National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Division II is exciting not just because it’s a new competition but for the bridge it represents. High-achieving small colleges – like Wayne State College and Roger Williams University – have a space in which to grow, and those teams that were filing in behind big Division I teams now how a playoff pathway. It’s about getting like-strength teams playing each other. (Watch all the games lives on YouTube @NationalCollegiateRugby.
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The Marquette vs. Wayne State College semifinal is a good example of the aforementioned. Marquette featured in the 2021 DI national championships and lost to Life University JV and Notre Dame College. (Today, the Running Eagles do not compete in NCR 15s and the latter is vying for the DI championship against Michigan.) Nevertheless, Marquette developed a taste for nationals, and the ultimate test this fall ended up been an internal one. When both captains, Ryley Rand and Hayley Weeder, came out of the conference final with injuries, the team was unsure of itself heading into regionals. But Marquette battled back from a two-try deficit to beat Bowling Green 22-15, and that confidence boost flows into the semifinals. Read more from head coach Aoife Hanley.
Wayne State College has had a very different experience, winning seven of the previous nine Small College national championships. But in recent years, the point differentials have continued to grow and the move to DII now felt right. With that said, head coach Darrin Barner has indicated that the past six years have been special in terms of talent load and after this year, rebuilding will be underway.
Regionals wasn’t exactly a great gauge in terms of understanding Wayne State College in a higher division, as its opponent, UT San Antonio, is new to NCR 15s. But game did provide the Nebraska program with the push-back it had been looking for all fall. For those watching the Wildcats for the first time, Selma Taylor, Taylor Ference and Jasmine Dao will all pop out. Read more from Barner. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. CDT.
On the other side of the bracket is Roger Williams University and UW Eau Claire, and we love this match-up for its recent 7s history. The two teams found each other in the CRC 7s DI Club Championship, so even though they’re 1,300 miles apart, they know each other. Or, they know each other as much as two teams can when it comes to one 7s game, which is a completely different game from 15s, especially when both teams have dynamic forwards.
For Roger Williams, look at senior loose forwards Elizabeth Dobson, Casey Dunbar and Guinevere Rhuda to have a big effect on the game, and senior scrumhalf Tiana Adams to be the general in the middle of the pitch. Outside center Sarah Gray scored the second-most points in the Colonial Coast during the regular season. Also look for the two coaches on the sidelines – Cait and Melissa Mallahan – two sisters personally invested in the Hawks and who were collegiate players not that long ago. They add a lot of love in this interview.
Well before UW Eau Claire knew it was facing the Hawks in the semifinals, coach Derek Wagner was declaring the team’s intentions for a nationals run.
“Nationals is always the route we want to take and pursue. Coming into the year, knowing the talent and experience we have, we’ve been optimistic about where this side can go.”
And the Wisconsin team has followed through so far. On back-to-back weekend, the team post 29-0 shutouts – first against Marquette in the conference final and then against Cincinnati in regionals. When one thinks of defense, look at hooker Lydia Sinn and flanker Julia Bancroft. Ball-in-hand danger – the back three’s Emma Hamilton and Izzy Currie. And who’s keeping every knit together? Captains Abbey Jacobs and Becky Kasprzak at No. 8 and outside center, respectively. Expect a good game; kickoff at 4 p.m. CDT.