2009 NSCRO Men's Division III Rugby Tournament
Encyclopedia
The 2009 NSCRO Men's Division III Rugby Tournament is a tournament which involved 103 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NSCRO Division III college rugby as a culmination of the 2008–09 rugby season. It began in the fall 2008 season in the northeast, midwest and mid-atlantic, and picked up again in the spring 2009 season for the southern teams, and concludes with the Fearsome Four
, a final four-style semifinals and championship games co-hosted by South Jersey RFC on April 25-6 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
In the first match of the day, New England Rugby Football Union Champion Salve Regina met NY State Rugby Conference Champion SUNY Oswego. Salve Regina was the only true small college in the tournament (having approximately 500 male students to SUNY's 3000), and it showed. SUNY's large squad took advantage of poor SRU tackling up the middle and took a 22-0 lead into halftime. The first half was led by the dominance of Oswego flankers Matt Moir (senior)with 4 tries,Kandu Agmibson, fly half Jordan Storie (senior captain), and outside center Jay McGukin (senior captain).
In the 2d half Oswego replaced four of its starters including starting scrum half and senior captain Alex Rufer among others due to injury and conservation for the finals match, which was to be determined. Consequently SRU showed some spirit and put points on the board, exchanging tries with SUNY, but they never really got the hang of EPRU referee Pete Hesler's refusal to penalize an offside. And on those other penalties that were called, SRU was physically restrained from quicktapping on multiple occasions by Hesler to allow Oswego to adequately retreat. One such restraint took place on the Oswego 5m line, evoking a barrage of criticism from the SRU sideline, and for which they probably should have been disciplined. Overall, SUNY Oswego was by far the better team on the day, running in multiply tries from outside the 22m.
In the second match, VRU Champion Longwood met USA Rugby South Champion Coastal Carolina. The two teams were well coached and matched up very well. Again, however, the large college program carried the day. Coastal Carolina was physically larger, and took an early lead, but Longwood battled back, playing smart rugby and making some key kicks for points. At halftime, Coastal Carolina held a 17-13 lead. In the second half, fitness seemed to be an issue, not so much for the teams, but for the officiating crew, all of whom seemed to be approaching 60 years old and overweight. Apparently, the event host had some difficulty arranging referees, and had to do some last minute scrambling to obtain referee coverage. Longwood took a brief lead, before giving it back to Coastal Carolina for good about midway through the second half. Coastal Carolina was the best team on Saturday. They were big, fit, aggressive and knowledgeable. Longwood matched them in every category but size and points.
territorial union Northeast Rugby Union
("NRU") (partial). More specifically, it is the home of NRU's largest local area union, the New England Rugby Football Union
(NERFU), and its twenty-four (24) Men's College Division III Rugby teams.
NERFU plays its regular season in the fall. At the end of the regular season, the top two teams in each of its four conferences participate in the NERFU College Men's Division III Cup Championship, which also serves as the NSCRO Northeast Regional Championship. In November 2008, Salve Regina University defeated Southern Connecticut State University 21-20 to win the regional championship. See 2008 NERFU College Men's Division III Rugby Tournament
.
In this bracket were one union champion and three conference champions:
territorial unions Northeast Rugby Union
(partial) and Midwest Rugby Union, and their twenty-six (26) men's college division III rugby programs.
In this bracket were 3 union champions and one conference champion:
territorial union Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union or MARFU
and their twenty-two (22) men's college division III rugby programs.
In this bracket were 3 union champions and a runner-up:
territorial union USA Rugby South
("USARS") and their thirty-one (31) men's college division III rugby programs.
In this bracket were 4 conference champions and their runners-up:
Fearsome Four
The Fearsome Four is a college rugby national championship tournament sponsored by the National Small College Rugby Organization. Each year, the NSCRO hosts a final four-style college rugby national championship for small colleges competing in Division III....
, a final four-style semifinals and championship games co-hosted by South Jersey RFC on April 25-6 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Fearsome Four – Cherry Hill, New Jersey
National Semifinal
The National Semifinals were held on a warm sunny day, on a badly worn pitch at Green Acre Park in Cherry Hill, NJ. Sadly, the event was not well publicized. Each match was attended by about 40 rugby fans, friends and family members. The event host, South Jersey RFC, had a small concession lean-to, offering pretzels, sodas and event t-shirts.In the first match of the day, New England Rugby Football Union Champion Salve Regina met NY State Rugby Conference Champion SUNY Oswego. Salve Regina was the only true small college in the tournament (having approximately 500 male students to SUNY's 3000), and it showed. SUNY's large squad took advantage of poor SRU tackling up the middle and took a 22-0 lead into halftime. The first half was led by the dominance of Oswego flankers Matt Moir (senior)with 4 tries,Kandu Agmibson, fly half Jordan Storie (senior captain), and outside center Jay McGukin (senior captain).
