The Southern Rugby Conference begins with ten teams in action this weekend.

Defending champion Furman hosts Coastal Carolina and Head Coach John Roberts says his team needs to fill in some important holes. Furman graduated their 2014 second row, and their props, Adrian Marcoliese and Jeff Tonge, are studying abroad this semester, and so his tight five is completely new.

Marcoliese and Tonge, said Roberts, were capable of changing a game with the way they dominated the point of contact. And while flanker RJ Bradley, South African-trained Thomas Trankle, and Patrick Musau will provide power at lock and No. 8, it’s up front where the questions need answering.

“Our backline is looking very strong,” said Robert. “But if you can’t win scrums, that doesn’t matter as much. Coast Carolina is good and they always give us problems.”

Still, this is a Furman program that won the Southern last year and while they were eliminated in the national Round of 16, it was by Notre Dame College and by a mere two points, 17-15.  

Meanwhile, Citadel is making a surge, and to see if their surge is legit, they get to play at UNC-Wilmington this weekend. That’s a huge game for both. 

East Carolina, which won the Southern-North last season, opens up on the road against Appalachian State, the team that finished second in that division.