Who's Up, Who's Down in DI Rugby This Week

Many, many weeks lie ahead through a long and varied college season, and below the standings show just a small sample of the games Men DI College teams will play.

We have a look at who's up and who's down so far.

Who's Down: West Virginia, St. Bonaventure, Delaware, and Buffalo. This is not to denigrate what these teams are doing, it's just that they are in a really competitive conference (Rugby East) and are just flat going to struggle. The biggest problem for these teams? It's not heart or passion; it's not coaching; it's depth. They don't have the dozens of DIA-level players other teams have, and an injury (or graduation) here or there can be felt that much more. This is especially true of Delaware, whose unfair suspension cost them two valuable years of rugby-player influx. These four teams have played eight conference games (not counting the one internal game - SBU v UB), and have lost all eight, with an average score of 70-5. But ... going forward, the test is who will emerge from among those four, and who will keep their shoulders to the wheel, playing at the highest level, and getting better. The latter question? We kind of think they will all hang in there. The former? St. Bonaventure if they stay healthy.

Who's Up: University of Florida. Faced with a tight race in the SCRC for the playoffs, the Gators have been on the outside looking in, of late. But this year they have started strong and look like they might make a move.

Who's Up: Virginia Tech. After a close, close win over Mount Saint Mary's, Va Tech might well be the team to beat in the super-competitive Chesapeake Conference.

Who's Down: Clarity. We posted a long piece about amateurism and the issue of who is professional and who is amateur in college rugby. Players who played in PRO Rugby and have gone back to college raise questions as to whether they are eligible, or even if the games are legal. So we need a policy.

Who's Up: Notre Dame College. They are not listed in the standings below because the Falcons are playing an independent DIAA schedule. Well, in those games they are playing very, very well, and their 26-24 win over Davenport, while the closest of the games, is perhaps the most impressive.