MidSouth Rugby Union is a local area union within
USA Rugby South, a territory of USA Rugby. The MidSouth is composed of men's and women's collegiate and club teams from within the Tennessee River Valley.
Top of the list of best games at USAR Collegiate Championship Play-Offs in Albuquerque was undoubtedly Tennessee’s remarkable victory over Army in a D1 seeding match. Down with minutes to go in regular time, UT tied to send the game into overtime. They did the same again in overtime, delivering the final blow in the first period of sudden death. UT won 49 – 45.
Arkansas State, in their first D1 season, played convincingly in their seeding match with Dartmouth, demolishing the Ivy-Leaguers 44 – 17.
Florida Women showed well against reining champs Penn State and in their seeding game against Indiana.
In D2, the East Carolina women put on great show in their first National tournament, narrowly losing their play-off match to Claremont and winning their seeding game against Western Washington.
The East Carolina men, also in their first National, lost narrowly to Utah Valley State 13 – 11 in their play-off, and Northern Colorado in the seeding game. However, much must be said for the guts and determination displayed by our D2 Champions. Both ECU men and women are stronger for the experience.
All our teams deserve huge congratulations for winning through to the Play-Offs and I know physically getting to Albuquerque placed a significant burden on every one of them. After talking to several players from all our teams after the competition, I was left with the clear impression they’d have walked all the way to New Mexico just to play in what for them is to be a proud, life-long memory.
Brian Stringer - Collegiate Rugby Coordinator
