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National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) polls a selection of coaches in all four women’s divisions to feed rankings. The member organization published pre-season lists, and now after a few weeks of 15s play, there is some data to start reorganizing teams. The following adds some results for context of the movement, and the series starts with Division I. DI-AA, DII and DIII to follow. [lead photo: Jackie Finlan]
Five teams featured on the pre-season rankings and there are still five spots in the coaches poll. Reigning national champion Southern Nazarene University retains the top spot, having played two matches against NCAA DI Lindenwood University. The Crimson Storm lost both matches to the powerhouse Lions, which finished runner-up to Harvard in its first DI NIRA season last year, but surely that tough exposure early on will prove valuable in terms of standard setting.
SNU has a really fun schedule that includes teams from NCR, NIRA, CRAA and USA Club Rugby. Provided there are no forfeits, which has hampered momentum in the past, the Bethany, Okla., program will face Aquinas in Iowa, senior club Dallas Harlequins, BYU, Oklahoma, Brown, Life and Air Force.
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St. Bonaventure has also retained its spot as #2 on the Coaches Poll and has put its varsity and JV sides to work early in the season, per usual. The New York program had scrimmages against Niagara and Walsh University, and JV matches against Syracuse, Colgate and Norwich. The first side beat NCR newcomer New Haven 83-5 as well as Norwich, which was billed as a friendly. Its remaining DI games against Penn State, Lander and Walsh will occur in October.
A crucial game between Penn State and Lander impacted the rankings. The Nittany Lions, under the direction of new head coach Matt Ramirez, previously of Central Washington University, traveled to South Carolina for a 46-19 win. As such, the Bearcats fell off the rankings and Penn State moved from #5 to #3. Lander plays Life University this weekend while Penn State sees New Haven on Friday.
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Given the Chargers’ result against the Bonnies, it’s no surprise that they fell out of the top five. After Penn State this Friday, the Connecticut team will head to Lander on Oct. 3 and then play DI-AA teams Northeastern and UCONN before playoffs.
Walsh University and Aquinas joined the Coaches Poll at #4 and #5, respectively. The former has played three games so far — wins against DI Ohio State and DII Bowling Green — and then tied Aquinas at home 29-29. Aquinas has played a tougher schedule so far against NCAA DII varsity Davenport and DI-AA Michigan, but both of those games resulted in losses. Aquinas meets Southern Nazarene in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Saturday. Walsh will host Michigan on Sunday.