USA Rugby’s DI College Spring Championship trophy has remained in the Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference (PMRC) for the previous three seasons – specifically in Northern California, thanks to UC Davis (2) and current champion Chico State (photo). PMRC is divided into two competitions – North and West – and they begin league play later this month. Crossover playoffs occur in late March, two weeks prior to the regional championships.
RELATED: DI Spring’s Counterpart: DI Fall Championship
The PMRC West is all NorCal, hailing from Humboldt State in the north to Stanford in the south. The five teams will play each other home and away through mid-March, necessitating some double-header weekends. The PMRC North covers Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and the six teams play each other once prior to crossover playoffs.
PACIFIC MOUNTAIN
NORTH (6): Boise State, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, Western Washington
WEST (5): Chico State, Humboldt State, Stanford, UC Berkeley (Cal), UC Davis
Oregon State and Washington at last year’s PMRC playoffs / Photo: Jackie Finlan
Looking ahead ... USA Rugby’s spring regional playoffs are currently slated to begin with a Round of 16, which means four more teams will advance to the post-season due to the absence of DI Elite programs this year. By comparison, the DI Fall regional playoffs begin at the quarterfinal stage. With that said, BYU has left DI Elite for DI Spring and will likely take an at-large berth to one of the western regional sites. And remember: Teams that compete in BYU’s pool will have a Friday-Saturday schedule.
PMRC SCHEDULE
JAN 19
Chico State @ Stanford
JAN 26
Stanford @ Humboldt
Davis @ Cal
Oregon State @ Washington State
Western Washington @ Oregon
Boise State @ Washington
(27) Chico @ Humboldt
FEB 2
Stanford @ Cal
Chico @ Davis
Washington State @ Boise State
Washington @ Western Washington
Oregon @ Oregon State
FEB 9
(8) UC Davis @ Stanford
Cal @ Chico
Western Washington @ Oregon State
Oregon @ Boise State
Washington @ Washington State
(10) Humboldt @ Stanford
FEB 16
Chico @ Cal
Humboldt @ Davis
FEB 23
Cal @ Stanford
Davis @ Chico
Washington State @ Oregon
Boise State @ Western Washington
Oregon State @ Washington
(24) Humboldt @ Chico
MAR 2
(1) Stanford @ Davis
Humboldt @ Cal
Western Washington @ Washington State
Oregon @ Washington
Boise State @ Oregon State
(3) Cal @ Davis
MAR 9
Stanford @ Chico State
Davis @ Humboldt
MAR 16
Cal @ Humboldt
March 30-31: PMRC playoffs
April 19-21: USA Rugby DI Spring R16/8
May 3-4: USA Rugby DI Spring R4/Final