The Tennessee Rugby Association kicked off the spring 15s season for its high school girls’ rugby programs last week. Play is concentrated in the Middle Tennessee (Nashville area) and West Tennessee (Memphis area) conferences, and 15s games will continue through April. Crossover semifinals will occur May 7, and the state championship is May 14 in Hendersonville, Tenn.
The Middle Tennessee conference is overseen by Raptor head coach Richard Boone, who is also a Panthers Academy coach. There are seven teams, two of which are new this year: Father Ryan and Inner City Rugby of Nashville (ICRON). McMinn’s TRIBE and Tennessee Rugby Academy (TRA) have merged, and the eastern Tennessee squad is also competing in this 15s league.
Columbia Central has played two games thus far and defeated ICRON 51-0 and Riverdale 47-22. Spring Hill also opened up with a 47-0 win against ICRON. Defending state champion Raptors will contest its season-opener against Father Ryan on Thursday, March 10. TRIBE / TRA will play its opener on Saturday, Marcy 12 against ICRON.
Photo (and lead photo): Buffy Holt
MIDDLE TENNESSEE TEAMS
Columbia: Instagram @columbia_central_rugby_
Father Ryan: Instagram @fatherryanrugby
Inner City Rugby of Nashville (ICRON): Instagram @icrontn
Riverdale: Facebook page (Link)
Ravenwood Raptors: Instagram @raptorrugby
Spring Hill: Instagram @rugbyonthehill
TRIBE + Tennessee Rugby Academy: Instagram @triberugbyfc & @tnrugbyacademy
REMAINING MIDDLE TN SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 10: Raptor v Father Ryan
Friday, March 11: Spring Hill v Riverdale
Saturday, March 12: ICRON v TRIBE
Friday, March 18: Columbia v Spring Hill
Wednesday, March 23: Riverdale v Raptor
Thursday, March 24: Father Ryan v Columbia
Saturday, March 26: TRIBE v Riverdale
Thursday, March 31: Father Ryan v ICRON
Saturday, April 2: Raptor v TRIBE
Thursday, April 7: ICRON v Riverdale
Friday, April 8: Raptor v Columbia
Saturday, April 9: TRIBE v Spring Hill
Tuesday, April 12: Father Ryan v Riverdale
Friday, April 22: Spring Hill v Father Ryan
Saturday, April 23: Columbia v TRIBE
Saturday, April 23: ICRON v Raptor
Tuesday, April 26: Spring Hill v Raptor
Saturday, April 30: Father Ryan v TRIBE
Photo courtesy Instagram @micrugby
Information on the West Tennessee conference is forthcoming, but teams like Freedom Prep Academy and Soulsville hit the pitch last week. More to come.