach continued. “It adds to the legacy of New Orleans.”
The spring title didn’t affect player recruitment or retention; however, returners did encounter a new challenge.
“Now the girls are faced with [figuring out how to] reset and incorporate new players without intimidating them,” Mallindine said. “It’s one thing to have a brand-new player who’s never seen a rugby ball, but now tell them, ‘We’re the spring champion but you should come out to play!’ … Myself and the girls have worked hard to get the messaging right. It’s still a club sport and the priority isn’t necessarily to win but to be a group and be open – all the great things of rugby. We don’t want to lose sight of that now that we have a bit of competitive fever.”
There are internal issues to sort out as well. Twelve juniors studied abroad during fall 2016, leaving 12 other returners and 12 newcomers to fuse during the friendly season. Those juniors have returned, but come Saturday, the three groups will have had four practices together.
“It poses a different kind of challenge because now we have a team with vets who haven’t been playing with the team we had in the fall,” Mallindine said. “We’re mixing those three groups and seeing who fits where while trying to get ready for this weekend. It’s been interesting.”
Fortunately the Green Wave only graduated three players from the squad that won the spring championship, and Mallindine is counting on that experience to ease the transition into the matrix season. Look for players like Lily Wissinger, Gwen Leifer, Maddie Brenner, Alexandra Clarke and Clare Sullivan (who attended the Women’s Junior All-American camp in December) to be influential on the pitch.
Tulane opens up against Alabama Saturday, and then plays SIRC West poolmates Louisiana State and Spring Hill College before SIRC quarterfinals. The top-two teams from each of the four pools compete in the Round of 8 before convening for the conference final four on March 18. The SIRC representatives will then continue onto the spring regional playoffs (April 8-9), followed by the spring championship (April 22-23).
[To view the entire SIRC schedule and pool groupings, click here.]
Last year, the density of games and associated cost of performing so well caught up with Tulane, and the Green Wave were forced to forgo its berth to the national championship against Davenport. That experience helped the team prepare for the demands of another potential post-season showing.
“Club Sports has for the first time given the team more of a travel budget, which helps a lot,” Mallindine said. “The girls are working pretty tirelessly to make sure they have enough funding to make it to that championship point again. It’s pretty expensive no matter what but they’re chipping away at it.”
Also competing this weekend, Arkansas State plays Middle Tennessee in the SIRC North; Clemson vs. Georgia and Georgia Southern vs. Emory in the East; UT Knoxville vs. Georgia Tech and North Georgia in Central; and Louisiana State vs. Spring Hill College in the SIRC West.
Stay tuned for follow-ups.