This year, the men’s and women’s rugby teams had a lot to reflect on from adapting to coaching changes, new players on the teams, and a lot of games under the teams’ belts.
“There was a lot of change in terms of just how our team was run, how we functioned, the way we played, so that was obviously a big difference from the previous season, and I think it definitely had its benefits, and had its challenges being able to adapt and change with things,” Sophie O’Cain said. “Overall, I think we came out the other side like the better team, and probably had one of the best teams this program has seen in a while.”
The men’s rugby team had a very strong season at a 29-4 regular season record, defeating the Southern Nazarene University Thundercats, the University of Health and Sciences Eutectics, and the Drury Panthers in the UHSP Prescriptions Sevens Tournament. However, the Lions ultimately fell short to the Indiana Hoosiers. In the D1A playoffs, the Lions were able to defeat the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers in the first round, but came short against the Life University Running Eagles. The men’s rugby team still has a pair of games to play to finish their season out strong on June 1st and 2nd, in the College Rugby Association of America’s Sevens National Championship, in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
“Unfortunately we got knocked out in the conference finals this year, so in terms of the tournament at the end of the year, we felt that we could’ve done a little bit better, but that was a bit disappointing. But as a whole, we played some decent rugby, got some good wins, and a lot of people got good game time,” sophomore Ike Wrigley said. “It was successful in some ways, but we would’ve liked to have gone a bit further in the tournament. We have to stay on campus a month longer for the Sevens tournament, and hope to produce big results from there.”
The women’s rugby team competed in the College Rugby Association of America’s Sevens National Championship tournament and advanced to the Cup Final against the Harvard Crimson, but were unable to defeat them. However, the team is proud of where they were able to make it to, and both the men’s and women’s rugby teams look to win more games and even national titles for many seasons to come.
“I think the goals for the programs, both men and women, is to keep building. I think the collegiate system means we lose players, but we gain players every year,” O’Cain said. “Just creating our systems and our culture that enable success within that. So being able to continue to be successful within our system, so that no matter what personnel we have coming in and out, we’re able to succeed.”
