Club Finals This Weekend
Club Finals This Weekend
Preview of the Men's and Women's 2017 National Club Rugby finals.
USA Rugby crowns five club champions this weekend at Infinity Park in Glendale, CO.
Saturday sees Life West face off with Raleigh for the Women's DI final, and the Austin Huns play New York Athletic Club for the Men's DI championship.
Led by some recent college talent, Life West defeated the Austin Valkyries 71-5 and the Utah Vipers 73-12 to make the final. Flyhalf Atumata Hingano and center Amy Naber scored three tries in that Utah game, and Bitsy Cairns scored two.
Strong in the forwards, Raleigh made the final by defeating Beantown 41-10 in the quarterfinals and NOVA 18-10 in the semis.
NYAC is supremely familiar with major national championships, having been at or near the top of the U.S. club scene since 2005. Winged Foot and the Huns both are bolstered with USA national team players, recent college standouts, and some overseas-produced talent. NYAC defeated defending champ Mystic River 32-14 in the quarters and Chicago Lions 27-5 in the semis.
The New York-based team hav a combination of experience -- Nate Brakeley, Al McFarland, Nick Discala, Seamus Kelly, Justin Hundley -- and youngsters such as flyhalf Chris Mattina.
The Huns held off San Francisco Golden Gate 45-31 in the quarterfinals and then slammed Belmont Shore 57-15 in the semis. Peter Malcolm, Mason Pedersen, and Hanco Germishuys are just recently out of college or age-grade rugby but are a huge part of an Austin team that also features former HSAA captain Michael Reid at scrumhalf, dangerous center Lomani Tongotongo, South African forward Kyle Breytenbach, and not-so-secret weapon Todd Clever.
On Sunday, the Bremer County Bucks hope to ride what has been a fairly dominant run of scores to a DIII title over the tough St. Louis Royals. In DII, it's the Life Running Eagles against the St. Louis Bombers. St. Louis had to hold on against two tough opponents to reach the finals, and the concern might be how the Bombers close out against a fit Life team. The Running Eagles have been getting some key scores from center Ryan Hercules.
And finally, SFGG, led by the high-scoring inside back trio of Lindsey Kinsler, Erika Haro, and Valerie Ernst, faces Milwaukee Scylla in the women's DII final.
Saturday sees Life West face off with Raleigh for the Women's DI final, and the Austin Huns play New York Athletic Club for the Men's DI championship.
Led by some recent college talent, Life West defeated the Austin Valkyries 71-5 and the Utah Vipers 73-12 to make the final. Flyhalf Atumata Hingano and center Amy Naber scored three tries in that Utah game, and Bitsy Cairns scored two.
Strong in the forwards, Raleigh made the final by defeating Beantown 41-10 in the quarterfinals and NOVA 18-10 in the semis.
NYAC is supremely familiar with major national championships, having been at or near the top of the U.S. club scene since 2005. Winged Foot and the Huns both are bolstered with USA national team players, recent college standouts, and some overseas-produced talent. NYAC defeated defending champ Mystic River 32-14 in the quarters and Chicago Lions 27-5 in the semis.
The New York-based team hav a combination of experience -- Nate Brakeley, Al McFarland, Nick Discala, Seamus Kelly, Justin Hundley -- and youngsters such as flyhalf Chris Mattina.
The Huns held off San Francisco Golden Gate 45-31 in the quarterfinals and then slammed Belmont Shore 57-15 in the semis. Peter Malcolm, Mason Pedersen, and Hanco Germishuys are just recently out of college or age-grade rugby but are a huge part of an Austin team that also features former HSAA captain Michael Reid at scrumhalf, dangerous center Lomani Tongotongo, South African forward Kyle Breytenbach, and not-so-secret weapon Todd Clever.
On Sunday, the Bremer County Bucks hope to ride what has been a fairly dominant run of scores to a DIII title over the tough St. Louis Royals. In DII, it's the Life Running Eagles against the St. Louis Bombers. St. Louis had to hold on against two tough opponents to reach the finals, and the concern might be how the Bombers close out against a fit Life team. The Running Eagles have been getting some key scores from center Ryan Hercules.
And finally, SFGG, led by the high-scoring inside back trio of Lindsey Kinsler, Erika Haro, and Valerie Ernst, faces Milwaukee Scylla in the women's DII final.