In the 2d half Oswego replaced four of its starters including starting scrum half and senior captain Alex Rufer among others due to injury and conservation for the finals match, which was to be determined. Consequently SRU showed some spirit and put points on the board, exchanging tries with SUNY, but they never really got the hang of EPRU referee Pete Hesler's refusal to penalize an offside. And on those other penalties that were called, SRU was physically restrained from quicktapping on multiple occasions by Hesler to allow Oswego to adequately retreat. One such restraint took place on the Oswego 5m line, evoking a barrage of criticism from the SRU sideline, and for which they probably should have been disciplined. Overall, SUNY Oswego was by far the better team on the day, running in multiply tries from outside the 22m.
In the second match, VRU Champion Longwood met USA Rugby South Champion Coastal Carolina. The two teams were well coached and matched up very well. Again, however, the large college program carried the day. Coastal Carolina was physically larger, and took an early lead, but Longwood battled back, playing smart rugby and making some key kicks for points. At halftime, Coastal Carolina held a 17-13 lead. In the second half, fitness seemed to be an issue, not so much for the teams, but for the officiating crew, all of whom seemed to be approaching 60 years old and overweight. Apparently, the event host had some difficulty arranging referees, and had to do some last minute scrambling to obtain referee coverage. Longwood took a brief lead, before giving it back to Coastal Carolina for good about midway through the second half. Coastal Carolina was the best team on Saturday. They were big, fit, aggressive and knowledgeable. Longwood matched them in every category but size and points.
Northeast Regional Bracket
The Northeast Regional Bracket is the home of USA RugbyUSA Rugby
USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. It is divided into seven territorial Unions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Southern California, South, and West...
territorial union Northeast Rugby Union
Northeast Rugby Union
The Northeast Rugby Union is the Territorial Area Union for rugby union teams playing in the Northeastern United States . It is one of seven TAU's that govern specific regions of USA Rugby.-LAU's:...
("NRU") (partial). More specifically, it is the home of NRU's largest local area union, the New England Rugby Football Union
New England Rugby Football Union
The New England Rugby Football Union is a stand-alone union for rugby union teams in New England.NERFU had been a local area union , and part of the Northeast Rugby Union , which is the governing body for three LAU's The New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU) is a stand-alone union for rugby...
(NERFU), and its twenty-four (24) Men's College Division III Rugby teams.
NERFU plays its regular season in the fall. At the end of the regular season, the top two teams in each of its four conferences participate in the NERFU College Men's Division III Cup Championship, which also serves as the NSCRO Northeast Regional Championship. In November 2008, Salve Regina University defeated Southern Connecticut State University 21-20 to win the regional championship. See 2008 NERFU College Men's Division III Rugby Tournament
2008 NERFU College Men's Division III Rugby Tournament
The 2008 NERFU College Men's Division III Rugby Tournament featured 8 teams from four conferences. The top 2 teams in each conference were seeded according to the success of their conference in the previous year....
.
In this bracket were one union champion and three conference champions:
- Salve Regina UniversitySalve Regina UniversitySalve Regina University is a university in Newport, Rhode Island. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, the university is a Catholic, co-educational, private, non-profit institution chartered by the State of Rhode Island in 1934. In 1947 the university acquired Ochre Court and welcomed its first class...
- New England Rugby Football UnionNew England Rugby Football UnionThe New England Rugby Football Union is a stand-alone union for rugby union teams in New England.NERFU had been a local area union , and part of the Northeast Rugby Union , which is the governing body for three LAU's The New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU) is a stand-alone union for rugby...
Men's College Division III Champion - Tufts UniversityTufts UniversityTufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
- NERFU East Men's College Division III Champion - Southern Connecticut State UniversitySouthern Connecticut State UniversitySouthern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
- NERFU South Men's College Division III Champion - Keene State CollegeKeene State CollegeKeene State College is a liberal arts college in Keene, New Hampshire. It is a member of the University System of New Hampshire and of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges....
