Five Qualify for National 7s

The path to collegiate rugby glory intensified last weekend as five programs officially punched their tickets to the Collegiate Rugby Championship National 7s through automatic qualifying tournaments held across four states. In the Men’s Premier Cup, Notre Dame secured their spot by winning the Sunshine 7s in Gainesville, Florida, overcoming Aquinas 12-5 in the final after an unblemished 3-0-1 pool play performance. Host Iowa showcased incredible grit at the Women’s Division I Club Hawkeye 7s, rebounding from an opening loss to Boise State to exact revenge with a 26-17 championship victory, featuring explosive pool play scoring with 38 points against Michigan State and 35 against Purdue. The Women’s Division II saw Bowling Green dominate the Great Lakes 7s in Michigan, going a perfect 3-0, including an astounding 77-point effort against Oakland and a 49-14 final win over previously undefeated GVSU. Concurrently, UNC-Charlotte qualified as the runner-up at Sun's Out Scrum's Out, following an undefeated run in pool play and a tight 12-10 semifinal triumph over Georgia Tech. Rounding out the qualifiers, the University of Richmond captured the Men’s Division III title at the Southern 7s in North Carolina, completing a 4-0 run by defeating The Citadel 24-19 in the final. These impressive early qualifications highlight the burgeoning talent across collegiate rugby and promise an exhilarating showdown at the upcoming National 7s.