With one national-level college 7s tournament done and one more to go, the CRC starts up this weekend in Chester, Pa.
We've got some pool-specific previews on FloRugby
And below is the schedule for Day One.
Some thoughts:
1. Once again we'll quickly say that 24 teams is too many, and 16 or 20 would be ideal. Having only two 2nd-place teams move on encourages blowouts and make getting to a coveted top 8 spot a matter of whether you meet another team at a low ebb, and thus are able to pad your points difference. The answer to that is, of course, win your pool.
2. The competitive balance at the CRC has improved greatly, thanks to the inclusion of Lindenwood and AIC, and the hard work of some other programs to get better.
3. In the knockout rounds, we know anything can happen, but here's what we think: Cal will contend again, Arkansas State is a dark horse that could shake things up, Saint Mary's backs down from no one, and AIC has all the tools. But we think Lindenwood or Kutztown might win it all this year.
4. But of course, what do we know?
Past major 7s tournament winners:
| Year | CRC | USA Rugby |
| 2010 | Utah (Cal) | Not Held |
| 2011 | Dartmouth (Army) | Life (Central Washington) |
| 2012 | Dartmouth (Arizona) | Arkansas State (Life) |
| 2013 | Cal (Life) | Arkansas State (Saint Mary's) |
| 2014 | Cal (Kutztown) | Moved to Spring 2015 |
| 2015 | Cal (Kutztown) | Lindenwood (Davenport) |
| 2016 | Cal (UCLA) | Saint Mary's (AIC) |
| 2017 | Lindenwood (Saint Mary's) |
| 09:40 AM Pool F - Academy Field #2 | Indiana | v | Tennessee |
| 09:40 AM Pool F - Academy Field #1 | Kutztown | v | South Carolina |
| 10:00 AM Pool D - In-Stadium | Arizona | v | AIC |
| 10:00 AM Pool A - Academy Field #1 | Saint Mary's | v | Boston College |
| 10:00 AM Pool A - Academy Field #2 | Dartmouth | v | Temple |
| 10:20 AM Pool D - In-Stadium | UCLA | v | Virginia Tech |
| 10:20 AM Pool B - Academy Field #1 | Life | v | Wisconsin |
| 10:20 AM Pool B - Academy Field #2 | Arkansas State | v | Notre Dame |
| 10:40 AM Pool C - In-Stadium | Lindenwood | v | Army |
| 10:40 AM Pool E - Academy Field #1 | California | v | Clemson |
| 10:40 AM Pool E - Academy Field #2 | PSU Penn State | v | U. of Delaware |
| 11:00 AM Pool C - In-Stadium | Navy | v | St. Joseph's |
| 11:20 AM Pool F - In-Stadium | Kutztown | v | Tennessee |
| 11:40 AM Pool F - In-Stadium | Indiana | v | South Carolina |
| 12:00 PM Pool A - In-Stadium | Saint Mary's | v | Temple |
| 12:20 PM Pool A - In-Stadium | Dartmouth | v | Boston College |
| 12:20 PM Pool D - Academy Field #1 | Arizona | v | Virginia Tech |
| 12:20 PM Pool D - Academy Field #2 | AIC | v | UCLA |
| 12:40 PM Pool B - In-Stadium | Life | v | Notre Dame |
| 12:40 PM Pool C - Academy Field #1 | Lindenwood | v | Navy |
| 12:40 PM Pool C - Academy Field #2 | Army | v | St. Joseph's |
| 01:00 PM Pool B - In-Stadium | Arkansas State | v | Wisconsin |
| 01:20 PM Pool E - In-Stadium | Clemson | v | U. of Delaware |
| 01:40 PM Pool A - In-Stadium | Boston College | v | Temple |
| 02:00 PM Pool F - In-Stadium | South Carolina | v | Tennessee |
| 02:20 PM Pool D - In-Stadium | AIC | v | Virginia Tech |
| 02:40 PM Pool C - In-Stadium | Lindenwood | v | St. Joseph's |
| 03:05 PM Pool E - In-Stadium | California | v | PSU Penn State |
| 03:27 PM Pool C - In-Stadium | Army | v | Navy |
| 03:49 PM Pool B - In-Stadium | Life | v | Arkansas State |
| 04:11 PM Pool B - In-Stadium | Wisconsin | v | Notre Dame |
| 04:33 PM Pool A - In-Stadium | Saint Mary's | v | Dartmouth |
| 05:10 PM Pool D - In-Stadium | Arizona | v | UCLA |
| 05:34 PM Pool E - In-Stadium | California | v | U. of Delaware |
| 05:57 PM Pool F - In-Stadium | Kutztown | v | Indiana |
| 06:19 PM Pool E - In-Stadium | Clemson | v | PSU Penn State |
