University Park, PA – On Monday, 31 January, Penn State Men's rugby announce their Spring 2022 season plans and schedule.
As programs and teams still work through the impacts of the COVID pandemic, Penn State Men's rugby were extremely pleased to have managed a full competitive season in the Fall finishing with a 6-6 Record and as Runner's Up in the NCR National Competition. The Rugby East is a tough conference and the Lion's took their share of knocks this fall but kept pushing and challenging themselves to be better week in and week out. This determination earned the team a National Ranking of 13th coming out of the Fall in the CRAA polls and spring competition.
As with most spring seasons CRAA National Playoffs rely on National ranking and therefore a few key contests in the spring to secure a spot in the top 12 and a playoff berth. The Lions will begin that hunt, digging out of winter, against St. Joe's University 19 March at Home. This match will also serve as a farewell to a senior class who have endured a lot. The following weekend the team will head to Leesburg, VA to take on Navy in a curtain raiser match to Old Glory at their home field, Segra Field.
In addition to the 15's season that will be happening the Team will compete in the Big 10 Sevens series for the first time in many years. Tournaments this season will kick-off 2 April at Illinois, followed by 9 April at Purdue and culminating 16 April at Michigan. The series will be decided by overall points from the tournaments, at which time a Big 10 Champion will be decided.
The month of May bring 2 possible championships with the National Collegiate Championship Rugby 7s (NCCR7s) being played in Atlanta, GA 14-15 May and the National Collegiate Rugby CRC 7s (NCR CRC 7s) being played in New Orleans, LA 27-29 May. Both these tournaments will require the team to perform and win to qualify for the events.
The spring is always exciting, and the team has been back in training for 4 weeks preparing for the season ahead.
