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2014/2015 News & Headlines

Spring Award Recipients Announced

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Columbia, SC - This past weekend, Carolina Rugby held its Spring Awards Banquet joined by several parents, alumni, and Foundation supporters. Attendees enjoyed a full barbeque buffet, along with a speech and picture show prepared by Head 7's Coach Steve Darnell. Following the presentation, the following player awards were announced:

Team MVP
- Brian Keown

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Hometown: Newton Square, PA
High School: St. Joseph's Prep
Field Position: Scrum Half
Height/Weight: 5'9" / 160
Major: Biological Science
Scholarships: N/A
SC Rugby: Southeastern Rugby All-Conference Team 1st XV, scrumhalf(F2014) / Southeastern Rugby All-Tournament XVs Team, scrum half(F2014) / Southeastern Rugby All-Conference Team 1st XV, scrum half (S2014) / Southeastern Rugby All-Tournament 7's Team (2013)

Best Pack
- Mike Mahon

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Hometown: Bronx, NY
High School: Fordham Prep
Field Position: 8 Man
Height/Weight: 6'0" / 220
Major: Electrical Engineering
Scholarships: Woodrow Scholar
SC Rugby: Southeastern Rugby All-Conference Team 2nd XV, 8 Man(F2014) / Southeastern Rugby All-Tournament XVs Team, 8Man (F2014)

Best Back
- Christian Harrell

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Hometown: Enola, PA
High School: Cumberland Valley High
Field Position: Outside Center
Height/Weight: 6'0" / 190
Major: Undeclared
Scholarships: Honors Scholarship / Cooper Scholarship
SC Rugby: Southeastern Rugby All-Conference Team 2nd XV, center(F2014)

Best Rookie
- Brett DeBoy

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Hometown: Hanover, MD
High School: Mount St. Joseph High
Field Position: Wing
Height/Weight: 5'8" / 165
Major: Exercise Science
Scholarships: Sims Scholarship
SC Rugby: N/A

Most Improved
- Sean Barnes

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Hometown: Kennett Square, PA
High School: Unionville High
Field Position: Inside Center
Height/Weight: 6'2" / 200
Major: Business
Scholarships: N/A
SC Rugby: N/A
Following the awards ceremony, Coach Darnell took a few moments to reflect. "I stand here tonight with a great deal of pride in the student-athletes I have the privilege to coach and mentor here at South Carolina. These awards are the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by our more than 60 student-athletes, and I am honored to recognize a select few who have truly made an impact on our program. I wish all of our graduates and visiting players a successful future, and I look forward to seeing them again next year as Carolina Olde Boys. The future is bright for Carolina Rugby, and Coach Morris I and look forward to a successful fall season."

Carolina Rugby Supports Relay For Life

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Columbia, SC - Beginning in 2010, Carolina Rugby began supporting Team Jameson and the American Cancer Society, assisting former player Patrick Lawler in raising roughly $35,000 towards a cure in a little over 3 years.

Lawler and his supporters organized
South Carolina’s first Bachelor Auction, designed wristbands with the notorious ‘Cocks against Cancer’ slogan, sponsored percent nights with local area businesses, and auctioned signed merchandise, with all proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society.

This year, the team continued the tradition set by Lawler and pledged to participate in the annual Relay For Life campaign on
South Carolina's campus. With the support of the players and their friends, Carolina Rugby was able to achieve its goal of raising over $1,300 for the event.

"I am proud of what our players have accomplished, though more so, I am reminded of the brotherhood that exists within the rugby community," comments Head Coach Mark Morris. "Patrick accomplished amazing things in honoring his mother's memory, and I am proud that our players continue to honor those who have lost their fight with cancer, as well as show unconditional support to those who are still fighting today."

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Team Jameson-Cock Rugby - April 2015

"Team Jameson was founded on one truth: that love and support is in abundance, and by working together to mobilize our efforts we can give and demonstrate all the love and support we have for those who need it today." - Patrick Lawler 

Spring Awards Banquet Announced

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Columbia, SC - On Friday, April 24th, the team will be holding its Spring Awards Banquet which will be open to all parents, alumni, and Foundation supporters. We would encourage anyone who lives locally or plans to be visiting the Columbia area the weekend of the 24th to please take the opportunity to meet the players, enjoy some Southern cuisine, and show your support for Carolina Rugby. We will have a full barbeque buffet with all the fixins’, as well as an awards presentation and a speech from Head Coach Mark Morris.

"Each season, we make it a priority to recognize the very best of Carolina Rugby, and we gratefully ask our supporters who make it possible to be there to celebrate with us." Mark Morris.

We certainly hope that you can attend, and if so, ask that you please RSVP the Carolina Rugby Foundation by phone at 803-974-0401 or by email at TheCarolinaRugbyFoundation@gmail.com The following are the event details:
 
Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center
Bottom Floor South Center
Friday, April 24th from 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Free Parking in Strom WFC Lot


Southeastern Rugby 7's Plate Champions

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Knoxville, TN -  South Carolina defeated Tennessee 19-15 in the Plate Final of the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference 7s Championship in Knoxville, TN on Saturday. With the win, the Gamecocks finished third overall and wrapped up their 7s season with a final record of 21-3, including three Cup Championships, a Plate Championship, and a Bowl Championship.

In the final was the Crimson Tide of Alabama who defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 24-14 to punch their ticket to the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship 7s invitational in Philadelphia, PA.

After finishing sixth in the final standings of the SCRC series, Alabama came out of nowhere to shock the field. The Crimson Tide tied Florida before beating Auburn and Tennessee in pool play. The 2-0-1 record earned Alabama the number one spot in its pool.

South Carolina, which had dominated the field with three tournament victories during the series, uncharacteristically lost a pool play match to Mississippi State. With the loss and an undefeated record for State, the Gamecocks finished second in pool play and met Alabama in the Cup Semis. In a nail biter, Alabama squeaked out a 22-21 victory over the Gamecocks.

In a day filled with upsets, Mississippi State defeated the second-seeded Tennessee Volunteers, 14-10, in the other Cup Semifinal. The Bulldogs defeated LSU and Georgia, as well as South Carolina, to move to 4-0 before the Cup Championship.

“While the result of the SCRC finals tournament was not what we had hoped for, the season is a big step forward for the rugby sevens program at
South Carolina,” said Head 7’s Coach Steve Darnell. “With a final record of 21-3 for the season we have built upon our appearance at the Collegiate Rugby Championship in 2014 and our Shield Championship at the USA Rugby Nationals in 2013. We will move forward gaining invaluable experience from the season with both the thrill of numerous wins and the bitter taste of loss at the conclusion of the season.”

This year, South Carolina established itself as the premier sevens program in the Southeastern Conference, though was unable to finish strong at the end. Fortunately, many of the Gamecock’s starting players will be returning next year giving them a solid foundation to build on.

“We look forward to future opportunities to make our mark on the national stage with the return of all players sans one that will be sorely missed. Zac Gorman has been an inspiration in training and in match play; he will not be easily replaced. James Whipper will return for the Fall, so all we need to do is make sure that he cannot bear leaving before the Spring of 2016 for his native Australia. With the return of injured players as well as incoming freshman the next rugby sevens season promises even more success.”

The Gamecocks game plan suffered during the Championship event given the loss of their team captain and wing to hamstring injuries earlier in the day, placing them without their two top try scorers for the bulk of the tournament. South Carolina was also without senior center Michael Rudzinsky who is recovering from surgery and was unable to participate in any of the 7’s competition this season. Thankfully, all three are on track for recovery.

With a renewed focus placed on the 7’s game this year, Coach Darnell contributes his team’s success to the development of individual players along with cohesive team play. “The contributions of all players are essential to a successful sevens team, in training and in match play. I am very grateful for those that gave their time and efforts often with little or no opportunities for match play. Others have had the opportunity to contribute with copious match time, perhaps more than they had wanted. This past weekend, with injuries to key players, several players were called upon to stretch themselves with extended match time. Christian Harrell was key in both forward and back positions, moving from prop, to center, to wing. Sean Barnes played multiple positions as well, along with Zac Gorman, James Whipper, and Thomas Coar. And while Brian Keown played only one position on the day, he played every minute and was our leading scorer. He had his best day yet kicking and sealed the win over Tennessee with a great individual effort.”

With a healthy, returning roster, the future of South Carolina Rugby is on strong footing and the program looks to be early favorites for 2016.

“Endings are bitter sweet and this is no exception. I look forward to a less hectic schedule but I already miss the anticipation of the next training; the next match. Thanks again to all that support our program; this is indeed a special group of young men that deserve the support that they receive. They are a joy to coach and, with the taste of success from this season, I am certain that they are hungry for more!”

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Carolina Point Earners

Sean Barnes: 1 Try
Thomas Coar: 4 Tries
Tim Hamill: 1 Try
Christian Harrell: 4 Tries
Brian Keown: 6 Tries / 15 Con
James Whipper: 3 Tries

Georgia (45-0)
Tries: Barnes, Coar 2, Hamill, Harrell, Keown, Whipper
Conversions: Keown 5

Louisiana St (26-5)
Tries: Coar, Keown 2, Whipper
Conversions: Keown 3
 
Mississippi St (14-17)
Tries: Coar, Harrell
Conversions: Keown 2
 
Alabama (21-22)
Tries: Keown 2, Whipper
Conversions: Keown 3
 
Tennessee (19-15)
Tries: Harrell 2, Keown
Conversion: Keown 2


Three Time SCRC 7's Series Champions

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Tupelo, MS -  South Carolina claimed its third-consecutive SCRC 7s tournament, sweeping the series with an emphatic 34-0 shutout of Florida in the final in Tupelo, Mississippi. The Gamecocks will look to continue their momentum in the SCRC qualifier tournament this weekend.

South Carolina opened the tournament with a 24-17 victory over Mississippi State. The Gamecocks continued pool play with a 35-10 win over Georgia. As the seeding played out, South Carolina saw Georgia and Mississippi State in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. With wins over both, the Gamecocks earned a berth in the Cup Finals.

Florida took the unorthodox road to the finals, losing both pool play matches to Alabama and Ole Miss. The Gators took out two-time SCRC runner-up Tennessee in the quarterfinals, however, and then exacted revenge on Alabama to earn a spot in the finals.

Florida had nothing left in the tank, though, falling to South Carolina, 34-0. “We certainly had more gas in the tank than Florida did,”
South Carolina 7s coach Steve Darnell told Rugby Today. The Gamecocks pride themselves on their conditioning and believe it is one of the big reasons they have sustained success. “We improved as the day progressed with the culmination in the finals shutting out Florida. We did have some problems with defense earlier in the day, losing our shape several times and allowing line breaks with several leading to scores. Team depth and overall conditioning allowed for little fall off in performance during the five games and we will continue to tweak our conditioning this week.”

The Gamecocks jumped out of the gate early collecting a couple of tries.
South Carolina had a few line breaks early and Chris Harrell outflanked the Florida defense for the second score of the game. Harrell had an outstanding tournament, netting at least one score in each game.

Florida turned the ball over several times following the early deficit compounding the problem of limited possession. South Carolina capitalized on the errors, adding a few more scores before halftime “We were very much clicking in that game," Darnell added. "Things were going well. Retaining possession really did starve Florida."

At the start of the second half,
South Carolina made a few substitutions and started exploiting some defensive gaps. James Whipper made a big difference, making several line breaks and using his great top speed to seal the game in the second half.

With the victory, South Carolina continues to dominate SCRC play. Darnell attributes much of their success to the team’s cohesive play.

“After a slow start, we were back on track for the remainder of the day thanks in part to the leadership from Captain Tim Hamill. Having the team work as a unit has been very helpful, and when they needed to shine as individuals they were able to do that. Christian Harrell continued his scoring contributions with tries in every match and James Whipper put his mark on the day with several scores including a single handed return from a kickoff that featured a number of broken tackles. Sean Barnes contributed scores as well, but was most effective at ball retention going to the floor numerous times to secure possession. Others made the tackles they needed to make, attacked space when it materialized, and supported their teammates in defense and in the attack with the overall results being a true team effort.”

With a win next week, South Carolina will claim an automatic qualifier berth to the Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC). After winning all three tune up tournaments, the Gamecocks are heavy favorites to return to Philadelphia next month.

“Our focus will be on defense as we prepare for the SCRC tournament series finals this coming weekend in Knoxville knowing that all of the teams have benefited from the three tournament series with improved play and conditioning. Many thanks to all that have supported our efforts up this point in the season and we look forward to continued support, as well as positive results on the pitch.”

