A fantastic weekend of club rugby in America saw 22 teams punch their tickets to the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby Men’s Senior Club National Round of 16. These clubs will join the nine teams that have already qualified, as well as the 17 teams that will qualify this weekend, for championship play in Virginia Beach, Va., and Irving (Dallas), Texas, on May 18-19.
In Men’s Division I action, Elite Cup participants Boston, Life University (Ga.), and Old Blue of New York all won their USA Rugby Eastern Round of 32 matches against the Maryland Exiles, Chicago Lions, and Schuylkill River Exiles (Pa.), respectively. They’ll move on to Virginia Beach alongside Potomac Athletic Club (D.C.), New Orleans, and the Middlesex Barbarians (Mass.), who respectively defeated Buffalo, the Chicago Griffins, and the Norfolk Blues. Metropolis (Minn.) and Palmer College (Iowa) will also play in the Division I bracket in Virginia Beach, having advanced through the Round of 32 with byes from their competitive region. Two of the 2013 Elite Cup participants, Boston and Old Blue, had to battle tough opponents from the Mid-Atlantic. The tight scores in their matches demonstrate that qualification for the 2014 Elite Cup will be very competitive. Notably, Middlesex (Mass.) qualifies through only one year removed from participating in the Division II national playoffs.
The USA Rugby Western Division I Round of 32 will take place this weekend at the home field of eight higher-seeded clubs. Those matches will see the Sacramento Lions hosting Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (Calif.), the Dallas Harlequins at home against the Provo Steelers, 2013 Elite Cup participants the Denver Barbarians hosting the Austin Huns, and the Santa Monica Dolphins hosting the East Palo Alto Bulldogs (Calif.). They’ll also see defending Division I National Champions Belmont Shore (Calif.) take on the East Palo Alto Razorbacks (Calif.) at Belmont’s home in Long Beach, 2013 Elite Cup participants the Glendale Raptors hosting the Dallas Reds, the Austin Blacks at home against the Kansas City Blues, and 2013 Elite Cup semi-finalists Seattle Old Puget Sound Beach hosting the San Diego Old Aztecs.
In other club play, 10 Division II teams fought their way through TU/GU playoff matches to book their trips to the Round of 16. Both 2012 National Championship finalists have once again qualified, as Wisconsin won the Midwest once again while Rocky Gorge (Md.) finished second to Wilmington (Del.) in the Mid-Atlantic. They’ll be joined by Pittsburgh, South champion Atlanta Old White, and returning participant Naples (Fla.) in Virginia Beach. Worcester (Mass.) will also play in Virginia Beach, having qualified in November as the New England DII champions. The Empire GU champion, which will be decided this weekend in Princeton, N.J., will round out the Virginia Beach bracket.
On the other side of the country, West champion Tulsa and the Glendale Raptors’ D2 side upset 2012 Round of 16 participants Omaha and the St. Louis Bombers, respectively, to find their way into the Dallas half of the bracket. They will be joined there by Pasadena (Calif.) and the South Bay Rhinos (Calif.), who qualified this weekend in Southern California; the surging Frisco Griffins (Texas), who dominated the Texas Division II league; and Red Mountain (Ariz.), who qualified on April 14. Pasadena returns to the tournament after participating in 2012, and South Bay makes a splash by qualifying just a year after making a run to the 2012 Division III National Semi-Finals. The Pacific Coast participants will be determined this weekend in San Francisco, Calif.
Of the 10 Division III teams that are now qualified for the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby Men’s Senior Club Division III National Round of 16, six found their way in this weekend. 2013 finalist Philadelphia-Whitemarsh returns in the Virginia Beach bracket, where they will be accompanied by North Bay (Md.), South champions the Montgomery Yellowhammers, and Hilton Head Island (S.C.). From the Midwest, the champion Chicago Riot club defeated the also-qualified Kalamazoo Dogs this weekend in a seeding match. These six clubs will be joined by the Saratoga Stampede, who won the New England DIII championship last fall.
The two teams that qualified for the Dallas bracket are returning participants Wichita and the West championship-winning Kansas City Islanders. Five of the six other clubs will be decided this weekend in Southern California, Pacific Coast, and Texas playoff action. The New Mexico Highlands Vatos already qualified as the Southern California #3 seed two weekends ago.
