The Playoffs Are Here...DivI and DivII Mens and Womens Rugby

by user BigPPup

Its playoff time here in the United States.  No not the NBA or the NHL, I’m talking about the Div I and Div II men’s and women colligate rugby national championship.  Forty eight men’s and women’s teams are set to do battle over the next few weeks and a champion will be crowned. The brackets are set, and playoffs are scheduled to kickoff at noon on April 20. Here is a quick look at how it all breaks down.

In DI rugby the brackets consist of 16 teams that have made it this far.  Those teams are divided up into four pools of four.  In DII rugby there are 8 teams that have reached this far, and they are divided up into two groups of four.  Teams are seeded based, on previous results and the strength of the territory that they represent.  Seeding is decided by the USA Rugby competition committee.  All seven territories are represented in Nation Championships.

The Playoffs begin April 20 at noon where three times defending National Champion will host pools A and B.  The first game of the day will be Cal Poly of SLO taking the field to compete against the University of Minnesota.  This will be followed by Pool B match up of powerhouse BYU facing off against University of Wyoming. 

Pool A will take to Witter Field on Saturday AM.  Cal Berkley will play New Mexico that will be followed by San Diego St. vs. Harvard.

While Pool A and B compete on the Left Coast, Pools B and C will be hosted by Penn State in Happy Valley. 

Pool C kicks off on Friday afternoon with Penn State vs. Tennessee.  On the second field Pool C action will include University of Utah vs. Purdue University. 

The second set of games for Pool D playing on Friday will see Clemson University vs. U.S. Navel Academy.  Followed by Army vs. St. Mary’s.

The DI women begin their playoffs on Saturday April 21.  They are divided up the same way as the men, but they will be playing at the University of Florida and at Penn State.

Saturday’s action begins at the University of Florida with Pool D games.  Appalachian St. vs. University of Northern Iowa.  This is followed by Virginia vs. UC Davis.  Pool A will feature West Chester vs. Clemson University and Stanford vs. Texas A&M.

Up in Happy Valley Pools B and C will competing on Saturday.  Pool B has Ohio State playing Big 10 rival and host team Penn State.  As well as Army vs. Chico State.  Pool C showcases U.S. Naval Academy vs. Brown, and UC Santa Barbara vs. University of New Mexico. 

The winners of each day’s game will go on to face each other the following day to crown a champion of that bracket, while the losers will compete in a consolation bracket.  Bracket winners will advance to the Elite Eight to be held the weekend of May 4.

DII Men’s and Women’s brackets will all be hosted in Sanford Florida, with two pools from each side competing.

April 21 will begin with the Women.  Pool A, UC Santa Barbara vs. College of Charleston.  Half an hour later on the second field, University of Florida will face Bowdin.

In Pool B action we will see Mary Washington vs. Iowa St. University and Western Oregon vs. Norwich.

On the Men’s side of the bracket, Pool A has U.S. Coast Guard Academy vs. University of Northern Iowa and Arkansas State University vs. So Cal #1. 

Pool B will showcase Middlebury College vs. University of Northern Colorado and Humboldt State University vs. Salisbury.

The same format in regards to consolations and champions will be followed by the DII teams.

This year’s playoffs have a solid mix of the traditional powerhouses, and a few new faces.  As rugby continues to gain speed in the United States, it is essential that the colligate championships are held to a higher standard and given as much attention as possible.  All these games are free, so if you are near one of the host fields stop by check it out and get a feel for what American Rugby is all about.

MATCH SCHEDULE :

University of California – Division I Men

Friday, April 20

12:00 pm: (Pool B) Cal Poly SLO vs. University of Minnesota

2:00 pm: (Pool B) University of Wyoming vs. BYU

Saturday, April 21

10:00 am: (Pool A) Cal v University of New Mexico

12:00 pm: (Pool A) San Diego State v Harvard

2:00 pm: Pool B Consolation Bracket

4:00 pm: Pool B Championship Bracket

Sunday, April 22

12:00 pm: Pool A Consolation Bracket

2:00 pm: Pool A Championship Bracket

Penn State University - Division I Men

Friday, April 20

5:30 pm: (Pool C) University of Tennessee v Penn State University

6:00 pm: (Pool C) University of Utah v Purdue University

7:30 pm: (Pool D) Clemson University v U.S. Naval Academy

8:00 pm: (Pool D) Army v St. Mary's

Saturday, April 21

4:00 pm: Pool C Consolation Bracket

4:30 pm: Pool D Consolation Bracket

6:00 pm: Pool C Championship Bracket

6:30 pm: Pool D Championship Bracket

University of Florida – Division I Women

Saturday, April 21

10:00 am: (Pool D) Appalachian State v University of Northern Iowa

10:30 am: (Pool D) Virginia v UC Davis

12:00 pm: (Pool A) West Chester v Clemson University

12:30 pm: (Pool A) Stanford v Texas A & M

Sunday, April 22

10:00 am: Pool D Consolation Bracket

10:30 am: Pool A Consolation Bracket

12:00 pm: Pool D Championship Bracket

12:30 pm: Pool A Championship Bracket

Penn State University – Division I Women

Saturday, April 21

9:00 am: (Pool B) Ohio State v Penn State

9:30 am: (Pool B) Army v Chico State

11:00 am: (Pool C) U.S. Naval Academy v Brown

11:30 am: (Pool C) UC Santa Barbara v University of New Mexico

Sunday, April 22

9:00 am: Pool B Consolation Bracket

9:30 am: Pool B Championship Bracket

11:00 am: Pool C Consolation Bracket

11:30 am: Pool C Championship Bracket

Sanford, Fla. – Division II Men

Saturday, April 21

11:00 am: (Pool A) U.S. Coast Guard Academy v University of Northern Iowa

11:30 am: (Pool A) Arkansas State University v So Cal #1

3:00 pm: (Pool B) Middlebury College v University of Northern Colorado

3:30 pm: (Pool B) Humboldt State University v Salisbury

Sunday, April 22

11:00 am: Pool A Consolation Bracket

11:30 am: Pool B Consolation Bracket

3:00 pm: Pool A Championship Bracket

3:30 pm: Pool B Championship Bracket

Sanford, Fla. – Division II Women

Saturday, April 21

9:00 am: (Pool A) UC Santa Cruz v College of Charleston

9:30 am: (Pool A) University of Arizona v Bowdoin

1:00 pm: (Pool B) Mary Washington v Iowa State University

1:30 pm: (Pool B) Western Oregon v Norwich

Sunday, April 22

9:00 am: Pool B Consolation Bracket

9:30 am: Pool A Consolation Bracket

1:00 pm: Pool B Championship Bracket

1:30 pm: Pool A Championship Bracket