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Carolina Point Earners

Sean Barnes: 1 Try
Thomas Coar: 3 Tries
Dana Corcoran: 1 Try
Brett DeBoy: 1 Try
Tim Hamill: 7 Tries / 2 Con
Christian Harrell: 6 Tries
Brian Keown: 2 Tries / 13 Con
Mike Mahon: 1 Try
James Whipper: 3 Tries / 1 Con

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Back-to-Back SCRC 7's Series Champions

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Tuscaloosa, AL - South Carolina claimed its second SCRC tournament win in as many weeks. Once again the Gamecocks met Tennessee in the Cup Final, this time winning 29-17 over the Volunteers.

With nine teams competing in the competition, the field was divided into three pools. Each team played two pool matches, and then the field was reseeded with everyone making the Cup playoffs. The eighth and ninth seeded teams were forced into a play in game for the right to take on the number one overall seed.

The Gamecocks dispatched both their pool opponents handily, defeating Georgia 32-0 and Vanderbilt 45-5. With the large point differential, South Carolina earned the top overall seed and met Auburn in the Cup quarterfinals. After a 41-0 win, the Gamecocks defeated LSU in the semifinals.

Tennessee finished 2-0 in pool play with an opening match victory over Auburn and a narrow 21-20 win over Mississippi State. Tennessee outlasted Florida in the quarters before eliminating Alabama in the semis by a 28-19 score line.

The Volunteers jumped on the Gamecocks early scoring two tries. South Carolina countered with a couple of their own scores, but another Tennessee try left the game 17-10 at the break. The Volunteers used their big pack to drive up the middle and, once they got behind the Gamecock defense, find space for their speedsters.

“We were sitting back a little bit on defense and they had a couple of breaks allowing 3 tries in the first half,” South Carolina 7s coach Steve Darnell said.  “If we could get a 1v1 with our wing or our fly we were pretty confident about getting a line break. We just did not have possession we would have liked in the first half to do that. Too many turnovers in our own end from the attack allowed Tennessee to apply pressure and capitalize on penalties.”

At the break, South Carolina made several key substitutions. Zac Gorman and Mike Mahon came in as props. Both are strong defensive players and led the charge in blanking Tennessee in the second half.

“They were instrumental in the second half in shutting them out and retaining possession,” Darnell said of his props. “Each secured key turnovers that stifled Tennessee's attack, as well as turned up the defensive pressure for the second half.”

South Carolina scored three unanswered tries in the second half in route to a 29-17 victory for their second consecutive SCRC 7s tournament victory. “The second half was a different story with nearly all play on Tennessee's end of the pitch,” said Darnell. “Continuous defensive pressure and quality possession resulted in the tries and no threats from Tennessee's attack.”

Freshman Christian Harrell has played both prop and center for the Gamecocks. “He has speed and he is very strong so he can play both positions,” Darnell added. He has scored a number of tries and played superb defense for the Gamecocks. In addition, Brian Keown at scrumhalf has been very effective at disrupting ball in the set piece and leading a potent attack. Sean Barnes added interior line breaks to the Gamecock attack and finished two for tries, as did Brett DeBoy and Tim Hamill who led the team in scoring.

“We exhibited some improvement in the tournament overall from last week's performance in Gainesville," said Darnell. “This was especially evident defensively allowing only two tries in the four matches leading to the finals. Scoring improved as well with no less than five tries per match.”

South Carolina and Tennessee have emerged as the top two teams in the SCRC 7s series and have clinched the one and two seeds for the qualifier tournament. If things go on script, the two are on a collision course for the right to go to Philadelphia. The final stop of the SCRC 7s series, however, before the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship qualifier, will be held in Tupelo Miss. next weekend.

When asked if he had any final thoughts, Darnell added, “I am very proud of the dedication and work from the sevens team this season with the understanding that there is much more to be done to complete the season.”

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Carolina Point Earners

Sean Barnes: 2 Tries
Thomas Coar: 2 Tries
Dana Corcoran: 1 Try
Brett DeBoy: 6 Tries
Zac Gorman: 4 Tries
Tim Hamill: 7 Tries / 5 Con
Christian Harrell: 5 Tries
Brian Keown: 3 Tries / 8 Con
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Gamecocks Claim SCRC 7's Opener

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Gainesville, FL - South Carolina opened SCRC 7's play Saturday the same way it left off 15’s play in the fall, with a tournament victory in Gainesville, Florida. The Gamecocks went a perfect 5-0 on the afternoon, defeating Tennessee twice en route to a cup championship in the first of four Southeastern Conference tournaments.

The Gamecocks cruised through pool play with victories over Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt. South Carolina knocked off Florida in the semifinals, while Tennessee shut out Alabama in the other semi to force a rematch in the final.

After falling to South Carolina in pool play, the Volunteers jumped out to a quick two-score lead in the final. “Tennessee, they are always going to play us hard, and they had a little extra incentive after losing to us first thing in the morning,” said South Carolina coach Mark Morris.

Tennessee came out hitting hard, but the Gamecocks responded with two tries following the half to even the match, though Tennessee refused to quit, issuing continuous pressure on the Gamecocks.

Tennessee had a chance to tie or take the lead, but a penalty for striking an opponent while trying to use a stiff arm stifled the attack. The penalty resulted in a yellow card. The Volunteers hung around and spent plenty of time inside the South Carolina 22, though stern defense from the Gamecocks kept Tennessee out. The final whistle blew with a 26-21 score in favor of South Carolina.

Head 7’s Coach, Steve Darnell, for the Gamecocks was pleased with the result. “Good start to the tournament series with contributions from all players who made it onto the pitch and essential support from all of those who did not play. A very strong defensive showing against Ole Miss while down to 6 players to secure the shutout and numerous assists for scores, as well as many individual efforts to get into the try zone throughout the day.”

When asked about individual performances, Coach Darnell added, “While all players contributed to the wins, several standout. Brett DeBoy played every minute of every game earning him the Iron Man Award, with numerous scores throughout the day. Christian Harrell earns the Attacking Player Award with his try production, and while Tim Hamill also scored numerous times, he shares the Defensive Player Award with Brian Keown for their game saving tackles and chase downs into the try zone.”

The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference will feature two more tournaments prior to the SCRC Championship, and the winner of the SCRC Championship will earn a berth at the CRC in May. For the Gamecocks, they are using these tournaments to gain some valuable experience in an effort to get back to the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship.

“We reevaluated how we played last year, and the biggest problem for us was not having enough game experience going into the CRC,” said Morris. “We have been working since we finished 15’s a couple of weeks ago and continue to plug along to try and get better each week.”

Playing in the SCRC series will certainly help prepare the squad that receives the automatic qualifier to the CRC. According to Morris, the level of play is much improved from years past.

“Overall, competition across the board was a lot better for all the SEC teams, everybody seemed to step up their programs all the way down the entire conference.”

The second installment of the SCRC 7’s series brings teams to Tuscaloosa, Alabama on March 28th. The teams will be divided into pools of round robin play, with teams emerging into a semifinal round and then championship round based on results.

“We are back to work this week preparing for the second leg of the tournament series at Alabama and look forward to working towards securing a number one seed for the SCRC finals,” added Darnell
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Carolina Point Earners

Sean Barnes: 1 Try
Thomas Coar: 1 Try
Dana Corcoran: 1 Try
Brett DeBoy: 7 Tries
Tim Hamill: 4 Tries / 1 Con
Christian Harrell: 5 Tries
Brian Keown: 3 Tries / 11 Con
Mike Mahon: 1 Try
James Whipper: 1 Try
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Carolina Rugby Kicks Off 7's With 3-1 Start

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Clemson, SC - With the bulk of the 15’s season completed following a victory against Virginia Tech, Carolina Rugby made the transition to 7’s last week, setting its sights on the ACC series event on the campus of Clemson University as the first stop of many in hopes of returning to the Collegiate Rugby Championship in Philadelphia this summer.
 
The tournament, which is part of a series that will culminate in an ACC championship in late April, featured eight teams, three of which are regular ACC participants in 15’s including Clemson, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest. South Carolina was the lone representative from the Southeastern Conference, while the remaining teams included Ohio State, Notre Dame, Louisville, and Furman.
 
South Carolina defeated Louisville 31-5 and Virginia Tech 24-19 before falling to Clemson 26-17, finishing 2-1 in pool play. The scores resulted in a three-way tie for first place, though the tie breaker would see South Carolina fall to third and face Wake Forest for the Bowl Final. The Gamecocks would go on to defeat the Demon Deacons 34-17. The Iron Man award was given to freshman center Christian Harrell who played every minute of every game.
 
The overall winner of the tournament was Notre Dame who defeated Virginia Tech 24-21 in the final. Even though they have already received an invitation to the CRC 7’s, Notre Dame played in the CRC Qualifier bracket of the Las Vegas Invitational in February and did fairly well, going 4-2 and losing a competitive contest to eventual winners Arkansas State. Ohio State also had a good showing in Clemson, losing only one game, to eventual winners Notre Dame and only by one try, as they finished 3-1 and in 3rd place. Ohio State will be looking to advance to the CRC’s by competing in the Big 10 Championship later this spring.
 
As for South Carolina, the results provide a promising outlook for the season. “This was a very good test for us for the beginning of the season,” said Head 7’s Coach Steve Darnell. “We had a great second game against Virginia Tech, went brain dead in the third, though recovered well with a commanding lead over Wake (Forest). We only have five returning players from nationals last year, though this may be the fastest team I have coached to date. The SEC series should be exciting.”
 
The Gamecocks will continue training and return to action in three weeks with the first of three SEC series events before advancing to the Conference Championship on Saturday, April 18th in Knoxville, TN. Should they win the SEC Championship, they will automatically receive invitations to the USA Rugby Collegiate 7’s Championship and the CRC 7’s invitational, both of which will take place in May.

Match Results

Cup Final: Notre Dame 24 - 21 Virginia Tech
Plate Final: Ohio State 10 - 0 Clemson
Bowl Final: South Carolina 34 - 17 Wake Forest
Shield Final: Furman 45 - 12 Louisville
       
Game 12: Notre Dame 26 - 5 Furman
Game 11: Ohio State 45 - 0 Wake Forest
Game 10: Clemson 26 - South Carolina 17
Game 9: Virginia Tech 40 - 0 Louisville
Game 8: Notre Dame 17 - 12 Ohio State
Game 7: Wake Forest  22 - 7 Furman
Game 6: Virginia Tech 19 - South Carolina 24
Game 5: Clemson 42 - 0 Louisville
Game 4: Ohio State 29 - 14 Furman
Game 3: Wake Forest  0 - 26 Notre Dame
Game 2: Louisville 5 - 31 South Carolina
Game 1: Clemson 5 - 20 Virginia Tech
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The Gamecocks Defeat The Hokies

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Columbia, SC - This past weekend, the Carolina Rugby team hosted a determined Virginia Tech side that earned a 3-3 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference last fall. Aside from their victories against North Carolina, Wake Forest, and Virginia, the Hokies demonstrated their strength on defense with each of their three losses being within 10 points or less, to include a 27-20 loss to the eventual ACC champions, Clemson University. Knowing Virginia Tech’s propensity for close games, the Gamecocks were prepared for an intense back and forth battle, though, just prior to kickoff, it was discovered that the Hokies kept all of its 7’s players at home to remain healthy for the upcoming season and replaced them with reserve players to fill out the roster. Despite having a number of backline players missing as well, the Gamecocks adjusted their game plan to exploit the difference in experience and did so with much success.
 
The match commenced with strong back and forth play from each team. After trading scores that resulted in a one try advantage for the Gamecocks, South Carolina’s pressure became too much for the inexperienced back line of Virginia Tech. The Gamecocks were able to take a commanding lead in the first half, with much of it off the backs of its Men of the Match freshman center Chris Harrell and junior flanker Jared Magill. Harrell broke the gain line several times for the Gamecocks resulting in excellent field position and a lead that allowed for multiple substitutions throughout the afternoon. Magill, who had superb ball distribution and placement throughout the match provided the quick tempo for the back line to remain on the attack, even after losing junior scrumhalf Brian Keown to a leg injury. Keown’s replacement, junior scrumhalf Alex Smolen, took advantage of the extra playing time by not only scoring his first try on the varsity team, but scoring a second as well. Sophomore winger Ryan Pile also scored his first try on the varsity team by artfully stepping down the sideline to avoid multiple tackles before using his breakaway speed to secure a long distance try. The final results came as the whistle blew and the Gamecocks ended up besting the Hokies by a score of 64-12.
 
“It was nice to bounce back from our game against Furman with a win today,” said Head Coach Mark Morris. “Obviously, Tech’s roster situation and lack of experience in the backline were difference makers, though we’ve certainly experienced our share of injuries and reserves this season, so it’s hard to tell where either team is right now in comparison to last fall. Having Zac Gorman and Ben Mather back certainly helped the tight five and gave us more of a presence on defense. We were missing Dana (Corcoran) and (Drew) Busbee who attended the All-South tryouts in Fort Lauderdale, though Bradley (Fasulo) stepped up nicely and Jared had a tremendous game.”
 