Virginia Beach Tournament information
Irving (Dallas) Tournament information
Division I: East Coast Round of 32
Boston 29-27 Maryland Exiles
Life (GA) 68-3 Chicago Lions
Old Blue of New York 35-28 Schuylkill River Exiles (PA)
Potomac Athletic (DC) 58-24 Buffalo
New Orleans 41-17 Chicago Griffins
Middlesex Barbarians (MA) 42-20 Norfolk Blues
Winners advance to the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby National Round of 16
Already qualified: Metropolis (MN) – bye
Already qualified: Palmer (IA) – bye
Division II: TU/GU Playoffs
Midwest – April 27-28 in Lemont, IL
Semi-Final (4/27): Wisconsin 49-0 Michiana Moose (IN)
Semi-Final (4/27): Pittsburgh 39-38 Cleveland Rovers
Final (4/28): Wisconsin 30-12 Pittsburgh
Wisconsin is the Midwest #1 seed; Pittsburgh is the Midwest #2 seed
Mid-Atlantic Playoffs – April 27-28 in Pittsburgh, PA
Semi-Final (4/27): Rocky Gorge (MD) 54-12 Lancaster Roses (PA)
Semi-Final (4/27): Wilmington (DE) 41-32 Washington Irish
Final (4/28): Wilmington (DE) 22-12 Rocky Gorge (MD)
Wilmington (DE) is the Mid-Atlantic #1 seed; Rocky Gorge (MD) is the Mid-Atlantic #2 seed
South Playoffs – April 27-28 in Naples, FL
Semi-Final (4/27): Naples Hammerheads 25-21 Little Rock Stormers
Semi-Final (4/27): Atlanta Old White 35-0 Chattanooga
Final (4/28): Atlanta Old White 23-19 Naples Hammerheads
Atlanta Old White is the South #1 seed; the Naples Hammerheads are the South #2 seed
Southern California Playoffs – April 27 at venue of higher-ranked clubs
Semi-Final (4/27): Pasadena (CA) 25-20 San Fernando Valley (CA)
Semi-Final (4/27): South Bay Rhinos (CA) 11-10 Las Vegas Irish
Pasadena (CA) and the South Bay Rhinos (CA) advance to the Emirates Airline USA Rugby Round of 16; Seeding match to take place on May 4
West Playoffs – April 27-28 in Omaha, NE
Semi-Final (4/27): Glendale Raptors D2 (CO) 36-16 St. Louis Bombers
Semi-Final (4/27): Tulsa 38-19 Omaha Goats
Final (4/28): Tulsa 61-31 Glendale Raptors D2 (CO)
Tulsa is the West #1 seed; the Glendale Raptors D2 (CO) are the West #2 seed
Already qualified: Empire: Worcester (MA) – defeated Burlington (VT) 8-0 on November 10
Already qualified: Texas: Frisco Griffins (TX) – won Texas D2 league (no playoff)
Already qualified: Southern California #3: Red Mountain Warthogs (AZ) – defeated Tempe Old Devils 24-13 on April 14
Division III: TU/GU Playoffs
Midwest – April 27-28 in Lemont, IL
Final (4/28): Chicago Riot 41-24 Kalamazoo Dogs
The Chicago Riot are the Midwest #1 seed; the Kalamazoo Dogs are the Midwest #2 seed
Mid-Atlantic Playoffs – April 27-28 in Pittsburgh, PA
Semi-Final (4/27): Philadelphia-Whitemarsh 69-20 Reading (PA)
Semi-Final (4/27): North Bay (MD) 38-10 Roanoke (VA)
Final (4/28): Philadelphia-Whitemarsh 31-17 North Bay (MD)
Philadelphia-Whitemarsh is the Mid-Atlantic #1 seed; North Bay (MD) is the Mid-Atlantic #2 seed
South Playoffs – April 27-28 in For Myers, FL
Semi-Final (4/27): Montgomery Yellowhammers 37-34 Palm Beach Panthers (FL)
Semi-Final (4/27): Hilton Head (SC) 19-5 Charlotte D3 (NC)
Final (4/28): Montgomery Yellowhammers 22-7 Hilton Head (SC)
The Montgomery Yellowhammers are the South #1 seed; Hilton Head (SC) is the South #2 seed
Southern California Playoffs – April 27 at venue of higher-ranked clubs
Quarter-Final (4/27): Beaumont Bluehawks (CA) 24-12 Orange County Ravens (CA)
Quarter-Final (4/27): Empire Silverbacks (CA) 24-22 San Luis Obispo (CA)
Winners advance to the Southern California Semi-Finals on May 4; Seeding matches to take place on May 11
