The Northern Lights Conference is shaken up a little already as the season just gets started.
Longtime contenders and perennial champions Minnesota-Duluth actually entered their game against MSU-Mankato so shorthanded they didn't have a full 15. In the end the game ended as a forfeit for Mankato, while Duluth continues to work on rebuilding to get their nnumbers up. If their numbers rebound they should be strong.
But the slowness of the COVID bounceback in Minnesota has hurt college rugby in the region at least when it comes to roster sizes. The effect spread out to teams in the states bordering Minnesota that are also in the Northern Lights.
All of this was evidenced also in this week's game between North Dakota State and South Dakota State.
SDSU showed up with only 13 players, and opted not to borrow anyone or take the forfeit. Instead they rocked up with the 13, who played the full 80 minutes. It all started out well for South Dakota State as they ran out to a 24-0 lead.
North Dakota State responded with a try just before halftime, and they built on that momentum in the second half. Making the changes at the break NDSU clawed their way back and the game ended tied 31-31.
