Houston, TX, May 5, 2024 – The Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA) is excited to announce the outcomes of the 2024 National Championship Weekend; an event that showcased the pinnacle of collegiate rugby talent from across the nation. Held from May 3 to May 5, the weekend brought top teams together to compete across men’s and women’s divisions for the most prestigious titles in United States collegiate rugby. The teams exemplified the growth and competitiveness of the collegiate rugby community across both 7s and 15s.
The weekend started off strong on Friday despite lightning delays. College Club 7s completed their pool play in three rounds with the final four set to compete in the semifinals early Saturday morning. Colorado State and Colorado Mesa kicked off first and ended with a Colorado State victory 17 – 10 over Colorado Mesa. Next, Western Washington faced off against Air Force and secured their spot in the final with a 19 – 15 win over Air Force.
Premier 7s squeezed in three rounds of pool play on Friday as well with one round left for Saturday. Despite the extra round, we did not see much movement in the top 4 decisions from Friday that saw Lindenwood, Harvard, Dartmouth, and Davenport compete for the cup.
The first 15s match on Saturday was the D1AA Men’s Challenge Cup. Florida Collegiate Conference D1AA Champion St. Thomas University secured a thrilling victory over Rocky Mountain D1A Air Force Academy with a score of 27 – 24. The Bobcats snatched the win with a spirited second half as the new varsity program made its presence felt in this spring’s D1AA Bowl Game.
Next up was the Men’s D1AA National Championship where the University of San Diego dominated Iowa State to win in notable fashion. The Toreros controlled the game and overwhelmed a gritty Iowa State team; scoring 38 points to Iowa’s 7.
After the San Diego victory, we were back to sevens for final matches in both Club and Premier. In the Women’s Club 7s competition, it was anyone’s game until Western Washington University clinched the National Championship title over Colorado State University. The Vikings left it all the field to win the match with just 12 points to Colorado State’s 7. Air Force Academy rounded out the podium for third place with their definitive win over Colorado Mesa.
The CRAA Women’s Premier 7s proved to be a spirited competition over May 3 – 4 that showed the strength and depth of the top women’s programs in the country. The top competitors in each pool faced off with Davenport and Harvard up first. Harvard clinched their spot handily with a win over Davenport while the Lindenwood-Dartmouth match went into overtime to declare Lindenwood the winner. The third spot on the podium went to Davenport University who overcame Dartmouth College in the bronze final to secure the highest finish for a NIRA Division 2 school. Harvard not only managed to bookend the tournament with wins over Lindenwood University, but the Harvard Crimson made history with their first National 7s Championship.
With 7s done and dusted, it was time for the much anticipated D1A National Championship. Saint Mary’s College held on against a strong assault by the US Naval Academy. The hard-fought encounter was a clash of styles as Saint Mary’s jumped out to an early lead with running rugby, but Navy kept up their high-pressure game as they looked to dictate the tempo of the contest. With another try from Navy, it was just a four point game. The intensity of the matchup highlighted the talent and commitment of both teams, delivering collegiate rugby of the highest quality. At the final whistle, Saint Mary’s was crowned the CRAA D1A National Championship by winning 26 – 22.
After an action-packed and lightning-free day of rugby on Saturday, the weather proved as resilient as our competitors and delayed the first match on Sunday. With teams from each coast, it was between Cal Poly of the west and Eckerd College of the east to decide where their cup would end up. Cal Poly produced a dominant display over Eckerd College to win the Women’s Division 2 Spring Championship by 104 – 5.
Meanwhile, in the Men’s D1AA Bowl Game, Sam Houston State University delivered a dominant performance, defeating the University of Florida with an emphatic score of 54 – 0.
Women’s Division 1 was scheduled to close out the weekend at 3pm, but Houston weather had other plans. The match up was an impressive show of resilience by both teams to play good rugby after more than four hours of lightning delays. The weekend finished with Stanford University emerging victorious in the Women’s Division 1 Spring Championship by defeating Grand Canyon University with a score of 36 – 19.
“We congratulate all the participating teams for their outstanding performances throughout the National Championship Weekend,” said Paul Keeler, President of the Collegiate Rugby Association of America. “Their dedication, skill, and sportsmanship exemplify the essence of collegiate rugby, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements.”
The CRAA extends its appreciation to all teams, coaches, officials, volunteers, and fans for their support and contributions to the success of the event. As we reflect on the memorable moments and fierce competition of the National Championship Weekend, we look forward to the continued growth and excitement of collegiate rugby in the years ahead.
###