West Playoffs – April 27-28 in Omaha, NE
Quarter-Final (4/27): Kansas City Islanders 27-10 Denver Harlequins D3
Quarter-Final (4/27): Sunday Morning (MO) 24-13 Sioux Falls Crows
Quarter-Final (4/27): Northern State (SD) 40-12 Springfield (MO)
Quarter-Final (4/27): Wichita Barbarians 29-0 St. Louis Hornets
Semi-Final (4/27): Kansas City Islanders 16-14 Northern State (SD)
Semi-Final (4/27): Wichita Barbarians 48-0 Sunday Morning (MO)
Final (4/28): Kansas City Islanders 28-20 Wichita Barbarians
The Kansas City Islanders are the West #1 seed; the Wichita Barbarians are the West #2 seed
Already qualified: Southern California #3: New Mexico Highlands – qualified on April 14
Already qualified: New England: Saratoga Stampede – won New England D3 league (no playoff)
Playoff Schedule – May 4-5
Division I – May 4 (home team listed first)
Sacramento Lions vs. Old Mission Beach Athletic (CA)
Dallas Harlequins vs. Provo Steelers
Denver Barbarians vs. Austin Huns
Santa Monica Dolphins vs. East Palo Alto Bulldogs (CA)
Belmont Shore (CA) vs. East Palo Alto Razorbacks (CA)
Glendale Raptors (CO) vs. Dallas Reds
Austin Blacks vs. Kansas City Blues
Seattle OPSB vs. San Diego Old Aztecs
Winners advance to the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby National Round of 16
Division II: TU/GU Playoffs
Empire Playoffs – May 4-5 in Princeton, NJ
Semi-Final (May 4): Danbury Mad Hatters (CT) vs. Montclair Norsemen (NJ)
Semi-Final (May 4): Princeton Athletic (NJ) vs. Montauk Sharks (NY)
Final on Sunday, May 5
Champion advances to the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby National Round of 16
Pacific Coast Playoffs – May 4-5 in San Francisco, CA
Semi-Final (May 4): Santa Rosa (CA) vs. Oregon Sports Union [ORSU]
Semi-Final (May 4): Snake River (ID) vs. Diablo Gaels (CA)
Final on Sunday, May 5
Finalists advance to the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby National Round of 16
Southern California – May 5 in Pasadena, CA
Final: Pasadena vs. South Bay Rhinos
Both teams advance to the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby National Round of 16; the Final is for seeding purposes
Division III: TU/GU Playoffs
Empire Playoffs – May 4 in Princeton, NJ
Semi-Final (May 4): South Buffalo vs. Suffolk Bull Moose (NY)
Semi-Final (May 4): North Jersey vs. Old Blue of New York D3
Final on Sunday, May 5
Finalists advance to the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby National Round of 16
Pacific Coast Playoffs – May 4-5 in San Francisco, CA
Semi-Final (May 4): Sierra Foothills (CA) vs. Budd Bay Buffaloes (WA)
Semi-Final (May 4): Corvallis Brewers (OR) vs. San Francisco Golden Gate D3
Final on Sunday, May 5
Finalists advance to the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby National Round of 16
Southern California (home team listed first)
Semi-Final (May 4): Oceanside Chiefs (CA) vs. Beaumont Bluehawks (CA)
Semi-Final (May 4): Belmont Shore D3 (CA) vs. Empire Silverbacks (CA)
Final on Saturday, May 11
Winners advance to the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby National Round of 16; Southern California will seed its teams on Saturday, May 11
Texas – May 4-5 in Galveston, TX
SF: Austin Blacks D3 vs. Galveston (TX)
SF: Stephen F. Austin (TX) vs. Dallas Reds D3
Final on Sunday, May 5
Champion advances to the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby National Round of 16
Schedule: Virginia Beach, Va. - May 18-19