The Gamecocks were also without their flyhalf, senior Michael Rudzinsky, who learned this week he has blood clots in his left arm and will not be able to play for the next 3-6 months. “I really hate it for Rudy, though we’re thankful the doctors were able to diagnose the problem and begin treatment before anything serious developed,” added Morris. “So far, the treatment has been going well and he’s in good spirits. We hope to have him back this fall for his final season.”
 
Carolina now sets its sights on 7's for the remainder of the spring season with hopes of returning to the Collegiate Rugby Championship in Philadelphia this summer. The first tournament will be an ACC series event on the campus of Clemson University on Saturday, February 28th. Come out and support your fellow Gamecocks! 


Carolina Rugby Falls To The Paladins

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Greenville, SC - Furman used a strong offense and the wind to build a three-try halftime lead that was strong enough to carry the day in a 22-14 win over South Carolina. The victory is Furman’s third consecutive against a Division I team. The contest pitted the champions of the Division II Southern Rugby Conference against the winners of the DI Southeastern Conference. The game, played under blustery conditions at Roberts Field, was a contest of field position.
 
Electing to play with the wind to their back in the first half, the Paladins took the lead with a pick off a goal line ruck near the nine minute mark. Five minutes later, Furman added a penalty kick, followed by a try with five minutes remaining in the first half to extend their lead to 15-0.
 
The Gamecocks, who have a penchant for rallying, came out strong against Furman in the second half, scoring a try and conversion near the 50 minute mark to cut Furman’s lead to 15-7. Furman would respond with a try off a 20-meter dash to put the Paladins back in charge 7-22. With ten minutes remaining, the Gamecocks scored again to shrink Furman’s lead to 14-22, though the score would remain till the final whistle.
 
South Carolina had several scoring opportunities but were undone by their own mistakes and a hard-hitting Paladin defense that was determined to win the day. “We took better of advantage of the wind than they did and I think that won the day,” said Furman Coach John Roberts. “We played well on offense in the first half and good defense in the second.”
 
Roberts, a South Carolina alum and former club president for Gamecock rugby, said he was grateful for the opportunity to host a top 25 DI team. “
South Carolina has a tremendous program and I have watched them with great pride as Mark (South Carolina Coach Mark Morris) has constructed a winning tradition there,” said Roberts. “I know they were down a few starters. We look forward to returning the favor next year with a game in Columbia.”

"Congratulations to Coach Roberts and the Paladins for a well executed match," said Coach Mark Morris. "We started a comeback in the second half, though our errors in the first half made it too little too late. Our injuries from NC State hurt our size in the pack and made it difficult to keep the ball close to help combat the wind early on. Regardless, John has done a great job bringing in talented athletes and coaching them up to be top tier players. We look forward to the rematch next year."


The Gamecocks Travel To Furman

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Greenville, SC - South Men’s college rugby is divided into three divisions. Division 1 is for the big boys, large state universities with a sprawling campus and large enrollment. Division 2 is for the mid-sized schools, and Division 3 is for very small colleges, institutions with an enrollment of 5,000 or less.

On February 14, Furman and South Carolina will compete in a match-up of highly respected D1 and D2 programs. The D2 Paladins completed the fall season ranked sixth in the country. Furman (9-2) was also crowned champions of the 12-team Southern Rugby Conference. In Columbia, the D1 Gamecocks put together another excellent season last fall, compiling a 9-2 record and winning their second consecutive Southeastern Rugby Championship. Most rugby polls had 
South Carolina finishing among the top 25 D1 teams in the nation.

The A-sides for Furman and South Carolina have not met since 2009, around the time
South Carolina’s rugby roster swelled from around 25 to close to 80. The Gamecocks currently field A, B and C teams and boast one of the largest rosters in the nation. The Paladins do hold a 3-0 record against South Carolina’s B-team.

Since Furman launched a rugby scholarship program in 2012, the Paladins have improved steadily. Last February, Furman defeated D1 University of North Carolina 29-20 at home and held advantage over another Division 1 team, the University of Georgia 17-5, in August in an abbreviated scrimmage.

Furman does hold an 8-7 overall advantage over the Gamecocks in a series that dates back to 1998. The Paladins, in fact, played their inaugural game at South Carolina, a 25-5 loss. Furman Coach John Roberts, who founded the team, is a 1990 graduate of
South Carolina where he played rugby for three years and served as club president.

“We had a nice rivalry for about 10 years or so,” says Roberts. “The program at
South Carolina really exploded about six years ago, partly due to the popularity of high school, and they quickly elevated and separated from us. So we started playing their second team because we wanted the games to be competitive. In the last year or two, I think we have closed that gap a little bit.”

Roberts, who has deep ties with the Carolina program, says the Gamecock’s fast-paced offense will present challenges for Furman. The Gamecocks scored an average of 38 points in the fall.

“They move the ball quickly. It does not stay on the ground very long. They have a very dynamic backline,” says Roberts. “We will need to be sure tacklers and communication will be vital. As the team progresses, we are aiming to schedule more games against larger, more established, programs.”


South Carolina holds a 1-1 record this year and is coming off a 22-20 win over North Carolina State. South Carolina Coach Mark Morris, the 2014 SEC Coach of the Year, has a lot of respect for the Furman program.

“Playing one of John’s coached Paladins teams is always a competitive match. John has always done a great job taking the players he recruits and turning them into a disciplined rugby team,” said Morris. “He always has them prepared to compete, regardless of the opponent’s rankings or being from a higher division. John’s teams play hard, smart, and for the win. Although Furman is playing in Division 2, John always  has the team competing at the highest level and they are usually more competitive than some of the teams competing in the D1 SEC and D1  ACC conferences."

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm this Saturday at the John S. Roberts Rugby Field at Furman University, with a reserve match to follow against UNC Charlotte. Come out and support your fellow Gamecocks!


Carolina Tames The Wolfpack Of NC State

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Raleigh, NC - As South Carolina looked to bounce back from a tough loss against Life University, the Gamecocks traveled to Raleigh this past weekend to take on the Wolfpack of North Carolina State. The Gamecocks approached this match with a renewed spirit hoping to highlight the things they did well last week into a strong showing against the Wolfpack. Unfortunately, the first half did not go as planned.
 
Within the first ten minutes, junior flanker Dana Corcoran received a stray kick to the face while engaged in a ruck, requiring offsite medical attention for the duration of the match. Fortunately, Corcoran is recovering nicely and junior Jared Magill was able to take his place in his first official match since knee surgery last December. The Wolfpack, with the leadership of several French foreign exchange students, pressured the Gamecocks into poor decision making, resulting in several penalties deep within Carolina territory. One such penalty was kicked to put the Wolfpack up 3-0, while another was pounded in for a try and converted, giving NC State a 10 point lead. At the 20 minute mark, junior prop Ben Mather went down with a twisted ankle and was unable to finish the game, and a hit from behind on senior captain Zac Gorman left him with a shoulder contusion, removing him from the match as well. At half time, the Gamecocks found themselves down 10 points and missing 3 key pack players.
 
With the second half underway, the Gamecocks started off with a renewed vigor to force the Wolfpack to commit penalties of their own, one of which allowed junior scrum half Brian Keown to kick one through the uprights to put Carolina on the board. The Wolfpack, not wanting Carolina’s momentum to continue, responded with an unconverted try on the outside to increase their lead, 15-3.
 
After another penalty was committed by the Wolfpack, an excellent kick gave the Gamecocks an opportunity to attack with a line-out within 10-meters of the Pack’s try line. Junior lock and jumper Nick Winikoff forces the early jump, giving the Gamecocks a clean ball which is spun out to freshman center Christian Harrell for a well-deserved try. With a manageable 5 point deficit, Winikoff attempts a try under the posts, though is held up, bringing them back to a 5-meter attacking scrum. In an effort to prevent Carolina from scoring, the Wolfpack commit another penalty allowing Keown to give the quick tap and handoff to Winikoff who breaks through a tackle and lands into goal. A successful conversion from Keown gives Carolina their first lead of the match at 17-15.
 
Pressing their advantage, the Gamecocks move the ball down the field following the kickoff where an excellent grubber by Keown to freshman winger James Whippier results in a try, expanding their lead to 22-15. With less than 5 minutes to go, NC State battles back and responds with a try of their own, though the conversion is wide right and Carolina walks away with the come from behind 22-20 victory.

Man of the Match honors were awarded in pairs this week to junior 8-man Mike Mahon from the Bronx, NY and junior lock Nick Winikoff from Olney, MD representing the forwards and senior flyhalf Michael Rudzinsky from Reading, MA and freshman center Christian Harrell from Enola, PA representing the backs.

"Injuries were crucial today, though thankfully we were able to adjust and pull through," said Head Coach Mark Morris. "To lose three key pack players early on during what amounted to a forward centered match was not ideal, though the reserves stepped up and kept the tempo going. Nick did a great job leading the pack after Gorman went out and Mahon had a strong game all day. Rudy kept up the attack defensively and Christian continues to shine under pressure. The score was a lot closer than I would have liked, though you have to hand it to NC State for putting together a strong performance. Hopefully, everyone is healthy in time for Furman next week and we continue to play smart under pressure."

Carolina's Reserve Side also took to the field against NC State in a match that saw a very similar outcome with a final score of 22-15, Gamecocks. Man of the Match honors were awarded to freshman flanker Tony Jeong from Columbia, SC and Sophomore center Lucas Paff from Charlotte, NC.

"Good showing all around. Team-play has improved and communication was fluid. Individual talents are starting to show and the newer players were much more confident in their decisions. UNC Charlotte should be a good test for them next week."

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm this Saturday at the John S. Roberts Rugby Field at Furman University, with a reserve match to follow against UNC Charlotte. Come out and support your fellow Gamecocks!


Carolina Travels To Raleigh To Face Wolfpack

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Raleigh, NC - Carolina looks to bounce back from their loss against Life University as they are set to travel to Raleigh, NC to face the Wolfpack of North Carolina State University. Riding high on particularly good scrummaging and kickoff plays in the Life match, Carolina hopes to exploit these facets of the game to win the annual matchup against the Wolfpack.
 
NC State celebrated one of its best seasons in recent memory last fall with first year Head Coach Brian Ketchem taking them to a 4-2 record in the Atlantic Coast conference play with big come from behind wins over North Carolina and Virginia Tech. The Wolfpack is also coming off of their own bid to the ACRC tournament where they defeated a competitive Texas State University, 63-7.
 
NC State is a young team, though they have leadership in several key areas to include Dominick Goldston of Asheboro, NC. A standout player since his arrival in 2010, Goldston is a serious threat at center due to his raw athleticism, speed, and brute strength. Cameron Jernigan of Town Creek, NC has also stepped up his effort and has added coaching to his list of responsibilities since the loss of their Forwards Coach last year. A mobile tight head prop who excels in defensive play, Jernigan has taken an inexperienced pack and brought them to a high level of forward play.  
 
The Gamecocks will see a similar lineup as the one against Life, though they will have junior flanker Jared Magill from Downingtown, PA returning this week after undergoing surgery from a torn meniscus last fall. Captain Zac Gorman will be leading the pack and will have his work cut out for him against a traditionally forward heavy team. “NC State is a very strong and aggressive team who isn’t afraid to fight for possession,” says Head Coach Mark Morris. “I expect a good match up and I’m looking forward to our players stepping up and taking ownership.”
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm this Saturday at the Method Road Sports Complex at NC State University, with a reserve match to follow. Come out and support your fellow Gamecocks!


Rugby Supports Cocky's Reading Express

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Columbia, SC - Cocky's Reading Express is a collaboration between South Carolina and the School of Library and Information Science where South Carolina students travel the state with their friend, Cocky, visiting underserved public schools across South Carolina. The students read to the children, and Cocky helps the children understand the importance of life-long reading.

The program primarily serves students in 4K through second grade because research shows that if children acquire strong reading skills and a love of reading by the end of second grade they are more likely to succeed academically and graduate on time. All the children are given books to take home, reminders of their visit from Cocky and the
South Carolina students. So far, Cocky's Reading Express has donated over 78,000 books statewide!

Last Friday, several members of the Carolina Rugby Team visited both Spann Elementary in Summerville, SC and Bethune Bowman Elementary in Orangeburg, SC to read stories to the children and pass out over 700 books for them to keep. The players had a great time and enjoyed making reading fun — one Gamecock at a time!


Tough Loss To Life; Carolina Preps For NC State

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Columbia, SC - Carolina Rugby stood up against an imposing lineup up from Life University. Unfortunately, the # 1 ranked Running Eagles were too much of a challenge for the Gamecocks to handle this past Saturday.
 