- NERFU West Men's College Division III Champion
New York/Midwest Regional Bracket
The New York/Midwest Regional Bracket is the home of USA RugbyUSA Rugby
USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. It is divided into seven territorial Unions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Southern California, South, and West...
territorial unions Northeast Rugby Union
Northeast Rugby Union
The Northeast Rugby Union is the Territorial Area Union for rugby union teams playing in the Northeastern United States . It is one of seven TAU's that govern specific regions of USA Rugby.-LAU's:...
(partial) and Midwest Rugby Union, and their twenty-six (26) men's college division III rugby programs.
In this bracket were 3 union champions and one conference champion:
- SUNY Oswego - New York State Rugby Conference Men's College Division III Champion
- William Paterson UniversityWilliam Paterson UniversityWilliam Paterson University is a comprehensive public institution located in Wayne, New Jersey serving nearly 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students through five colleges: , , , , and ....
- Metropolitan New York Rugby UnionMetropolitan New York Rugby UnionThe Metropolitan New York Rugby Football Union governs more than 80 men's and women's clubs, college, high-school, and youth rugby union teams in the Greater New York metropolitan area, which covers parts of the states of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. It is a member union of USA Rugby and...
Men's College Division III Champion - Fairmont State UniversityFairmont State UniversityFairmont State University is a public university located in Fairmont, West Virginia, USA. Enrollment of the university is about 7,700 and offers masters degrees in business, education, teaching, criminal justice and nursing in addition to 90 baccalaureate and 50 associate degrees...
- Allegheny Rugby UnionAllegheny Rugby UnionThe Allegheny Rugby Union is a non-profit corporation whose objective is to promote, serve, and manage the game of rugby union in the Allegheny area, at all levels of play. The Allegheny area is the region described as Western Pennsylvania, Western New York, Northern West Virginia and Eastern Ohio...
Men's College Division III Champion - Clarkson UniversityClarkson University-The Clarkson School:The Clarkson School, a special division of Clarkson University, was founded in 1978 as a unique educational opportunity. The School offers students an early entrance opportunity into college, replacing the typical senior year of high school with a year of college...
- NYS East Men's College Division III Champion
Mid-Atlantic Regional Bracket
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Bracket is the home of USA RugbyUSA Rugby
USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. It is divided into seven territorial Unions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Southern California, South, and West...
territorial union Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union or MARFU
MARFU
The Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union is an association of youth, high school, collegiate, and adult men's and women's rugby teams in the Mid-Atlantic United States....
and their twenty-two (22) men's college division III rugby programs.
In this bracket were 3 union champions and a runner-up:
- Widener UniversityWidener UniversityWidener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
- Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby UnionEastern Pennsylvania Rugby UnionThe Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union is the Local Area Union for rugby union teams in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania, as well as Delaware and parts of New Jersey...
Men's College Division III Champion - Penn State BerksPenn State BerksPenn State Berks is a commonwealth campus of Pennsylvania State University located in Spring Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.-History:First known as Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Penn State Berks became part of the Penn State system in 1958. The Berks campus has experienced many changes...
- Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby UnionEastern Pennsylvania Rugby UnionThe Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union is the Local Area Union for rugby union teams in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania, as well as Delaware and parts of New Jersey...
Men's College Division III Runner-Up - American UniversityAmerican UniversityAmerican University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
- Potomac Rugby Union Men's College Division III Champion - Longwood UniversityLongwood UniversityLongwood University is a four-year public, liberal-arts university located in Farmville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 and became a university on July 1, 2002...
- Virginia Rugby Union Men's College Division III Champion
South Regional Bracket
The South Regional Bracket is the home of USA RugbyUSA Rugby
USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. It is divided into seven territorial Unions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Southern California, South, and West...
territorial union USA Rugby South
USA Rugby South
The USA Rugby South is the Territorial Union for rugby union teams playing in the Southern United States. It is one of seven TU's that govern specific regions of USA Rugby.-LAU's:...
("USARS") and their thirty-one (31) men's college division III rugby programs.
In this bracket were 4 conference champions and their runners-up:
- Lee UniversityLee UniversityLee University is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States. It is historically affiliated with the Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination, and was the denomination's Bible Training School from 1918 until 1947, when the name...
- USARS Men's College Division III - Conference A Champion - Tulane UniversityTulane UniversityTulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
- USARS Men's College Division III - Conference B Champion - Coastal Carolina UniversityCoastal Carolina UniversityCoastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus...
- USARS Men's College Division III - Conference C Champion - Elon UniversityElon UniversityElon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes...
- USARS Men's College Division III - Conference D Champion