Match | Day | Time | Field | Team 1 | Team 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Saturday | 9:00 | 4 | Life (Ga.) | Old Blue of New York |
2 | Saturday | 9:00 | 5 | Wilmington (Del.) | Pittsburgh |
3 | Saturday | 9:00 | 6 | Philadelphia-Whitemarsh | Saratoga Stampede (N.Y.) |
4 | Saturday | 11:00 | 4 | Boston | Palmer (Iowa) |
5 | Saturday | 11:00 | 5 | Rocky Gorge (Md.) | Worcester (Mass.) |
6 | Saturday | 11:00 | 6 | Chicago Riot | Hilton Head Island (S.C.) |
7 | Saturday | 1:00 | 4 | Potomac AC (D.C.) | New Orleans |
8 | Saturday | 11:00 | 5 | Wisconsin | Naples Hammerheads |
9 | Saturday | 1:00 | 6 | Montgomery (Ala.) | Kalamazoo Dogs (Mich.) |
10 | Saturday | 3:00 | 4 | Metropolis (Minn.) | Middlesex Barbarians |
11 | Saturday | 3:00 | 5 | Empire #1 | Atlanta Old White |
12 | Saturday | 3:00 | 6 | Empire #1 | North Bay (Md.) |
Match | Day | Time | Field | Team 1 | Team 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | Sunday | 9:00 | 4 | Loser - Match 1 | Loser - Match 4 |
14 | Sunday | 9:00 | 5 | Loser - Match 2 | Loser - Match 5 |
15 | Sunday | 9:00 | 6 | Loser - Match 3 | Loser - Match 6 |
16 | Sunday | 11:00 | 4 | Loser - Match 7 | Loser - Match 10 |
17 | Sunday | 11:00 | 5 | Loser - Match 8 | Loser - Match 11 |
18 | Sunday | 11:00 | 6 | Loser - Match 9 | Loser - Match 12 |
19 | Sunday | 1:00 | 4 | Winner - Match 1 | Winner - Match 4 |
20 | Sunday | 1:00 | 5 | Winner - Match 2 | Winner - Match 5 |
21 | Sunday | 1:00 | 6 | Winner - Match 3 | Winner - Match 6 |
22 | Sunday | 3:00 | 4 | Winner - Match 7 | Winner - Match 10 |
23 | Sunday | 3:00 | 5 | Winner - Match 8 | Winner - Match 11 |
24 | Sunday | 3:00 | 6 | Winner - Match 9 | Winner - Match 12 |
Schedule: Irving (Dallas), Texas - May 18-19
Match | Day | Time | Field | Team 1 | Team 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Saturday | 10:00 | 1 | Division I - TBD | Division I - TBD |
2 | Saturday | 10:00 | 2 | Southern California #1 | Frisco Griffins |
3 | Saturday | 10:00 | 3 | Wichita Barbarians | Texas #1 |
4 | Saturday | 12:00 | 1 | Division I - TBD | Division I - TBD |
5 | Saturday | 12:00 | 2 | Pacific Coast #2 | Glendale Raptors D2 (Colo.) |
6 | Saturday | 12:00 | 3 | Southern California #1 | Pacific Coast #2 |
7 | Saturday | 2:00 | 1 | Division I - TBD | Division I - TBD |
8 | Saturday | 2:00 | 2 | Tulsa | Southern California #2 |
9 | Saturday | 2:00 | 3 | Kansas City Islanders | New Mexico Highlands |
10 | Saturday | 4:00 | 1 | Division I - TBD | Division I - TBD |
11 | Saturday | 4:00 | 2 | Pacific Coast #1 | Red Mountain (Ariz.) |
12 | Saturday | 4:00 | 3 | Southern California #2 | Pacific Coast #1 |
Match | Day | Time | Field | Team 1 | Team 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | Sunday | 9:00 | 1 | Loser - Match 1 | Loser - Match 4 |
14 | Sunday | 9:00 | 2 | Loser - Match 2 | Loser - Match 5 |
15 | Sunday | 9:00 | 3 | Loser - Match 3 | Loser - Match 6 |
16 | Sunday | 11:00 | 1 | Loser - Match 7 | Loser - Match 10 |
17 | Sunday | 11:00 | 2 | Loser - Match 8 | Loser - Match 11 |
18 | Sunday | 11:00 | 3 | Loser - Match 9 | Loser - Match 12 |
19 | Sunday | 1:00 | 1 | Winner - Match 1 | Winner - Match 4 |
20 | Sunday | 1:00 | 2 | Winner - Match 2 | Winner - Match 5 |
21 | Sunday | 1:00 | 3 | Winner - Match 3 | Winner - Match 6 |
22 | Sunday | 3:00 | 1 | Winner - Match 7 | Winner - Match 10 |
23 | Sunday | 3:00 | 2 | Winner - Match 8 | Winner - Match 11 |
24 | Sunday | 3:00 | 3 | Winner - Match 9 | Winner - Match 12 |