On the opening drive, Life opened up the scoring with a quick try in the corner off a 5-meter scrum. The conversion bounced off the crossbar, though managed to go through none the less. On a move out wide, Life scored their second try and conversion, moving them ahead, 14-0. Carolina responded with several attack phases, though knocked the ball on setting up Life for the quick counter attack, resulting in their third try of the day. Carolina would have little rest as the Running Eagles won a line-out deep in their territory and marched it down the field with a series of impressive offloads, giving them the 28-0 lead. Life would score twice more, one on a looping play and the other on the outside corner, bringing their lead to 40-0. With a penalty on the Carolina 10-meter mark, Life picked up three more with a well-aimed kick through the uprights. In the closing minutes, Carolina showed some promise, being on the better end of a few penalties and some great tackling by Junior 8-man Mike Mahon, though the result would be two more tries by the Running Eagles, ending the half 50-0 in their favor.  
 
Life opened up the second half with two quick scores, converting one, for the 62-0 lead. Consistent infringement from Life’s inside center resulted in a yellow card and Carolina’s first real scoring opportunity, though the penalty kick would fall outside keeping the Gamecocks scoreless. The Running Eagles capped the match with a few more tries to end with a final score of 91-0. Man of the Match honors were awarded to senior lock and team captain Zac Gorman from Cincinnati, OH and junior scrumhalf Brian Keown from Newton Square, PA.

“It’s tough for someone to see the final score and not feel disappointed, though I assure you the score is not indicative of the output displayed by these players,” stated Head Coach Mark Morris. “We knew coming into this match that it was going to be an uphill battle the whole way, though the point was to go against the best and to rise to the challenge, which our players did. Under extreme pressure, we are able to see which aspects of the game we did well and which areas need further development. Our goal now as coaches is to review the film and our notes and to provide the one-on-one instruction that our players need so that we can address individual weaknesses and work to minimize the mental errors going forward. What we take away from this match and the remaining games we have this spring will only serve to help us prepare for another conference and title run this fall. Ultimately, this was a tough game for the Gamecocks, but it shows where we need to improve if we want to compete at the top.”
 
Carolina's Reserve Side also took to the field against Life in a match that saw a very similar outcome with a final score of 107-0, Life. Man of the Match honors were awarded to freshman hooker Bradley Fasulo from Ellicott City, MD and freshman center Will Portas from Charlotte, NC.
 
“A similar result, though this match saw a greater disparity in experience and talent with over half of our roster never having played a game of rugby,” added Head Coach Mark Morris. “We received an unusually high influx of new players this semester, so providing them with as many opportunities to play is important if we hope to develop their skills. It’s unfortunate that Life had to be their first test out the gate, though the learning process is still the same. There were a few moments of effective ball movement, though we’re going to need to get the backs and forwards working more in unison if we hope to be more consistent. Much to do, though overall very proud of these young players.”
 
The Gamecocks return to action Saturday, February 7th against the Wolfpack of North Carolina State in Raleigh, NC. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm at the NC State Method Road Sports Complex. Come out and support our Gamecocks to victory!



Carolina Hosts National Champs; Life Eagles

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Columbia, SC - Carolina Rugby gears up this weekend for a showdown against the 2013 National Champions, Life University. The Gamecocks (23) will host the Running Eagles (1) at the Strom Thurmond Rugby Field at 1pm this Saturday, with a reserve match to follow. The Gamecock’s hope to show their experience against a top ranked team, while the Running Eagles look to continue their dominance on the pitch.  
 
The Gamecock will be taking the field without five of their starters from the previous season. Junior lock Zach Mullineaux and junior flyhalf Luke Bolembach, both from Downingtown, PA, are studying abroad this semester, though will return next fall for their final SCRC 15’s season. Senior wing Avery Darnell of Chapin, SC graduated this past December while sophomore prop Jake Phillips of Columbia, SC is taking the spring season off for recovery. Perhaps the greatest loss is Captain Tim Hamill who is still recovering from a broken collarbone sustained during the Southeastern Rugby 15’s Championship last fall. Hamill, a junior from Downingtown, PA, alternates between wing and fullback, generating several tries for the Gamecocks with his speed and agility. “We have some seasoned reserves that can step up and fill the gaps, though, hopefully, we can overcome the adversity and have a good showing against a strong Life team,” comments Head Coach Mark Morris.​
 
Despite the loss of several key players, the Gamecocks still have several athletes to look out for to include the 2014 SCRC Player of the Year Dana Corcoran. Corcoran, a junior flanker from Charleston, SC, was praised for his outstanding defense and counter rucking in last year’s conference play. Corcoran received several Man of the Match honors and conference accolades, though he also received plenty of support from fellow pack players Drew Busbee, hooker, and Zac Gorman, lock. Busbee, a four year starter from Charlotte, NC, controls the scrum with his quick strike, while Gorman, Captain from Cincinnati, OH, exploits his size advantage in the lineout and on kickoffs for quick, clean ball.
  
Heading up the backline is junior scrumhalf Brian Keown from Newton Square, PA. Keown was the lead point scorer last fall with 14 tries and 32 conversions during the regular season alone. Look for Keown to take the quick pick off the tail end of a ruck if Carolina is within striking distance. Also in the backline is freshman center Christian Harrell from Enola, PA who made a splash last semester earning him the Rookie of the Season award.
 
Showcasing the roster for the Running Eagles will be an All-American lineup including senior lock and prop Paris Hollis, senior scrumhalf and flyhalf Jake McFadden, and senior hooker Glen Maricelli.
 
Life’s rapid rise to become one of the nation’s top rugby teams is one of the sport’s more interesting stories in recent years. The 2010-11 season, their first official year of varsity intercollegiate play, saw the team go 14-2. The team was a semifinalist in the 2012 D1-A Championships and won it all a year later, beating St. Mary’s for the title.  
 
Life University Rugby enjoys full varsity status, one of 17 men’s college rugby programs in the country to have gained that distinction. The team was founded by Dan Payne, former assistant coach for the USA Eagles national team. 
 
“I have the utmost respect for Dan and his program and what he has accomplished not only for his program but the rugby community in general,” add Coach Morris. “I know we are pushing ourselves to compete with his two sides, but we felt there were too many benefits for us to set a benchmark for our players to step up to. Life has a great team and I know our team is excited to challenge themselves to play at their best against one of the dominate teams in the country.”
 
Both teams have had very little time to prepare with classes starting only weeks ago, though with more than 20 new players on the Carolina roster this spring, the Gamecocks are anxious to start playing again. “Overall, we feel good about where we are right now. We are trying to expand our coaching tactics and take the team to the next level. We continue to get great athletes from some of the more notable high school programs around the country, as well as athletes from other sports that didn't have an opportunity to play the game, though have fallen in love within minutes into their first training session. So the future looks bright and we’re excited to host this match against Life to get a glimpse at the next level.”



Two Gamecocks Make USAR South Select Side

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Atlanta, GA - South Carolina's Dana Corcoran and Drew Busbee have each been selected to serve on this year's USA Rugby South Select Side.

The South Panthers is a men’s select side that aims to provide an opportunity for players to develop and play internationally. Each year, they compete in the North America Caribbean Rugby Association Championship and have consistently had success, winning overall in 2013. Their international competition includes Mexico, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and Guyana.

This year, the Panthers started with a 2-day try out in Atlanta, showcasing each player’s proficiency in rugby skill, fitness, and IQ. After the initial try out on Saturday, a player pool was chosen to compete against Life University’s junior varsity side. Following the match, an even smaller group of 38 players received an invitation for a final tryout at the 39th Annual Ruggerfest in Florida next month. The tournament will serve as their final warm-up and selection before taking on Mexico’s national team in the North Zone Championships in March. The panthers will also take on the Cayman Islands in Atlanta, with the victor of the three advancing to the final to be played in Atlanta or Guyana.

Corcoran and Busbee each received an invitation to attend this year’s Ruggerfest and are early favorites to represent the United States against Mexico and the Cayman Island. Estimated costs associated with each of the three events, along with player kit and fees, puts the bill at roughly $2,000 per player. If the Panthers should reach the finals, and they are held in Guyana, players can expect another $1,000 in expenses.

The Carolina Rugby Foundation congratulates these student athletes for representing not only South Carolina, but the United States on the international scene. We ask all of our alumni, parents, and boosters to please show your support by donating to the Foundation so that we may alleviate this financial burden and give our players the best chance at success!


Thank You For A Successful 2014!

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Columbia, SC - The Carolina Rugby Foundation is proud of what we have been able to accomplish with your support in 2014!
 
From back-to-back Southeastern Rugby Championships and Coach & Player of the Year honors, to accumulating an 18-3 record in front of friends and family across the Southeast, to receiving bids to the CRC 7's Invitational on NBC and the inaugural American Collegiate 15's Bowl series, this has been a memorable year of growth and success for Carolina Rugby, and we could not have done it without you and all our supporters.

2014 was the most successful year on record for the Carolina Rugby Foundation with over $18,000 generated from monthly and one-time monetary donations and gifts in kind to help cover the day-to-day expenses of the 
Carolina Rugby team. In addition to the Foundation, the Carolina Men's Rugby Endowment Fund was established with a generous $50,000 contribution made by the Smolka Family, providing fixed interest returns for the program to use for years to come. Special recognition goes to Dunkin’ Donuts for their $10,000 sponsorship during the CRC’s 7’s last summer, delivering an excellent fan experience, serving as our host throughout the weekend, and providing an assortment of promotional and recruitment items that the team is benefiting from to this day. Last, but not least, are those who contributed to the team directly by procuring tickets, purchasing merchandise and team paraphernalia, and traveling to every corner of the Southeast to cheer our men to victory. We asked for your support and you answered! 

As we look ahead, 2015 will prove to be an even bigger year. Not only will the team be looking to defend its title in 15’s and advance to national post season play, the nationally ranked Gamecocks will also be in search of their first Southeastern Rugby 7’s Championship to pave the way for a return trip to the USA Rugby National 7’s Championship and the CRC 7's Invitational on NBC. We have come a long way since our humble beginnings in 1967, and continue to improve each year with talented recruits, a dedicated coaching staff, and a renewed competitive spirit. Will you help us start this important year off right with a tax-deductible donation to the Carolina Rugby Foundation?

As the program continues to achieve new heights and accomplish strategic benchmarks both on and off the pitch, the one consistent factor that determines our rate of growth is access to financial resources from year to year. Currently, the team is able to operate off of a $40,000 annual budget, with roughly $30,000 (30) devoted towards 15's and $10,000 (10) devoted towards 7's. With the annual "30/10 Campaign," it is our goal to eventually develop enough resources through both the Foundation and the Endowment to not only cover these existing baseline expenses, but to exceed this amount, allowing the team to continue to grow, develop, and achieve new heights.

Your financial support will have a direct impact, keeping our facilities and equipment updated, investing in travel, tournaments, and coach and player development, and engaging potential recruits and spectators with new resources, ultimately, maintaining one of the leading programs in the country and preparing our student athletes to achieve great things. Allow us to build on the successes of last year and make 2015 even bigger. Please think about leaving a lasting legacy with the rugby team today by donating to either the Foundation fund or the Endowment fund. 

The contributions made by Carolina Foundation donors assist in continuing the quality of sportsmanship of individuals, as well as the team in its entirety.



