Below is an almost-complete list (and links to coverage) of the 2017-18 national champions for U.S. girls and women’s rugby. There’s one more competition – club 7s – that will occur in mid-August and then added to the list. [Lead photo: Alex Ho @hoiho_photo]
2017-18 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
CLUB RUGBY
(listed in date order)
Women’s Premier League
Final: Nov. 12, 2017
New York (N.Y.) 27-26 Glendale (Colo.)
MVP: Gio Cruz
USA Rugby Division I
Final: June 2, 2018
Life West (Calif.) 91-22 Raleigh (N.C.)
MVP: Catie Benson
USA Rugby Division II
Final: June 2, 2018
Charlotte (N.C.) 46-28 St. Louis (Mo.)
MVP: Sara Davis
USA Rugby Club 7s
Final: August 12, 2018
San Diego 19-12 Scion
COLLEGE RUGBY
(listed in date order)
National Intercollegiate Rugby Assoc. (NIRA)
Final: Nov. 11, 2017
Quinnipiac (Conn.) 29-20 Dartmouth (N.H.)
MVP: Ilona Maher
National Small College Rugby Org. (NSCRO)
15s Final: Dec. 4, 2017
Wayne State (Neb.) 46-26 Bentley (Mass.)
MVP: Leanna Rosberg
NSCRO 7s Final: April 29, 2018
Wayne State (Neb.) 24-5 Lee Univ. (Tenn.)
MVP: Leanna Rosberg
USA Rugby DI Elite 15s
Final: May 5, 2018
Lindenwood (Mo.) 34-8 Life (Ga.)
MVP: Veteronnica Tafito
USA Rugby DI Elite 7s
Final: May 20, 2018
Lindenwood (Mo.) 20-0 Penn State (Pa.)
MVP: Caring De Freitas
USA Rugby Open 7s
Final: May 20, 2018
Air Force (Colo.) 20-17 Chico State (Calif.)
MVP: Noelle Heiser
* USA Rugby does not name national champions for Division I and Division II women’s colleges, but separate fall and spring champions. Additionally, USAR does not name MVPs for seasonal championships, and so those listed were TRB’s picks.
USA Rugby Division I Fall
Final: Dec. 3, 2017
Davenport (Mich.) 89-24 Notre Dame (Ind.)
MVP: Danielle Ordway
USA Rugby Division II Fall
Final: Dec. 3, 2017
Winona State (Minn.) 38-36 Vassar (N.Y.)
MVP: Emily Becker
USA Rugby Division I Spring
Final: May 5, 2018
Chico State (Calif.) 54-26 Central Florida (Fla.)
MVP: Stefani Bergerhouse
USA Rugby Division II Spring
Final: May 5, 2018
Tulane (La.) 31-14 Claremont (Calif.)
MVP: Alexandra Clarke
HIGH SCHOOL RUGBY
USA Rugby does not host a high school national championship, and the closest thing to it is the Girls High School National Invitational Tournament (NIT), which also exists for the boys.
HS Club NIT
Final: May 19, 2018
United (Utah) 15-5 North Bay (Md.)
MVP: Nafanua Fitisemanu
DI Single-School NIT
Final: May 20, 2018
Kahuku (Hawaii) 33-29 Catholic Memorial (Wisc.)
MVP: Taina Scott
DII Single-School NIT
Final: May 20, 2018
Broken Arrow (Okla.) 46-5 Grandville (Mich.)
MVP: Jessica Laughlin (backs), Mckaylynn Stephens (forwards)