In USA Club Rugby, there are fewer than 30 Division I women’s teams participating in a 15s competition, making the space relatively easy to follow in terms of tracking scores. However, any changes (e.g., the creation or addition of a team to a competition) often aren’t known until schedules start posting. Even then, some investigation is still needed. All of that is to say that the following is a recap regarding the DI rugby that has occurred thus far and the important stuff on the horizon — e.g., Midwest semifinalists are now known. Check back for a Division II club synopsis and on-going updates as new info is discovered.
RELATED: Girls & Women’s Rugby Scores: Oct. 11-13
ATLANTIC (standings) has been a fun competition to follow this fall, with half of the games decided by single digits. After last weekend, the four teams ranked 2-5 in the standings are all 1-2. NOVA (4-0) is the only team to have played the entire field and has reiterated its status as the team to beat. Its closest game occurred against Raleigh, a 25-17 contest. Captain Camille Johnson leads on points scored (63) with four tries, 20 conversions and a penalty. The fall half of the competition will continue until Nov. 9 and then resume March 15, 2025.
View this post on Instagram
Columbus and Pittsburgh Forge have secured their berths to the MIDWEST semifinals on Nov. 2. The 5-0 Squirrels locked up the #1 East seed after defeating defending champion Pittsburgh Forge for the second time this fall, 47-36. Nykeisia Post (60 pts, 12T), Mary Kuhner (47 pts., 22C, PK) and Marcaya Bailous (40 pts., 8T) have led on the scoreboard. The Forge (3-2) has a big enough lead over the third-ranked team to also qualify for the post-season, regardless of this Saturday’s result against Cincinnati.
RELATED: Sept. 18 Club Update
In the West, the Metropolis Valkyries (5-0) and Chicago Lions (4-1) will play their rematch this Saturday, Oct. 19. In the first edition, the Valkyries won 36-19. Sarah Rosche leads the squad with nine tries, while Emily Granville (7), Megan Ahnen (7) and Caitlin Coombs (5) have also been great finishers. Shaena Sparrow accounts for 40 points (4T, 10C), while Tina Licari (10C) and Whitney Swenson (15C, PK) have shared kicking duties.
View this post on Instagram
Both are guaranteed berths to the Midwest semifinals, and this weekend’s result will solidify seeds. The Midwest championship is Nov. 9 in Lemont, Ill., and the victor advances to the national semifinals in May 2025.
There are many moving pieces in the PACIFIC NORTHWEST. The Premiership is familiar, in that the most consistent DI and DII teams compete in that hybrid league in the fall and spring. Seattle continues to be the dominant DI force here, and the club as a whole will double up on fixtures with the onset of the B.C. Premier League, which begins Oct. 26 for the Orcas. The goal is to have two separate player pools for the U.S. and Canadian leagues, but some crossover is expected, especially as players improve and warrant a promotion.
View this post on Instagram
In ROCKY MOUNTAIN, Denver Black Ice has been the most active of DI teams. The fall started with two sides traveling to Mid-America, and the DI side beating DII St. Louis 32-12. Two weeks later, the Coloradans traveled to ORSU for 56-10 friendly win. Last Saturday marked Denver’s first regular-season game, as the Utah Vipers — which had defeated DI Colorado Gray Wolves 81-10 in Utah — came to town. The visitors were short on subs, and Black Ice legged out a 56-17 win to top the DI standings.
Still dormant are the DI teams in Northern California, Southern California and Texas, but expect movement in November.
One element in which we’re very interested is the impact of the Women’s Elite Rugby pro competition, set to launch in spring 2025. Will Women’s Premier League (WPL) teams and/or players be reabsorbed into Division 1? Probably, at least until there are enough resources and personnel to support both the WER and WPL, in whatever form it exists. As for the 2024-25 season, it’ll be easier to integrate WPL players into DI for some teams but not all. For example, if Beantown and New York wanted to add teams to the DI Atlantic, it couldn’t happen this season, because that schedule is all plotted out through April. But if Berkeley wanted to field both DI and DII teams in NorCal, it could happen, since the Bay Area region doesn’t start playing 15s until January and there’s a bit more time to sort those logistics.
We’ll start asking all of those questions soon, but there’s plenty of in-season 15s happening now, and that’s where attention is focused.
All Comments
Pingback: Rugby Results: Oct. 18-20 - The Rugby Breakdown