Fall Award Recipients Announced

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Columbia, SC - This past weekend, Carolina Rugby held its Fall Awards Banquet joined by several parents, alumni, and Foundation supporters. Attendees enjoyed a full barbeque buffet, along with a speech and picture show prepared by Head Coach Mark Morris. Following the presentation, the following player awards were announced:

Team MVP - Brian Keown

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Hometown: Newton Square, PA
High School: St. Joseph's Prep
Field Position: Scrum Half
Height/Weight: 5'9" / 160
Major: Biological Science
Scholarships: N/A
SC Rugby: SCRC All-Conference Team 1st XV, scrumhalf (F’14) / SCRC All-Tournament 15's Team, scrumhalf (F’14) / SCRC All-Conference Team 1st XV, scrumhalf (S’14) / SCRC All-Tournament 7's Team (F’13) / Rookie of the Season Award (S’13)

Best Pack - Zac Gorman

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Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
High School: Elder High
Field Position: Lock
Height/Weight: 6'3" / 200
Major: Experimental Psychology
Scholarships: In State Tuition Scholarship / Liberal Arts Scholarship
SC Rugby: Team Captain (F’14) / SCRC All-Conference Team 1st XV, lock (F’14) / SCRC All-Tournament 15's Team, lock (F’14) / SCRC All-Conference Team 1st XV, lock (S’14)

Best Back - Michael Rudzinsky

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Hometown: Reading, MA
High School: Belmont Hill High
Field Position: Inside Center
Height/Weight: 5'8" / 175
Major: Economics
Scholarships: N/A
SC Rugby: Mystic River Collegiate Select Side (‘13) / USA Maccabi Rugby Team 7s Gold Medal Winners & 15s Bronze Medal Winners (‘13) / New England Olympic Development Academy 7's (‘13) / Rookie of the Season Award (S’12)

Best Rookie - Christian Harrell

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Hometown: Enola, PA
High School: Cumberland Valley High
Field Position: Outside Center
Height/Weight: 6'0" / 190
Major: GSCOM & Finance
Scholarships: Honors Scholarship / Cooper Scholarship
SC Rugby: SCRC All-Conference Team 2nd XV, center (F’14)

Most Improved - Jared Magill

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Hometown: Downingtown, PA
High School: Downingtown West
Field Position: Flanker
Height/Weight: 5'7" / 175
Major: Exercise Science
Scholarships: N/A
SC Rugby: 3 Tries (F'14)

Leadership - Luke Bolembach

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Hometown: Downingtown, PA
High School: Downingtown West
Field Position: Fly Half
Height/Weight: 6'1" / 185
Major: International Business
Scholarships: McKissick Scholar
SC Rugby: Team Administrator (‘13 & ’14) / SCRC All-Tournament 15's Team, flyhalf (F’14) / Most Improved Award (F’13)

Leadership - Tim Hamill

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Hometown: Downingtown, PA
High School: Downingtown West
Field Position: Fullback
Height/Weight: 5'7" / 140
Major: GSCOM
Scholarships: N/A
SC Rugby: Team Captain (F’14) / SCRC All-Conference Team 1st XV, fullback (F’14) / SCRC All-Tournament 15's Team, fullback (F’14) / SCRC All-Conference Team 1st XV, wing (S’14) / Most Valuable Back Award (F’13) / SCRC All-Tournament 7's Team (F’13) / SCRC All-Conference Team 2nd XV, wing (S’13)

SCRC POY - Dana Corcoran

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Hometown: Charleston, SC
High School: Wando High
Field Position: Flanker
Height/Weight: 5'7" / 180
Major: Economics & Finance
Scholarships: AP Scholar / Life Scholarship
SC Rugby: SCRC All-Conference Team 1st XV, flanker (F’14) / SCRC All-Tournament 15's Team, flanker (F’14) / SCRC All-Conference Team 1st XV, flanker (S’14) / Most Valuable Forward Award (F’13) / SCRC All-Tournament 7's Team (F’13) / SCRC All-Conference Team 1st XV, flanker (S’13) / Most Improved Award (S’13)
Following the awards ceremony, Head Coach Mark Morris took a few moments to reflect. "I stand here tonight with a great deal of pride in the student-athletes I have the privilege to coach and mentor here at South Carolina. These awards are the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by our more than 60 student-athletes, and I am honored to recognize a select few who have truly made an impact on our program. I wish all of our graduates and visiting players a successful future, and I look forward to seeing them again next year as fellow Olde Boys. The future is bright for Carolina Rugby, and I look forward to a successful spring season."

Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive & Kappa Kickoff

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Columbia, SC - South Carolina and Clemson University wrapped up their 30th annual blood drive last week, resulting in the seventh consecutive win for USC. Carolina now holds a 16-14 lead in the annual competition with Clemson. The 2014 Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive took place on both campuses Nov. 17-21 with students, staff, faculty and fans showing support for their favorite team by donating blood.

On campus, the Carolina Rugby Team is a regular partner with the annual Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive, wherein players assist the American Red Cross in its on-campus operations and donate blood throughout the week. The Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive is a longstanding tradition of the Carolina community. As the largest collegiate blood battle in the nation and the largest blood drive in the Southeast, it has been helping area residents since 1985, yielding more than 100,000 units of blood and potentially helping 300,000 patients in need.

This year’s event resulted in 6,896 donors presenting to give blood. Carolina supporters totaled 4,103, or 16.9 percent of the undergraduate population, while Clemson supporters totaled 2,793, or 16.5 percent of the undergraduate population.
South Carolina was awarded the coveted blood drive trophy during Saturday's football game at Clemson's Memorial Stadium.

"I'm proud of the team for their now 14 years of contribution to the annual blood drive," says Head Coach Mark Morris. "Participating in charitable events such as the Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive enables our young men to give back to the community, and with the holiday season now here, that help could not come at a better time. From setup to tear down, to encouraging their classmates to participate, and giving blood themselves, it really shows their character, and I for one am honored to coach these young men."

Carolina Rugby is proud of its contribution to the annual blood drive, though more importantly it is thankful for all those who give the "Gift of Life."

Another philanthropic activity in November is Kappa Kappa Kickoff. Carolina Rugby fields two teams for the annual flag football tournament put on by USC's Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Proceeds from the tournament traditionally go to Kappa’s national philanthropy, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the United States, though this year's kickoff was more personal. On July 22nd, Amy-Hampton Knight Cadwell (former chapter President and 1991
South Carolina graduate) passed in a Denver hospital from an unknown virus. Her husband approved many experimental treatments for Amy, whereby over $500,000 in medical bills accrued. The Epsilon Kappa women immediately decided that among other projects to raise money for the family, the 2014 Kappa Kickoff proceeds would be dedicated to the Cadwell medical fund.

Stephanie Cook Johnston (fellow Kappa and friend of Amy-Hampton) is delighted that
Carolina Rugby participated in this fundraising venture. "Many thanks go out to Carolina Rugby for having two teams in this year's Kappa Kickoff. We are thankful that their participation is helping the family of a fellow Gamecock. Amy-Hampton has left behind a husband and two young boys that will know the generosity of the Gamecock and Kappa families. The rugby boys always provide a good time and great competition! We look forward to their participation in the years to come."


Carolina Rugby Receives All-SCRC Honors

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Knoxville, TN - The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference wrapped up another exciting season with South Carolina being crowned champions at the SCRC 15's Championship in Columbia, SC. The Gamecocks capped off a fantastic season with a 50-22 win over Alabama in the final.

This year’s competition saw much improvement over the course of the season with some teams taking major steps to improve their programs. Overall, the level of play was much improved and it showed in competitive matches from top to bottom. The conference would like to thank all teams, players, coaches, club sports administrators, referees, volunteers, and fans for making this year a success. The following are individuals whose performances stood out above the rest.

Player of the Year: Dana Corcoran; South Carolina Flanker

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As a native of Charleston, South Carolina, Dana Corcoran attended Wando High School, playing varsity football and rugby before transitioning to South Carolina to pursue a degree in economics and finance on the SC Life Scholarship.

Corcoran had a stellar season leading the South Carolina attack as a ferocious tackler and poacher. While only scoring once this fall, he received Man of the Match honors for his performances against Tennessee and Clemson, each for his outstanding defense and counter rucking. All the more impressive is that Corcoran started late this season after returning from a broken hand sustained during preseason training. His tenacity on defense and high work rate fit very well with his inspirational leadership of the Gamecocks. Off the field he is well known as an excellent ambassador of the game and has been deemed the "unsung hero of the Carolina pack" by SCRC officials.

Corcoran has accumulated several accolades during his earlier years at South Carolina to include the following:

* Southeastern Rugby All-Conference Team 1st XV, flanker - Fall 2014
* Southeastern Rugby All-Tournament 15's Team, flanker - Fall 2014
* Southeastern Rugby All-Conference Team 1st XV, flanker - Spring 2014
* Most Valuable Forward Award - Fall 2013
* Southeastern Rugby All-Tournament 7's Team - Fall 2013
* Southeastern Rugby All-Conference Team 1st XV, flanker - Spring 2013


Corcoran is the third rugger from South Carolina to receive such an honor, the first two being last year's senior center, Matthew Berenato, and senior flyhalf Tim Holkenborg the year before.  Back-to-back-to-back player of the year honors are a testament to the leadership, athleticism, and determination demonstrated by these gentlemen, as well as the coaching excellence of the Gamecock staff. 
First Team
Prop: Nathan Diggers (UGA)
Prop: Daniel Depperschmidt (UA)
Hooker: Patrick Hafenbriddle (UK)
Lock: Wyatt Visca (UT)
Lock: Zac Gorman (USC)
Flanker: Dana Corcoran (USC)
Flanker: Ryan Roper (UA)
8 Man: Shawn Branham (UA)
Scrumhalf: Brian Keown (USC)
Flyhalf: Kyle Burnett (UF)
Center: Ross Depperschmidt (UA)
Center: Simon Bedoya (UA)
Wing: Luke Dyson (UT)
Wing: Lee Bogitsh (UT)
Fullback: Tim Hamill (USC)
Second Team
Prop: Jake Murphy (UT)
Prop: Roger Williams (UF)
Hooker: Logan McNell (UT)
Lock: Alex Diaz (UF)
Lock: Zach Mullineaux (SC)
Flanker: Mike Mahon (SC)
Flanker: Kyle Peterson (UK)
8 Man: Stephen Sheehan (UF)
Scrumhalf: Jordan Speights (MSU)
Flyhalf: CJ Leadingham (UK)
Center: Christian Hardy (UK)
Center: Christian Harrell (SC)
Wing: Stephen Beckerle (UF)
Wing: Demarrion Haynes (MSU)
Fullback: Omar McClendon (MSU)
All-Tournament Team
Prop:
Matthew Lund (UA)
Prop: Daniel Depperschmidt (UA)
Hooker: Drew Busbee (SC)

Lock: Liam Clark (UA)
Lock: Zac Gorman (SC)
Flanker: Dana Corcoran (SC)
Flanker: Ryan Roper (UT)
8 Man: Mike Mahon (SC)
Scrumhalf: Brian Keown (SC)
Flyhalf: Luke Bolembach (SC)
Center: Ross Depperschmidt (UA)
Center: Andries Both (MSU)
Wing: Lee Bogtish (UT)
Wing: Thomas Coar (SC)

Fullback: Tim Hamill (SC)

Captain: Zac Gorman (SC)
With 7 of the 30 SCRC All-Conference positions, shared evenly between forwards and backs, South Carolina has demonstrated a strong presence on the pitch this season and looks well positioned to defend its title in 2015!

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Z. Gorman

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B. Keown

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T. Hamill

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Z. Mullineaux

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M. Mahon

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C. Harrell


Fall Awards Banquet Announced

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Columbia, SC - On Friday, December 5th, the team will be holding its Fall Awards Banquet which will be open to all parents, alumni, and Foundation supporters. We would encourage anyone who lives locally or plans to be visiting the Columbia area the weekend of the 5th to please take the opportunity to meet the players, enjoy some Southern cuisine, and show your support for Carolina Rugby. We will have a full barbeque buffet with all the fixins’, as well as an awards presentation and a speech from Head Coach Mark Morris.

"Each season, we make it a priority to recognize the very best of Carolina Rugby, and we gratefully ask our supporters who make it possible to be there to celebrate with us." Mark Morris.

We certainly hope that you can attend, and if so, ask that you please RSVP the Carolina Rugby Foundation by phone at 803-974-0401 or by email at TheCarolinaRugbyFoundation@gmail.com The following are the event details:
 
Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center
Bottom Floor Multi-Purpose Room 125
Friday, December 5th from 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Free Parking in Strom WFC Lot


Carolina Drops Tough Match to Clemson

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Rugby Today - In a battle of in-state rivals, Clemson edged South Carolina 40-14 in the final game of the night at the 2014 ACRC Bowl Series. Strong forward play and disciplined defense compelled the Tigers to victory.
 
Clemson got on the board first with a peculiar looking try. Prop Max Simons picked the ball up from a tackled player simultaneously as a ruck was forming and squirted out of the pile with the ball to sneak under the posts to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead. Fullback Aaron Keers added a penalty to put Clemson up 10-0. In the first half, the Clemson pack did a tremendous job counter rucking. On several occasions it caused turnovers or at the very least slowed the Gamecocks down.
 
“We built our foundation from the breakdown out, having the physicality and competing at every breakdown offensively and defensively,” said Clemson head coach Justin Hickey. ”I think tonight was one of our better showings there and it was really encouraging to see.” South Carolina head coach Mark Morris added similar sentiments. “I will give Clemson its due, their pack was really aggressive and kept us on the back foot.”
 
South Carolina struck back mid way through the first half through scrumhalf Brian Keown. The gamecocks forced a turnover deep in Clemson territory and the nimble nine beat a couple defenders to score under the posts. “Brian always plays a really good game,” said Morris. “Tonight was the most that he has been touched in two years.” Clemson was in Keown’s face the entire night and the shify scrumhalf often made plays out of nothing.
 
Clemson continued to control the pace of play in the first half, monopolizing territory and possession thanks to an effective kicking game. “We really have looked at what we can do to break up the opponents defensive structure,” said Hickey. “It was definitely part of the plan, it is a tool that we have used to apply pressure.”
 
