Harvard, AIC Reign in NIRA

The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) named its 2024 divisional champions on Saturday, Nov. 23 in Hanover, N.H. The following is a quick recap of the games themselves, but stay tuned for individual interviews with players and coaches. Then, the NCAA varsity rugby league will now break for winter and then resume for an unofficial spring 7s season. [lead photo: @HarvardWRugby]

Dartmouth College’s Burnham Field served as host (and will do so again in 2025) for NIRA’s culminating event. Division II kicked off the day’s activities – 2023 champion Davenport University vs. undefeated American International College (AIC). The Panthers traveled to New Hampshire with a 19-player roster and didn’t waste any time building a two-try lead through its outside speed. By day’s end, sophomores Alopa Nau (2) and Carrie Coyer-Westerberg would score for the Michigan team.

But AIC was far from deflated and spent the subsequent 15 minutes working scores through Jendall Moe and Haley Thompson, 10-all. Davenport put its third on the board as the first half wound down and took a 15-10 lead into the break. The Yellow Jackets responded again in the second half, getting two tries from championship MVP Naomi Dodd, also a sophomore, and holding Davenport on defense: 20-15 the final. The DII title marks AIC second-ever NIRA championship, joining the program’s 2021 trophy.

 

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The Division I final was just as heated. It, like DII, was a rematch of the 2023 championship, and again, single digits separated Harvard and Davenport. The scoreboard remained dormant for the first quarter, until championship MVP Tiahna Padilla planted a hard right foot to cut back across the defense and then hit fullback Chloe Headland on the inside line for the try. Harvard hit the conversion and then increased its lead to 12-0 after another Padilla burst to the line and then recycle to PK Vincze for the try.

Dartmouth was up for the fight and scored on either side of the half. Annie Henrich connected with Katelyn Walker for the home team’s first try, and then a long run from Vasiti Turagavou put Cindy Taulava in good position to score the Big Green’s second try. With Henrich’s conversion, the game was all tied up at 12 and with 30-plus minutes to play.

The deciding points graced the scoreboard in minute 57. Harvard executed a lineout on Dartmouth’s five-meter and marched the pile over the line. Hooker Carly Lehman handled the dot-down at the back of the maul, affording the Crimson a 19-12 lead that held for the rest of the match. The trophy marks Harvard’s third NIRA title, matching Dartmouth’s three trophies.