There was a lot of rugby activity to process last weekend and the following puts those games and scores that impact the post-season into context. [Lead photo: DII Midwest championship-bound Columbus Squirrels / Taylor Richards]
SENIOR CLUB
At the senior club level, the Midwest is now one weekend away from naming its various club champions. In DI, both Eastern Conference teams beat their Western Conference counterparts. Columbus traveled to reigning Midwest champion Metropolis and rallied for a 26-22 win (read more from head coach Katy Marlow). Pittsburgh Forge beat the Chicago Lions, also by four points, 16-12, and TRB will have more detail after Tuesday’s player interviews. Columbus and Pittsburgh split their regular-season game and the third round occurs in the Nov. 11 Midwest champion in Lemont, Ill. Winner moves onto DI national semifinals in the spring.
Midwest DII was at the conference championship stage last weekend. In the West, a wild game evolved between Wisconsin and Grand Rapids, and the Michigan team had the final say: 38-36. Incoming interview Tuesday morning. The Growlers will face Eastern champ South Buffalo, which bested Akron 51-12 in Saturday’s knockouts. The duo also report to Lemont this Saturday, and it’s possible that both finalists will advance to springtime Super Regionals (if the format remains the same as 2023).
The Empire GU has one more DII women’s game to contest, and it’s happening in New Haven. The Connecticut side beat #4 Monmouth 19-5 during last Saturday’s semifinals, and New York (3) topped Brooklyn (2) 29-19 for the final’s berth. The final occurs at the higher seed, and thus, New Haven. Victor advances to the springtime Atlantic Super Regionals.
COLLEGE
Quick reference: College 15s Championship Brackets – Combined
NIRA’s regular season wrapped last weekend, thus confirming the DI, DII and DIII semifinals for Nov. 11. Read more. Harvard hosts the championships on Nov. 18.
NCR named the last of its conference champions on Sunday, and on Monday morning, the brackets circulated for DI, DII and Small College regionals. Forty teams are funneling to four locations on Nov. 10-12, and those that win both matches this weekend will advance to nationals in Houston, Dec. 2-3. Latest interview: Coast Guard’s Sarah Price
Photo: JJ Fagan
CRAA has room for more games, as there are no playoffs ahead of the Dec. 1-2 fall finale in Charlotte, N.C. The Northeast ended regular-season play, and now Nov. 11 semifinals are set: #1 Northeastern vs. #4 Boston College, and #2 UCONN vs. #3 Boston Univ. The final and 3rd place games are Nov. 18.
Rocky Mountain uses standings to determine its post-season teams. Colorado beat Montana State 38-24, a result that secured Colorado Mesa State (5-1) a spot in Charlotte. Air Force notched another win, 47-29, against Utah State, and now its Nov. 12 makeup game against Colorado will decide the other berth.
HIGH SCHOOL
Knightmare repeated as Pennsylvania HS 7s champion … Sparta-Rock beat Grand Haven 26-5 for the Michigan 15s title … Summit High School retained the Colorado Interscholastic Rugby Association title. Follow-ups to come. Latest high school feature: Rocky Mountain & its Idaho Championship Build