Some shaky ball handling and questionable decision-making by South Carolina left Clemson with good field possession. It looked like the Tigers had squandered several chances, including being held up in the try zone and a knock on in the try zone, but Clemson took a scrum against the head from five meters out and went over for a try. The Clemson pack imposed its will on South Carolina in the scrums winning numerous Gamecock put ins. “The last couple of years the guys have grown up and it was a real point of emphasis coming into this year,” said Hickey.
 
In the 38th minute, Clemson had been in control of the game, but a great counter ruck from South Carolina allowed Dana Corcoran to sprint 50 meters and score a converted try. Aaron Keers added another penalty to make it 20-14 going into the break.
 
South Carolina controlled a majority of the possession in the second half but was unable to convert possession into points. With the game still at 20-14, the Gamecocks withstood a barrage on its own line and broke out 95 meters through a series of effective offloads. However, Clemson recovered and thwarted a five-minute foray on its own try line.
 
“Once we didn’t get that ball in it felt like if we could have just scored then and maybe taken a little bit more control of the game,” said Morris.
 
By weathering the storm, the Tigers were able to shut out the Gamecocks in the second half. “I talked to the guys at halftime and reminded them they had 14 points off turnovers,” Hickey stated. “Our defense was holding up well, it’s just those couple of turnovers and mishaps that dinged us a little bit.”
 
The Tigers got the first points of the second half after forcing a turnover deep in South Carolina territory. Dylan Goulding squeezed over for a 27-14 lead. Clemson scored again after isolating the Gamecock fullback on a kick. Clemson scooped up the ball and went in for a try. Aaron Keers, who was perfect on the day with the boot, kicked two more penalties to seal the 40-14 victory for Clemson.

"It was a tough match, one where we could never really get a rhythm going, though I'm proud of the boys for never giving up and for playing through the injuries of last week," added Morris. "Clemson may have won today, though our heads are up and we're hungry for a rematch!"

South Carolina Man of the Match honors were awarded to junior flanker Dana Corcoran from Charleston, SC and freshman center Christian Harrell from Enola, PA. With the win, Clemson finishes the fall at 9-1 (7-0) record while South Carolina finished the season at 9-2 (7-2).


Carolina to Face Clemson in Palmetto Bowl

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Alex Goff - Look for a college sports rivalry that’s more intense than Clemson v South Carolina, go ahead, look for one; the chances are, you won’t find it.

“The in-state rivalry between Clemson and Carolina has been going on for over 100 years,” said 
South Carolina Head Rugby Coach Mark Morris. “You could equate it to Auburn-Alabama or Florida-Georgia, but what adds to it is that this is such a small state. It’s not just geographic. You see families divided. It’s tooth and nail.”

“It’s a huge rivalry, more intense than Michigan and Michigan State,” said Clemson Head Rugby Coach Justin Hickey, a native Michigander. “This is Southern football country and there’s a lot of passion behind it, and there’s no pro sports in the state and that fuels it even more. There is no middle ground. You are either Clemson or you’re South Carolina. That’s it.”

Thanks to the fact that for a few years they were playing at different times of the year, Clemson and South Carolina haven’t faced each other for some time. So you can imagine how happy everyone was when Clemson won the ACRL, and South Carolina won the SCRC - the rugby equivalents of the ACC and SEC football conferences. Saturday, it’s Tigers v Gamecocks in the ACRC Bowl Series in Charlotte, NC.

The last time they met was the 2012 DIAA playoffs. Each team is thrilled to renew the acquaintanceship.

“Tennessee or Alabama would have been great too, but everybody was kind of hoping it was going to be South Carolina,” said Hickey.

Clemson has ramped back the rugby over the last few weeks. They defeated Maryland convincingly to clinch the ACRL, and then gave their players time to heal, concentrate on schoolwork, and prepare for this weekend.

“The sessions we’ve had have been short and sharp,” said Hickey. “We feel good about how we match up again SC. We’ve been working on keeping the guys fresh and focussing on what we do well.”

It’s been more intense for South Carolina, which is just coming off a two-game weekend to win the SCRC. That victory wasn’t always a sure thing, especially after the Gamecocks lost to Tennessee in the regular season. But Morris said he felt his Gamecocks played well enough to win that game in certain areas, and just couldn’t quite get their continuity going.

“I never thought we’d lose to Tennessee,” said Morris. “But it might have been the best thing that happened to us because the guys stayed hungry. They have worked hard all season and are all getting better at playing their individual positions, and playing as a group. We re-focussed on winning the SEC, and it worked out. Now we have a shot at Clemson.


South Carolina has lost the services of two captains. Fullback Tim Hammil broke his collarbone last week and is out. Lock Zack Gorman is doubtful, and would be a huge loss as he is a massive presence in the lineout, on restarts, and in the ruck.

But scrumhalf Brian Keown has been a revelation this year and leads the team in tries by a wide margin. If the forwards get the Gamecocks close, Keown is money. Zach Mullineaux will be a worked in the lineout, while Mike Mahon is a power runner at No. 8.

“We’re a balanced team,” said Morris.

For Clemson, the key might be their deep three, which will have to handle any kicking and counter effectively to win the field position game. They will be without loose forward Jason Damm, who is at the USA U20 camp, but senior prop Kevin McKeown will partner with prop Max Simons and they have a chance to put their stamp on the game. Freshman Drew Dommel has taken the wing job and made it his own, while sophomore fullback Aaron Keers is a strong goal kicker. Lock Jimmy Rippert is outstanding, as well, while scrumhalf Ryan Gilroy is a worthy rival for Keown from South Carolina.

Both teams have strong tie to Charlotte’s excellent high school rugby programs, and it’s expected that this game will have a big crowd. But any rugby fan, or fan of college sports, should want to have a look. These are two top teams in good form, and who don’t like each other at all. What’s not to like?

Kickoff is scheduled for 8pm EST at the Rugby Athletic Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Saturday admission is $15.00 at the gate. Goff Rugby Report will host the Saturday ACRC Bowl Games live on their Youtube Channel and @CockRugby will provide live tweets throughout the match.


Back-to-Back SCRC Champions

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Rugby Today - South Carolina defeated Alabama, 50-22, on Sunday to take home the 2014 SCRC conference championship in Columbia, SC. With the win, the Gamecocks earned the right to take on in-state rival Clemson at the ACRC Bowl Series next weekend. South Carolina got on the board first thanks to a try from the forwards' man-of-the-match, Zach Mullineaux, from Downingtown, PA. Alabama responded with two unanswered to take a 12-7 lead. South Carolina retook the lead with a converted try, but Alabama battled back to take a 15-14 lead with a penalty. The Gamecocks, however, finished the half strong adding another penalty and a late try to take a 24-15 halftime advantage.

“The first part of the game was pretty tight,” said South Carolina coach Mark Morris. “Their forwards continued to play well, and their backs continued to tackle well.” South Carolina tried to disrupt the breakdown and poach the ball, but Alabama held up well. “It got to the point that it was better just to man up, make the tackle, and get back up on our feet rather than trying to poach,” Morris Added. The Gamecocks stopped contesting the rucks as fiercely, waiting for the Crimson Tide to make a mistake or an isolated player to attack.

In the second half, South Carolina scored the first three tries in a row to open up a 43-15 lead. “We continued to move the ball down wide and kick for space and finally got a bunch of breaks that worked out well,” Morris said. Alabama got on the board again with a try, but Michael Rudzinsky, the backs' man-of-the-match from Reading, MA, sealed the victory with a late try to give South Carolina the win.

Brian Keown continued to pace the Gamecocks at scrumhalf, providing clean and quick ball afternoon. Morris praised the work of his scrumhalf but had a tough time singling out anybody on the afternoon. “It is hard to pick out any particular one, everybody played so well today.”

South Carolina went in with a game plan focused on establishing territory in the first half, hoping to wear down the Crimson Tide. In the second half, the Gamecocks upped the tempo and began spreading the ball wide. With 20 minutes of overtime rugby in Saturday's semifinal win over Tennessee and a limited bench, Alabama struggled to keep up with a high-paced South Carolina squad. “We played a real fast tempo, we knew they would be tired and sore from the great game they had yesterday with Tennessee,” Morris said.

South Carolina will take on Clemson in the ACRC Bowl Series next weekend. The last time the two sides met was in 2012 when Clemson knocked South Carolina out of the USA Rugby National playoffs. “The boys are excited about playing their in-state rivals Clemson,” added Morris “They are a very worthy opponent and have done a lot of great things.”

Click here for a complete post match report and interview with Head Coach Mark Morris provided by Gift Egbelu of Gifttime Rugby Network.

Click here for a copy of all three SCRC Championship matches held in beautiful Columbia, South Carolina provided by Coaches Aid.

Click here for a special segment captured by WLTX News Columbia.


South Carolina To Host SCRC Championship

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Knoxville, TN - The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference is proud to announce that Columbia, South Carolina will serve as the official site for the fourth annual SCRC Championship Weekend scheduled for November 15th & 16th. The Columbia Regional Sports Council and Visitors Bureau and South Carolina will be serving as the hosts, with matches to take place at the Strom Rugby Field on campus.

Saturday, November 15
1:00 PM West #1 (Mississippi State) v East #2 (South Carolina)
3:00 PM East #1 (Tennessee) v West #2 (Alabama)
 
Sunday, November 16
1:00 PM Championship


“We welcome the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference to ‘Famously Hot’ Columbia, SC,” states Scott Powers, Executive Director, Columbia Regional Sports Council. “While you are here I invite you to enjoy all of our wonderful attractions, museums, dining options, and incredible shopping.”
 
“We are proud of the accomplishments of our member teams and we thank our hosts for their gracious hospitality,” comments SCRC Commissioner Andy Allen. “We look forward to another successful championship event and we hope to see all of our SCRC supporters from the Columbia and surrounding communities come out and cheer the teams to victory.”

Admission is $5 per day for adults and free to all students with an ID. Sideline seating will be provided, and concessions and event apparel will be available for purchase. Fans and spectators are encouraged to use the Horizon Parking Garage off Assembly Street, which offers free visitor parking on the weekend, though the Strom parking lot will also be available at no charge.
 
A new component to this year’s event will be the presence of Coaches Aid, an amateur sports broadcasting network providing live streaming, HD video recording, and on site commentary and interviews for all three matches. “We are excited to partner with Southeastern Rugby to promote their athletes, teams, and programs,” states Dean O’Neal, Executive Producer, ASBN Coaches Aid. “We look to cultivate a complete fan experience that is even more exciting and valuable to the conference and their fans.”

Live streaming of all three matches is available online beginning five minutes before kickoff. Saturday's matches may be accessed at no charge, though Sunday's Championship match includes a $9.99 fee.

Last year’s contest saw South Carolina defeat Louisiana State 41-26 in the championship match, held in Knoxville, Tennessee, to win the SCRC title. Louisiana State (#1 West) had beaten Florida (#2 East) 54-27 in first semifinal, while South Carolina (#1 East) had defeated Auburn (#2 West) 41-05 in the second semifinal.
 
The two finalists will each receive an automatic bid to the inaugural American Collegiate Rugby Championship Bowl Series on November 22nd to be held in the new state-of-the-art Rugby Athletic Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The ACRC Bowl Series will feature eight championship bowl games over three days, showcasing some of the very best college rugby teams from around the country. The SCRC champion is scheduled to face off against the champion of the Atlantic Coast Rugby League, which is expected to be a hotly contested match.

For hotel accommodates, please contact Carla Robinson (803-744-6920) at the Columbia Marriott to take advantage of the special Southeastern Rugby rate while supplies last!

The SCRC is a USA Rugby Men's Collegiate Division I rugby conference featuring teams from the universities in the Southeastern Conference. The league members include teams from the University of Alabama, Auburn University, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, Louisiana State University, University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, South Carolina, University of Tennessee, and Vanderbilt University.
 
For more information, please visit the SCRC online at www.SoutheasternRugby.org 


Carolina Falls to Tennessee; 7-1, 5-1 SCRC

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Knoxville, TN - Carolina Rugby traveled to the University of Tennessee this past weekend and dropped a close fought match to the Volunteers, 25-19, to finish the regular season at 7-1 (5-1 SCRC) and 2nd in the Eastern Division.

Tennessee kicked off the first half and quickly put together a steady string of forward phases to push their way into goal. With the Conversion, the Volunteers took an early 7-0 lead. Carolina counteracted with their backline to shift the momentum and avoid the Tennessee defense, gradually making their way deep into Volunteer territory. On breakaway runs, both junior lock Zach Mullineaux and junior flanker Dana Corcoran made attempts at goal, though both attempts were knocked on short of the line while breaking through the final Tennessee defender.

