Photo: Carlos J Morales
DENVER – There will be at least two new champions at the 2015 USA Rugby College 7s National Championships this weekend, with the Thunder Chickens of Principia College the only returning title holders from the 2013 tournament.
In all, 52 men’s and women’s teams will grace the three fields at University of Denver to play a combined 141 matches of the Olympic-formatted Rugby Sevens. Action will kick off on Ciber Field, Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium, and Diane Wendt Fields simultaneously at 8:40 a.m. MT Saturday, May 23. The event will culminate with the Men’s Division I Cup Final at 5:25 p.m. MT Sunday, May 24.
Matches played on Ciber Field and Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium will be streamed live on
USA Rugby TV, while
ESPN3 will provide coverage of the three Cup Finals on Ciber Field from 4-6 p.m. MT.
Men’s Division II Pool Previews
Pool A
Coast Guard, Minnesota-Duluth, Principia, Providence
The story of Pool A might be the return of the reigning Division Champion, but it is also worth noting the presence of the two-time Men’s Division II Champion in the 15s code, Minnesota-Duluth. The two teams met earlier in the spring at Northern Iowa 7s, with Principia’s two victories coming in the form of a pool-play shutout and Cup Final overtime triumph for automatic qualification to College 7s.
The Fighting Penguins also finished as runners-up at Upper Midwest 7s earlier this month to earn an at-large bid to College 7s.
Pool B
East Carolina, St. Louis, Vassar, Wisconsin-Whitewater
Runner-up to Minnesota-Duluth in the 15s game, Wisconsin-Whitewater played plenty of sevens this spring to prepare for College 7s. The Warhawks began with the Woodside Rugby Classic and earned qualification by winning the NIU Tournament of Champions before participating in the Milwaukee 7s Circuit and Border Battle 7s. At the expense of the Fighting Penguins, Wisconsin-Whitewater also won Upper Midwest 7s, the final qualifier tournament of the season.
East Carolina finished the East Carolina Sevens tournament, the second in the Southern Conference 7s Series, in fourth, but earned qualification with a Series Championship in Greensboro, N.C., in late April.
Pool C
James Madison, Notre Dame College, Southern Illinois, North Carolina-Wilmington
North Carolina-Wilmington earned an at-large bid through the Southern Conference 7s Series, which included victories against fellow College 7s qualifier East Carolina. According to Head Coach Jeremiah Tominack, “sevens is as important to UNC-W as 15s.
“We work daily on footwork, ladder, and turbo drills. All players participate in sevens, regardless of if they will play on the sevens team, to improve footwork and ball-handling. I like for all players on the field to be a threat with the ball, and promote clean, physical, fast sevens.”
Notre Dame College will be looking to continue to grow its name after the school’s women’s team won the Division II 15s National Championship earlier in the month. With an automatic bid as a result of a Mid-Atlanta 7s tournament victory, the Falcons have made their intentions known.
