The Big Ten Universities Rugby Conference has admitted Penn State to its Spring 7s competition.

This is a big move for Big Ten University Rugby as it helped elevate the standard of competition with addition of one of the top programs in the country.

(There are actually 14 universities that are part of the NCAA Big 10 conference, including the seven teams that currently play in the BTU rugby conference, as well as Penn State.)

Member programs have expressed their excited about the addition of the Nittany Lions, saying it will motivate and drive athletes across the conference to achieve ever higher standards.

“We’re excited for Penn State to join the league," said University of Michigan Captain George Janke. "It raises the quality of our competition, and further legitimizes the Big Ten as a top destination for college rugby.”

The Big Ten 7s Championship will be contested over a three-tournament series. Teams will earn standing points based on finishing position at each tournament. The first leg is at the University of Illinois on April 2. Leg Two is at Purdue University on April 9, and the final leg is at the University of Michigan on April 16. The team with the most standing points after all three tournaments will be the Big Ten 7s Champion.

Penn State has been absent from Big Ten 7s since 2011 when they finished second in the conference. Head Coach Justin Hundley is excited to have his team back in the fold.

“It is a great opportunity to play in Penn State’s traditional conference against some PSU Athletic rivals," said Hundley. "It is also a group of strong schools that will test us and hopefully help our preparation in qualifying for the National Championships.”

Hundley hopes the benefits of his team’s inclusion extend to the entire league. “We add to an already robust conference. I believe that it is not only helpful for the Penn State Rugby brand to play in the Big Ten but also adds more weight and value to the conference overall.”

Hundley was asked to take a straw poll of his players about which current Big Ten they are most excited to face this Spring. The resounding answer may surprise: “All of them!" reported Hundley W"e have had a long-standing tradition of playing Ohio State so that is obviously going to be a key matchup should we see them. But each team will bring a new challenge and a different style and we will see how we react and are able to adjust to the competition.”

As the Nittany Lions join the conference, Big Ten fans will have some new faces and names to learn. Keep an eye out for Dalton Musselman, Jesse Capriotti and Brian Stella. They are three great players on PSU’s roster in both 15s and 7s. All three were part of the team that won 2021 NAI7s in Utah. Stephen Hoey will to be a strong player and First-Year Mikey Wein is a dynamic attacker. Expect several up-and-coming Nittany Lions to find their form playing 7s as well: Charlie Overton is one such player to watch.

“I think every teams goal is to win, but we are also focused on growing as a squad and making sure that we get better each game and each tournament," said Hundley. "The spring is always tough balancing 15s and 7s but I believe that this challenge will not only pay off this season, but in seasons to come.”