Carolina finally caught a break nearly 20 minutes in with a penalty 5m out from the goal line. Junior scrum half Brian Keown passed it out to senior lock Zac Gorman who was stopped just short of the line. Keown took it off the back of the ruck and sniped one in before the Volunteers could reset, closing the score to 7-5, Tennessee.

With 10 minutes to go, Tennessee responded with a penalty kick nearly 25m out to advance their lead to 10-5. Carolina made one final attempt from a scrum at midfield to get something going before time expired, though lost possession and was unable to hold the Volunteers from scoring, bringing the score to 17-5 heading into the second half.

The Gamecocks kicked off the second half with a revised game plan and defensive structure which quickly turned the momentum in their favor. Off an 8-man pick, junior Mike Mahon picked up a try, converted by Keown, to shrink Tennessee’s lead to 17-12. Junior flyhalf Luke Bolembach responded with a breakaway run of his own that was offloaded to Keown who dove in for the try between the posts. With the conversion, the Gamecocks took their first lead of the match at 19-17.

Carolina’s lead was short lived, though, as Tennessee made a try on the outside followed up by their second penalty kick of the afternoon to bring the score to 25-19. The Gamecocks made one final attempt at the win, though knocked it on 20m out to end the game. Man of the Match honors were awarded to junior flanker Dana Corcoran from Charleston, SC and sophomore center Thomas Coar from Pennsaucken, NJ.

“Overall, the team played great, and Coach Darnell and I could not be prouder of their performance,” stated Head Coach Mark Morris. “Our forwards put up a lot of great stands against a strong Tennessee side and our backs regrouped well under constant pressure. We let a few things slip and we couldn’t keep the momentum on our side, though it was a great match against two strong sides that will hopefully play each other again for the Conference Championship next week in Columbia.”
 
Carolina's Reserve Side also took to the field against Tennessee in a match that saw tries from Brett DeBoy, Nick Pagel, Nick Winikoff, and Drez Henfield, with fullback Lucas Paff converting one for the final score of 22-39, Tennessee. Man of the Match honors were awarded to sophomore flanker Rowan Prown from Rose Valley, PA and freshman wing Brett DeBoy from Hanover, MD.
 
The Gamecocks return to action Saturday, November 15th against the Bulldogs of Mississippi State University in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Rugby playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm at Strom Rugby Field in Columbia, SC. Should, Carolina advance, they will play in the Championship match at 1:00pm on Sunday against the winner of the Tennessee/Alabama match on Saturday.


47 Years of Carolina Rugby

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Columbia, SC - The 2014 Southeastern Rugby Champions welcomed back the ruggers of yesteryear to celebrate 47 years of Carolina Rugby this past weekend. The 2014 Carolina Rugby Alumni Weekend began on Friday with the 13th annual alumni match.

A slow start by the Gamecocks and multiple infractions called on both teams hindered the early progression of the game, however, as soon as Carolina showed their determination to focus on team defense and breakdowns at the ruck they were able to develop a strong support system and string together a few break away runs with wide, fast ball. After trading the lead throughout the match, the alumni made one final effort for the win, though the clock expired just short of the goal line giving the young players a 26-20 victory.

The foundation would like to thank those who attended this year, partaking in the match, the many social events, the Tennessee football game, and the annual Board meeting on Sunday. We would especially like to thank the many donors who have made not only this event possible, but also the success that the team has seen in recent years. While you may not contribute directly to the talents on the pitch, your support makes it possible for the program to continue to achieve new heights in organization, recruitment, and facilities, establishing a foundation of success for years to come. 

Please remember to register your information with the Carolina Rugby Alumni Association to continue to receive up-to-date match reports, news releases, and Foundation reports throughout the year. We have already started making plans for next year's event and we want you to know as soon as it's announced!

Again, we hope you had a wonderful weekend and we appreciate your support in celebrating 47 years of Carolina Rugby!


Carolina to Host Alumni this Weekend

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Columbia, SC - The 2014 Southeastern Rugby Champions welcome back the ruggers of yesteryear to celebrate 47 years of Carolina Rugby! The 2014 Carolina Rugby Alumni Weekend will take place this weekend (Friday, October 31st - Sunday, November 2nd) and will include a full range of festivities. 

Friday, Oct. 31
     - 4:00pm Pre Match Social (Thirsty Fellow)
     - 7:00pm Carolina Alumni Match (Strom Field)
                - Food Provided by
Carolina Rugby @ 7:30pm
     - 9:30pm Post Match Social (Cover 3 @ 5 Points)

Saturday, Nov. 01
     - 3:30pm Pre Football Tailgate (Shuman Owens)
               - Food Provided by Doc's Southern BBQ
     - 7:30pm Carolina v Tennessee Football Game (Williams Brice Stadium)
     - 11:30pm Post Football Tailgate (Shuman Owens)

Sunday, Nov. 02
     - 10:00am Executive Board Meeting (Strom Thurmond Wellness Center)
     - 11:00am Foundation Board Meeting (Strom Thurmond Wellness Center)


RSVP today by clicking on the link below! We also ask that you please register your information with the Carolina Rugby Alumni Association to continue to receive up-to-date match reports, news releases, and Foundation reports throughout the year.

For those who have made donations throughout the 2014 season, your gifts will be available for pick up Friday evening at the check-in tent at Strom Field. Following the event, all remaining donor gifts will be mailed directly to their recipients. As a reminder, any donation of $60 or more to the Carolina Rugby Foundation this year will cover your participation for the 2014 Alumni Weekend (Football tickets sold separately). This will increase to $75 on game day.

For a schedule of events, preferred accommodations, and a means to donate, please visit our Alumni weekend page online and make plans to attend this year's event, celebrating 47 years of Carolina Rugby!



Carolina Defeats Vanderbilt; 7-0, 5-0 SCRC

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Columbia, SC - Carolina Rugby hosted the University of Vanderbilt this past weekend and came out victorious over the Commodores, 76-10.
 
Vanderbilt opened up the first half on a high note with a penalty kick attempt 35m out, though would miss to keep the match scoreless early on. Consecutive penalties on both sides of the ball kept play between the 22’s until the Carolina backline put together a quick string of passes out wide to junior fullback Tim Hamill who escaped the sideline and touched it down beneath the posts for the first points of the match. Junior scrum half Brian Keown would miss the conversion to keep the score at 5-0.
 
Following the kickoff, Carolina adjusted their attack pattern, alternating pack play to suck in Vanderbilt’s defensive line before quickly getting it out wide to the backs for steady gains in possession. At 10m out, Carolina’s 8-man picks it up off the scrum and offloads to Keown who touches it down for the try. The conversion brings it to 12-0 Carolina. The Gamecocks return the kickoff with quick pack play, keeping Vanderbilt on their back feet, and eventually get it out wide to sophomore wing Thomas Coar who runs the gap and touches down to make it 17-0.
 
Vanderbilt would increase their intensity around the rucks and turn Carolina away twice within 5m of the goal line, though the Gamecocks would not be denied a third time with a hard charge up the middle by Keown for the try. Carolina would answer again with a hard run by junior flanker Dana Corcoran who makes the last second pass to senior lock Zac Gorman for the try, bringing the score to 29-0. The Carolina forwards would take the kickoff again, though knock it on within 15m of the goal line. Luckily, the Gamecocks win the scrum, and like his first, Keown receives the ball off an 8-man pick and touches it down for his third try of the afternoon.
 
Vanderbilt steals the next kickoff, though loses it out the back, setting Carolina up for a 22m kick that bounces their way with help, giving them the lineout deep in Commodore territory. Again, the Gamecocks get it out wide to Hamill who scores in the far corner, increasing Carolina’s lead to 41-0. Vanderbilt will steal the kickoff again and elect to go for points more than 40m out off of a penalty in the ruck. The kick is successful, giving Vanderbilt their first points of the afternoon and capping off the first half at 41-3, Carolina.
 
The Gamecocks would continue their fast style of play, forcing the turnover after the kick and using their back line in a pendulum motion to create the overload for Coar to score his second try. Carolina would repeat the tactic, though improved defense would force an up and over kick that was recovered nicely at midfield by freshman center Chris Harrell who would run it back for the try, advancing the score to 55-3.
 
Vanderbilt would steal the kick for a third time, though quickly lose possession off an interception by Keown who returns it 80m for his fourth and final try of the afternoon. Carolina would answer again with a 10m run by junior flanker Jared Magill, bringing the score to 69-3, Carolina.
 
The next 15 minutes would see back and forth possession until freshman flyhalf Nick Pagel hits the gap off a scrum 5m out for a Carolina try. Vanderbilt would quickly respond with their only try of the day, successfully converting, ending the match 76-10. Man of the Match honors were awarded to senior hooker Drew Busbee from Charlotte, NC and junior scrum half Brian Keown from Newton Square, PA.
 
“I’m proud of the boys for putting together a full 80 minutes of rugby,” stated Head Coach Mark Morris. “We used all our reserves, giving everyone valuable playing time, and we adjusted to our opposition much quicker than in weeks past. The best news is that we didn’t have any injuries, so that helps us with our lead up to Tennessee in two weeks.”
 
Carolina’s match with Tennessee will determine who goes undefeated in the regular season, and, more importantly, who wins the Eastern Division. “We’ll keep the intensity up and do our best to finish the season out strong. It’s been our goal since day one.”
 
The Gamecocks return to action Saturday, November 8th against the University of Tennessee Volunteers for a 1:00pm kickoff in Knoxville, TN. A reserve match will follow.


Carolina Defeats the Wildcats; 6-0, 4-0 SCRC

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Lexington, KY - Carolina Rugby traveled to the University of Kentucky this past weekend and came out victorious over the Wildcats, 42-10.
 
Kentucky kicked off the first half and began a string of possession changes resulting from loose ball and forward knocks that South Carolina was ultimately able to clean up and maintain. At the five minute mark, senior lock Zak Gorman posted the first points of the match following a 15m run through the Wildcat defense. Junior scrum half Brian Keown successfully converted to put the Gamecocks up 7-0. Kentucky would quickly answer with a try of their own, utilizing the strength in their pack to push one in. South Carolina would maintain the lead at 7-5 after sophomore center Thomas Coar successfully charged down the kick. Following the kickoff, the Gamecocks pushed Kentucky within 5m of the try line, though were penalized and forced to play a man down, allowing the Wildcats an opportunity to regroup and return for another try of their own, giving them the lead at 10-7 heading into the second half.
 
The Gamecocks kicked off the second half with a revised game plan and defensive structure which seemed to complement the narrower field. Controlling the ball with the pack, Carolina capitalized early with a forward maul pushed into goal with junior flanker Jared Magill touching it down for the try. The Gamecocks followed up with an overload by the backline, with junior fullback Tim Hamill receiving the offload from Gorman to run it in on the outside for the try. The string of tries continued with Keown taking the quick tap 5m out for a try under the uprights, followed by two more quick picks from the base of a ruck, each less than 3m out. Keown would convert 6 of 6 in addition to his three consecutive tries, giving him 27 points for the day. With 35 unanswered points in the second half, Carolina defeated the Wildcats 42-10. Man of the Match honors were awarded to junior lock Zach Mullineaux from Downingtown, PA and junior scrum half Brian Keown from Newton Square, PA.
 
“They have a big team this year and drove the ball well down the field on us,” stated Head Coach Mark Morris. “When we did have possession, the narrower field prevented us from simply getting it out wide to run around the outside, so we had to adjust our approach in the second half and use better defense to put Kentucky on their back foot, creating more opportunities for our backs. I’m proud of how well the guys came back and made up for the poor play in the first half, though we still need to put together a full 80 minutes of rugby if we expect to fair well over the next few weeks.”
 
Attrition and injuries were also on Coach Morris’ mind Saturday. “It’s been a strange year with the number of injuries we’ve had compared to previous years. We’ve felt the pressure up front, though we’ve also lost a number of reserve players to minor dings and bruises. Luckily, most of them have been about two weeks of recovery, so they don’t miss much, though for consistency purposes it’s been a challenge. It was good to have Dana Corcoran and Brian Pun return to the field this week. Dana certainly made a difference controlling the ball in the forwards and Brian stopped everything that came his way. Luckily, injuries were minimal today, so we look forward to hosting Vanderbilt with a healthy side.” 
 
Carolina's Reserve Side also took to the field against Kentucky in a match that saw sophomore flanker Rowan Prown and freshman center Jake Best scoring a try each, with junior scrumhalf Alex Smolen converting one for the final score of 15-12, Kentucky. Man of the Match honors were awarded to junior flanker Brian Pun from Brooklyn, NY and freshman center Richard Benninger from Cleveland, OH.
 
