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This Week in Women’s Rugby

  • 28 Nov 2022
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There have been lots of big rugby weeks in the past month, but this weekend is tops. Several collegiate champions will be named, senior club all-stars funnel to Texas, and the USA Women’s 7s team activate for the first time this season. The following is an overview of what’s to come as well as features in the hopper.

COLLEGE CHAMPIONS

NCAA features: But first, another nod to NIRA, which named its three national champions on Nov. 19. Last week, TRB learned more about each title run from three very different perspectives. Dartmouth co-captain Sophie Ragg had a surreal start her rugby career – from one high school 7s tournament, to the England U18 7s team, to her first-ever 15s game at Dartmouth. She’s spent five years in Hanover, N.H., and all three of her non-injured season led to championships. • Per Alle English, Queens University of Charlotte took a chance when recruiting her, but four years later she’s captained the Royals to its first D2 national championship. • A big graduating class and in-season injuries meant that Bowdoin College had to make big asks of its rookies this season. Freshman flyhalf Evie Hamer was one of the first-years who stepped up in the Polar Bears’ third-straight D3 national championship.

 

 

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DI ELITE NATIONALSLindenwood University and Life University meet in the DI Elite National Championship for a fifth-straight season. But this season has been really thrilling. The condense scheduled – which until this year has been spread across eight months – has ramped up the competition and produced several single-digit decisions between members. The national final is part of CRAA’s Fall Classic, which hosts all but the DII Fall Championship on Saturday. Games live-stream on The Rugby Network.

NCR NATIONALS … National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) will name three national champions inside AVEVA Stadium in Houston, Texas. All games will live-stream on NCR’s YouTube channel. Small College and Division II hold their respective semifinals on Saturday, and then finals Sunday. The Division I National Championship between Notre Dame College and Michigan occurs at 2 p.m. Central on Sunday. Also note that there’s a DI Bowl game on Saturday at 6 p.m. between Boise State and Texas A&M. TRB will be on-site for live coverage. Most recent features highlight DII Marquette and Small College’s St. Scholastica, but several more will post this week.

CRAA FALL CHAMPIONSHIPS … The College Rugby Association of Rugby (CRAA) will name the first set of seasonal champions this weekend (spring championships begin in April). The Fall Classic will be live-streamed on The Rugby Network, although at this juncture, but the DII fall semifinals will be live-streamed on YouTube Saturday. The DI Fall Championship between Utah State and Navy is at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, and then the DII fall final will occur Sunday at noon. Most recent features highlight DII Vassar College and Temple, and DI Navy, but more will post this week.

 

USA 7s Rugby World Cup

© 2022 Alex Ho

INTERNATIONAL RUGBY

The 2022-23 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series begins this Friday in Dubai for the women and followed immediately by the Cape Town leg. Traditionally, the opening tournaments feature more new and up-and-coming talent, but being an Olympic qualification year, only four of the 14 travelers have fewer than 10 international tournaments (HSBC series + Rugby World Cup) behind them. Read more.

SENIOR CLUB RUGBY

As the senior club season transitions from fall- to spring-based competitions, it’s a perfect time to fit in all-star 15s. The Mary Graham All-Star Tournament is in Grand Prairie, Texas, and will be live-streamed via Texas Rugby Union’s Facebook and YouTube channels. Read more for rosters.

Last week, TRB interviewed Midwest DII champion Milwaukee Scylla, Empire DII champion New Haven and New England DII champion Worcester, so stayed tuned for those features.

WEEKEND RUGBY SCHEDULE

USA WOMEN 7s
Dubai, UAE (Times in ET)
Live on Peacock

Friday, Dec. 2
12 a.m. vs. Canada
4:05 a.m. vs. China
7:35 a.m. vs. Australia

Saturday, Dec. 3
12 a.m. Knockouts begin

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE RUGBY
AVEVA Stadium, Houston, Texas (Times in CT)
NCR YouTube Live-stream

Saturday, Dec. 3
Small College National Championship
10 a.m. SF: St. Scholastica vs. Lee Univ.
12 p.m. SF: Northern Michigan vs. Endicott College

DII National Championship
2 p.m. SF: Wayne State College vs. Marquette
4 p.m. SF: Roger Williams vs. UW Eau Claire

DI Bowl Game
6 p.m. Boise State vs. Texas A&M

Sunday, Dec. 4
9 a.m. Small College 3rd Place (Field 1)
10 a.m. Small College National Championship
11 a.m. DII 3rd Place (Field 1)
12 p.m. DII National Championship

DI National Championship
2 p.m. Notre Dame College vs. Michigan

COLLEGE RUGBY ASSOC OF AMERICA
Matthews, N.C. (Times in ET)
The Rugby Network Live-stream

Saturday, Dec. 3
DI Elite National Championship
1 p.m. Life vs. Lindenwood

DI Fall Championship
5 p.m. Utah State vs. Navy

DII Fall Championship Semifinals
(No live-stream • Field 10)
11 a.m. Vassar vs. Temple
1 p.m. Colorado School of Mines vs. Coast Guard

Sunday, Dec. 4
12 p.m. DII Fall Championship final

MARY GRAHAM ALL-STAR 15s
Grand Prairie, Texas (Times in CT)
TRU Facebook & YouTube

Saturday, Dec. 3
Tier 1 Semifinals
10 a.m. Texas vs. Midwest 1
2 p.m. Pacific Northwest vs. Capital

Tier 2 Semifinals
12 p.m. Mid-America vs. USA South
3:30 p.m. Midwest 2 vs. Pacific Northwest U23s

Sunday, Dec. 4
9 a.m. Tier 2 Consolation
10:45 a.m. Tier 1 Consolation
12:30 p.m. Tier 2 Championship
2:15 p.m. Tier 1 Championship

Article Categories:
COLLEGE · SR CLUB · USA