The weekend marked the last of the USA Club Rugby Super Regionals, and now the women’s DI and DII 15s national championships are down to four teams apiece. DI meets in Atlanta, Ga., on Friday, May 20 for its semifinals, while DII hosts semifinals on Saturday, May 21. All national finals are Sunday, May 22.
RELATED: DI & DII National Brackets
Heading into the weekend, three of the four DI semifinalists had already been determined, and the field was waiting on the DI West finale between Colorado Gray Wolves and Houston Athletic. The Texans took the first lead of the game, and then clawed back from a 17-5 deficit to lead 31-22 in minute 65. With fewer than 10 minutes remaining, HARC led 38-27, and then the Gray Wolves launched a furious comeback. Justine Perl and Emily Colesworthy scored within minutes of each other, and Perl’s conversion provided a 39-38 lead that held through full time. (Stay tuned for interview with head coach Adam Dick.)
The Gray Wolves will make their DI nationals debut and play Tempe on May 20. The Ninjas won SoCal with a 39-15 victory against Santa Monica, and then was named Pacific Super Regional champ, which came with a berth to Atlanta.
On the other side of bracket, defending national champion NOVA won the Atlantic Super Regional after shutting out Philadelphia and then defeating Atlanta 36-3 in the quarterfinals. NOVA will face Midwest champion Chicago Lions on May 20. The Lions are making their first appearance at DI 15s nationals, although that debut should have happened in spring 2020.
In Division II, only one of four Super Regionals had named their rep prior to the weekend: Atlantic’s Providence (read more). Providence will play Midwest champion Palmer College, and now Northern Super Regional champ, in the national semis. On Saturday, the Davenport, Iowa, team beat St. Louis 51-5, while KC Jazz beat Columbus 30-20 to advance to Sunday’s final. The Dragons finished the weekend in St. Charles, Mo., with a 55-10 victory against the Jazz and advance to Atlanta.
Photo: Jackie Finlan
The Gulf Coast and Pacific Super Regional champs will play each other in the national semifinals, and they both named their champs on Sunday. Both also involved a forfeit as well. In the Gulf Coast, Carolinas-Georgia didn’t send a representative to Texas, and so True South champ Knoxville received a bye on Saturday, while Tampa Bay beat San Antonio 57-3. On Sunday, the Minx bested the Florida champ 30-10 for the berth to Georgia.
In the Pacific Coast, Santa Barbara reported to Morgan Hill, Calif., but not with a full team and added local players to field a full roster. Although a forfeit, the Mermaids gave Portland a full 15s game on Saturday. Meanwhile, Berkeley used the stiff wind against Old Pueblo and upped its time on attack with good work at the breakdown: 74-14 for the win. On Sunday, the Pacific Northwest champ brought a physical game to the NorCal champs, but the All Blues prevailed 27-14 for the berth to the national semis.
Stay tuned for follow-up interviews.