The South Independent Rugby Conference holds its 7s tournament this weekend, with the winner gaining automatic qualification to the USA Rugby 7s Championships to be held at the end of May.

Leading the field in Savannah, Ga. Middle Tennessee State, which is currently unbeaten in the SIRC 15s North Division. MTSU has been an offensive powerhouse in 15s and looks to show off that ability in 7s.

"It's been tough actually because we've had to break out 7s practice in the middle of 15s practice," said MTSU Coach Jody Hensley. "It's been a tough transition. But we've got some guys who've played 7s with us last year." 

Speedsters Adam Fairchild and Brandon Jarrett look to get their share of tries for MTSU, but key might be the halfback combination. Scrumhalf Drew Prince has emerged as a player with potential and so former scrumhalf Coty Baker slides out to flyhalf, where he has done well.  

But they will have stiff competition in their pool, especially from two-time DIAA national 15s champions Central Florida. UCF, after a shocking opening-weekend loss in 15s league play, has reeled off three straight wins and looks back in form. But UCF has never had much of a reputation for champagne rugby, preferring to accomplish with a club what others attempt to beat with a rapier. But that doesn’t mean they can’t play 7s. 

Meanwhile, in Pool B, the team that beat UCF, Florida International, is ready to go. While this tournament is more of a break in the 15s schedule for FIU, they are bringing a group of backs and loose forwards that can score - witness their recent 91-5 demolition of Florida Atlantic. FIU is 3-1 in 15s play, but that loss was actually a forfeit due to them using an ineligible player in that game. In actual fact they are 4-0.

“We’re a lot more focused on 15s,” said FIU’s Mateo Velasquez. “We can use this tournament to build experience, especially with our backs, but we are still going in with the goal to win.”

FIU has serious plans for the spring in 15s.

“That win over UCF made us realize how good we were and what we could achieve,” Velasquez said.

New FIU player Nic Daniel has made an impression and could break out this tournament.

Florida Atlantic is listed in the schedule, but a paperwork snafu means they have to stay home. 

This is one of a series of conference qualifiers for the USA Rugby Men's 7s National Championships slated for May 23-24. The location of the championships is expected to be announced soon.  Teams that don't win their qualifiers, but that play well, can earn an at-large bid, so there's potentially more than one spot at stake in this tournament.

 

SIRC 7s Pools and Schedule

 

Pool A

MTSU

Kennesaw State

Florida State

Georgia Southern

Central Florida

 

Pool B

South Florida

Georgia Tech

Memphis

Florida International

Florida Atlantic (reportedly pulled out)