Which is the Big Game This Weekend in College Rugby?
Which is the Big Game This Weekend in College Rugby?
This is a massive weekend in college rugby.
Army hosting Navy is TRN's Game of the Week and it's a bit of a tossup as to whether that's the biggest game. Actually, Cal vs Saint Mary's was slated to be the game but when it was moved from Saint Mary's to Cal's Witter Rugby Field because the field at Saint Mary's has been overstressed by rain, the broadcaster also, apparently, had to move.
Cal has a deal with Pac-12 Networks so that might be the reason, but the game was pulled from The Rugby Network and is now on Pac-12 Networks. Regardless, that game could well decide the top seed from the West. It's a wide open landscape and it's tough to see where each team might fall, but we suspect that if Cal wins, they might be the highest-ranked West Coast team. Last year Cal won their first meeting on a late try from Jack Manzo. Saint Mary's pulled off a bit of a shocker in the D1A semifinals, however, riding a torrid 20-minute period to chased down the Bears and then to hold on.
Working hard to make sure that doesn't happen is Central Washington, which faces off with Arizona in an all-Wildcat clash. Arizona has been playing well and steadily improving. CWU is somewhat stung by their one-point loss to BYU. Much is on the line here.
And of course the Mid-South is not set. Yes Arkansas State is 4th out of four (sorry Red Wolves) and nothing will change that, but everything else is up for grabs.
Davenport can secure 2nd with a win over Life (even if they don't get a bonus point and Life gets two). So a Davenport win also clinches the conference for Lindenwood. Also clinching for Lindenwood would be a tie, or a two bonus-point loss to Arkansas State. Or, of course, a win.
But Life can overhaul Lindenwood with a victory over Davenport and a loss by Lindenwood.
DIAA Seriousness
The Florida DIAA league enters its playoffs. Florida State gets the bye (thanks in part to a result being overturned due to an ineligible player). The other six play off in the quarterfinals this week. Florida and South Florida are probably favored, but FIU vs UCF is a bit of a tossup. Central Florida won their regular-season meeting 38-27.
The Heart of America final is this weekend. Iowa State plays Minnesota. The winner plays Sam Houston State in the ACR/CRAA semis on April 15. Meanwhile, the West Coast side of that bracket starts to figure itself out. The California DIAA Conference playoffs occur over the next couple of weeks, while Gold Coast figures out their champions. University of San Diego is the top team in the Gold Coast, and they play rivals Claremont Colleges this weekend. Both teams are unbeaten
Check back for scores:
Date | Away | Home | League | Stream | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3/24 | Navy | 34-26 | Army | D1A Non-Conference | TRN | Amelia Luciano |
3/25 | Davenport | 17-26 | Life | Mid-South D1A | FloRugby | Lex Weiner |
3/25 | Arizona | 0-17 | Central Washington | D1A Non-Conference | YouTube | Haley Aguiar |
3/25 | Saint Mary's | 38-34 | Cal | D1A Non-Conference | Pac-12 | Jack Gohl |
3/25 | Cal Poly | 27-36 | UCLA | D1A Non-Conference | YouTube | Jacob Gonzales |
3/25 | Grand Canyon | 54-10 | San Diego State | D1A Non-Conference | YouTube | Marc Voorhees |
3/25 | Texas A&M | 65-5 | Texas | D1A Red River Final | ||
3/25 | Claremont Colleges | 14-38 | U. San Diego | Gold Coast | YouTube | |
3/25 | Arizona State | at | Norco College | Gold Coast | ||
3/25 | Florida | 62-7 | North Florida | Florida D1AA QF | YouTube | |
3/25 | Florida International | 41-28 | Central Florida | Florida D1AA QF | YouTube | |
3/25 | South Florida | 36-7 | Florida Atlantic | Florida D1AA QF | YouTube | |
3/25 | Minnesota | 22-27 | Iowa State | Heart of American Final | Maybe Here | |
3/25 | Mary Washington | 45-14 | Siena | Non-Conference | ||
3/25 | Utah | 22-65 | BYU | D1A Non-Conference | YouTube | Mike Lawrenson |
3/25 | Arkansas State | 24-41 | Lindenwood | Mid-South D1A | ESPN+ | Tyler Chicarella |
3/25 | Penn State | 12-20 | Mount St. Mary's | Non-Conference | ||
3/25 | Oregon State | 24-26 | Washington | NCRC | ||
3/28 | Cal Poly | 36-13 | Texas A&M | D1A Non-Conference | Maybe Here | Ross Davies |