National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) has been circulating weekly Coaches Polls for its Division I, Division II and Small College competitions. They’re great references for understanding which teams are doing well, and the following lends a bit of context to the current DI Top 10 teams. For a fuller look at all the teams participating in DI, reference this September update.
RELATED: Women’s Rugby Scores: Oct. 12-15
The DI regular season ends on Nov. 4, meaning there are three more weekends for teams to secure a spot to the regional championships. All of the conferences name their post-season reps via standings, except for Lone Star, which will hold a state championship for all of its divisions on Oct. 28 at Baylor University.
Remember that the DI regional championships and nationals take a slightly different format than the DII and Small College playoffs. DI voted for a combined quarterfinal/semifinal stage, and then a one-game-only national championship finale. So on Friday, Nov. 10, eight teams divided between two different locations – Elkhart, Ind., and St. Louis, Mo. – will contest quarterfinals. Consolation matches will be held Saturday. And then semifinals will occur Sunday, Nov. 12. The national championship occurs Saturday night, Dec. 2, in Houston. Read more.
The game to watch this weekend? Virginia Tech vs. Virginia Women’s Rugby (aka, UVA), traditionally the decider for the conference title, whether the teams were in Blue Ridge, Mason Dixon or now South Atlantic (SARC).
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1. Michigan (Big 10) – 5-0 in the Big 10, thus clinching the conference title and top seed into regionals. Even if the Wolverines lose their final match to Purdue (2-1-1) this Saturday, the team still has more bonus points than 4-1 Indiana, which will end its season against Ohio State on Oct. 28.
2. Virginia Tech (SARC) – 3-0 with wins against James Madison (forfeit), Clemson and NC State. Big test is this Saturday against Virginia Women’s Rugby. Closes regular season against UNC on Oct. 28.
3. Southern Nazarene (Lone Star) – 2-0 against the Texas DI teams, and another win against Small College Wayne State College. Saturday is against DII Louisiana State, also undefeated in Lone Star. State championships are Oct. 28 at Baylor.
4. Northern Iowa (Midwest) – 3-0 with shutouts against Winona and Wisconsin, and a two-point win against Iowa State. Regular season ends Oct. 28 against Minnesota.
5. Virginia (SARC) – 2-0 in SARC with wins against NC State and James Madison, but team’s been active with additional games against Penn State and senior club Phoenixville. Team has games the next three weeks: Virginia Tech, Clemson and UNC.
6. Notre Dame (Big 10) – A big confusing having Notre Dame ranked above Indiana, which beat the Irish 33-26 and thus in a better position to advance out of league play. Notre Dame is 3-2 in the Big 10 and will end its regular season with a Friday Night Lights game against Purdue on Oct. 27.
7. Notre Dame College (Allegheny) – 1-0 in regular season, the win coming against Pitt. Team has also defeated NIRA’s Adrian and DII Bowling Green. This Saturday is the other DI Allegheny team, Kent State. A win is a trip to regionals, but with only four games behind them this fall.
8. Indiana (Big 10) – 4-1 in the regular season, with three of those wins being single-digit decisions. The league season ends against a winless Ohio State on Oct. 28 and a victory will lock up the Big 10 #2 seed to regionals.
9. Clemson (SARC) – 2-1 in league with wins against UNC and James Madison and loss to Virginia Tech. The Tigers have NC State and Virginia before the season ends.
10. Iowa State (Midwest) – 1-1 in the Midwest, win against Minnesota and two-point loss to UNI. The Cyclones also won a 27-19 friendly against Iowa last weekend. Regular season ends against Winona and Wisconsin.
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