The Gamecocks return to action Saturday, October 25th against the University of Vanderbilt Commodores for a 12:00pm kickoff at Strom Rugby Field in Columbia, SC. A reserve match will follow.


Carolina Rolls Over Alabama; 5-0, 3-0 SCRC

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Columbia, SC - Carolina Rugby hosted the University of Alabama this past weekend and came out victorious over the Tide, 26-15.
 
Alabama kicked off the first half, though failed to go the necessary 10 meters, giving Carolina possession with a scrum at midfield. The Gamecocks quickly got the ball out to the weak side to junior, fullback Tim Hamill who ran it in for the try. Alabama’s misfortune would continue as multiple penalties around the ruck would keep them deep inside their territory for the majority of the half. The Gamecocks would capitalize early with a forward maul pushed into goal with junior, flanker Jared Magill touching it down for the try, and junior, scrum half Brian Keown kicking the conversion, giving Carolina the 12-0 advantage. Carolina would answer again with a run by Hamill, though confusion would have him run out the back, giving Alabama a lucky break and possession at the 22 mark. Solid defensive tackling kept most of the action between the 22’s for ten minutes of play, though Alabama would get the advantage with a defensive kick deep into Carolina territory that was picked up by their wing for the try. The Tide would catch another break inside Carolina territory and convert a penalty kick to tighten the match 12-10, Carolina.
 
The Gamecocks kicked off the second half, though like Alabama, failed to go the necessary 10 meters, giving the Tide possession with a scrum at midfield. The Gamecocks would turn the scrum to regain possession, though Alabama’s defense pushed the Gamecocks back, forcing the turnover, and allowing an 8-man pick and offload to the center for the score, giving Alabama the lead at 15-12. Carolina would respond by winning the kickoff and benefiting from a penalty 10 meters from the try line. Junior, lock Zach Mullineaux, took advantage of Alabama’s slowness to reset and punched one in from a quick tap, giving Carolina the lead at 19-15. Alabama would find itself deep in their own territory again and attempted another defensive kick for their wings to chase, though Carolina’s Brett DeBoy intercepted in time to run it back halfway before offloading to Hamill who dissected the Alabama backline and touched it down for the try. Solid defense by the Gamecocks would kill the clock and give them the 26-15 victory. Man of the Match honors were awarded to junior, flanker Jared Magill from the Downingtown, PA and sophomore, wing Thomas Coar from Pennsaucken, NJ.
 
“We saw a much improved Alabama side today,” stated Head Coach Mark Morris at the end of the match. “Their pack was much improved over last year and tested our players well. Although we played well enough to win, we gave away several opportunities to score due to poor decisions. I’d like to think the heat played a roll, though our heads weren’t in the game the full 80 minutes. Fortunately, we made steady improvements throughout the match and turned the momentum in our favor. ”
 
Regarding the starting lineup, Coach Morris was pleased with the outcome. “It was good to play several freshmen, allowing them their first A Side start. Injuries have plagued us this year, though it was nice to see the younger players hold their ground and make things happen against their higher level counterparts. Overall, I’m proud of their performance and their willingness to step up.”
 
Coach Morris also had nice things to say about his captains. “It was good to see the team make the necessary adjustments at halftime to slow Alabama down and take back control of the game. Captains Zac Gorman and Tim Hamill did a wonderful job of refocusing their forwards and backs respectively and both played their usual outstanding games.” 
 
Carolina's Reserve Side also took to the field against Alabama in a shortened match that saw freshman, fullback Brett DeBoy and junior, flanker Nick Winikoff score in the first half and junior, 8-man Mitch MacCartney score in the second half. Junior, scrumhalf Alex Smolen would convert one of three for the final score of 17-12, Carolina. Man of the Match honors were awarded to junior, 8-man Mitch MacCartney from Virginia Beach, VA and freshman, flyhalf Nick Pagel from Downingtown, PA
 
The Gamecocks return to action Saturday, October 18th against the University of Kentucky Wildcats for a 1:00pm kickoff in Lexington, KY. A reserve match will follow.



Florida Defeated on the Road; 4-0, 2-0 SCRC

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Gainesville, FL - Carolina Rugby traveled to Gainesville this past weekend and came out victorious over the Gators of the University of Florida.
 
Carolina took first possession at the kickoff, though mismanages the play, giving Florida excellent field position. After some unsuccessful forward play, the Gators get it out quick to the backs, though the Gamecocks put up a solid defense and prevent multiple attempts at goal. With a lucky break, Carolina is able to push Florida into touch and win the lineout, setting them up for a successful pod play off of a maul where senior, hooker Drew Busbee touched down the first try of the match, successfully converted by junior, scrumhalf Brian Keown, to give the Gamecocks an early 7-0 lead. The Gamecocks have little time to celebrate, as Florida, again, takes advantage of a mismanaged kick return by the Gamecocks and quickly pushes one in to bring the score to 7-5, Carolina. The Gamecocks respond with freshman, center Christian Harrell stealing a Florida pass and running it back 40m for the try, giving Carolina a 12-5 lead. Not allowing Carolina to pull away, Florida responds with a nice try from a chipped ball over the Carolina backline, followed up by another try off of some great lines through the Carolina backline, Giving Florida their first lead of the day at 17-12. Carolina is able to retake the lead and end the half at 19-17 on a try made by junior, wing Tim Hamill off of a perfect box kick made by Keown.
 
Florida starts off the second half with a vengeance and scores in the corner to retake the lead at 22-19. The Gators have another strong run with their prop to set themselves up for a nice penalty kick within South Carolina’s 22m, though they miss and the score remains 22-19, Florida. Carolina answers with a try from senior, lock Zak Gorman, followed by one up the middle by senior, center Michael Rudzinsky to give Carolina a comfortable lead at 33-22. Harrell would break through Florida’s line one last time to give South Carolina the 40-22 lead and ultimate victory. Man of the Match honors were awarded to junior, 8-man Mike Mahon from the Bronx, NY and freshman, center Chris Harrell from Enola, PA.
 
“After defeating Florida by a try each of the last two years, we knew this was going to be a physical match,” stated Head Coach Mark Morris at the end of the match. “Like Georgia, this too was a game of two halves, with several mental and attack errors that cost us valuable territory and put us in difficult situations within our own half. Fortunately, halftime gave us an opportunity to regroup, adjust, and change the pace of the game, setting up our backline for excellent scoring opportunities. I’m pleased with the results and the determination of our players, though more so I’m pleased at how much we’ve improved since the preseason. We know what we need to work on and we look forward to hosting Alabama next week.”

Carolina's Reserve and Developmental Sides also took to the field in Gainesville with the reserves falling 14-17 and the developmental players winning 42-12. Man of the Match honors were awarded to freshman, hooker Bradley Fasulo from Ellicott City, MD and sophomore, center Sean Barnes from Kennett Square, PA in the reserves and junior, 8-man Mitchel MacCartney from Virginia Beach, VA and sophomore, wing Kyle Stiffler from Columbia, SC on the developmental side. Special thanks to the University of Florida for accommodating all three matches and giving everyone valuable playing time.
 
The Gamecocks return to action Saturday, October 11th against the University of Alabama for a 1:45pm kickoff at Greene Street Field in Columbia, SC. A reserve match will follow.
it possible.


Carolina Tames the Georgia Bulldogs

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Columbia, SC - Carolina Rugby held their SCRC season opener this past weekend and came out victorious over the Bulldogs of the University of Georgia. Within the first three minutes, senior, lock Drez Henfield touched down the first try of the match, which was converted by junior, scrumhalf Brian Keown, to give the Gamecocks an early 7-0 lead. After great ball control and pressure, Henfield would follow up with a second converted try to increase Carolina’s lead to 14-0. With less than 5 minutes before the half, junior, 8-man Mike Mahon would touch down one more to bring the score to 19-0. In the beginning of the second half, Keown touched down a try of his own before junior, fullback Tim Hamill touched down two more back-to-back, giving Carolina a 36-0 lead. Henfield would complete the hat trick with his final try of the afternoon, followed by another from junior, flanker Zach Mullineaux to extend Carolina’s lead to 48-0. Two more forward tries from senior, lock Zac Gorman and junior, prop Ben Mather would give the Gamecocks a 60-0 advantage. In the final ten minutes, Carolina would score twice more, once more from Keown and once from senior, wing Avery Darnell, to give the Gamecocks a 72-0 lead and ultimate victory. Man of the Match honors were awarded to junior, prop Ben Mather from Cincinnati, OH and junior, scrumhalf Brian Keown from Newton Square, PA.
 
“It was great to get our first SEC opponent under our belts and to do so in a commanding fashion,” stated Head Coach Mark Morris at the end of the match. “While Georgia may be in a rebuilding season, they were a very determined side that caused some havoc for us in the first half. Right out of the gate, we started to fall back into the same routine that plagued our preseason matches, with too many players trying to go alone and make things happen off their own talents. Georgia reacted well and was able to slow us down. Thankfully, halftime gave us an opportunity to correct those mistakes and the results were noticeable. The passes became fluid, the defense tightened up, and ‘team play’ became priority. It was a game of two halves, though it just shows what we’re capable of when we stick to our game plan and play as a single unit.”

Carolina's Reserve Side saw success as well with sophomore, flanker Tyler Porter scoring first for the early 5-0 lead. Sophomore Isaac Myers would follow up with a 50m run to touch one down, with the conversion by sophomore, Lucas Paff, expanding Carolina’s lead to 12-5. Sophomore Thomas Coar would follow up with back-to-back tries before Georgia would answer with their only points of the day, bringing the score to 22-5. In the final minutes, Carolina would score twice more, once from Aussie exchange student Olly Yulianto, to give the Gamecocks a 32-5 lead and ultimate victory. Man of the Match honors were awarded to sophomore, hooker Eric Lucci from Downingtown, PA and sophomore, wing Isaac Myers from Georgetown, SC.
 
“Overall, Coach Darnell and I were pleased with the depth and some of the talent we saw,” added Coach Morris. “We were especially pleased to see the speed in the backline and the support of our forwards. It seems we’ve made some headway in getting the two sides to work in unison, which will be critical when we move on to play Florida on the road in a few weeks. Luckily, everyone got a run and we can start focusing on some higher level drills this week.”

The Gamecocks will be celebrating Parent’s Weekend this week, though will return to action Saturday, October 4th against the University of Florida Gators for a 1pm kickoff on the road. A reserve match will follow.


Carolina Sweeps the Preseason 2-0

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Columbia, SC - Carolina Rugby held their home opener this past weekend and came out victorious over the Seahawks of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Early in the first half, UNCW was able to capitalize off of a penalty deep in Carolina territory for an early try, though missed the conversion, bringing the score to 5-0. The Gamecocks answered with a powerful maul off of a lineout where sophomore, lock Drez Henfield touched one down to tie the game at 5-5. Carolina followed up with another try by junior, scrumhalf Brian Keown who successfully converted to give the Gamecocks a 12-5 lead heading into the second half. Wilmington opened up the half with a vengeance, picking off a Carolina offload to run it back for the try, followed by a solid run on the outside for another try and conversion, giving them the lead at 19-12. Carolina responded with junior, 8-man Mike Mahon barreling into the try zone to close the gap, with captain Zac Gorman pounding in the final try to give the Gamecocks a 22-19 lead and ultimate victory. Man of the Match honors were awarded to junior, lock Zack Mullineaux from Downingtown, PA and senior, lock Zac Gorman from Cincinnati, OH.
 
“It was great to have the opportunity to play a very seasoned and experienced team who has advanced to Nationals the last few years,” stated Head Coach Mark Morris at the end of the match. “UNC Wilmington gave us a great run, and honestly, the match could have gone either way. Luckily, our pack took control and found a way to make the best of several game changing situations. They had the drive and the tenacity to win even when they were behind, which is the attitude you need in a sport like this. Looking ahead, we’re excited about our season opener against Georgia and putting what we’ve learned during these preseason matches to use against our fellow division I opponents.  We’re not at our best right now, by any means, though we expect to progress each week and make a few minor adjustments that could make a big difference for us down the road.”

Carolina's Reserve Side saw an equally competitive match in the local men’s side, Columbia Olde Grey. The reserves took the first half 12-10 with solid defense around the rucks and improved open field tackling. For the second half, Carolina subbed in their freshmen reserves and was able to post two more scores before falling behind and ultimately dropping the match 36-22. Man of the Match honors were awarded to freshman, scrumhalf Nick Pagel from Downingtown, PA and sophomore, lock Adam Satz from Stamford, CT.
 
“Olde Grey gave us an opportunity to give the extra 30 or so players valuable playing time, which is especially important considering the new reserve side championship bracket in the Southeastern Conference this season,” added Coach Morris. “I was especially pleased to see how well they stood up against a much larger men’s team in the tackles and at the breakdown. One area of improvement will be to get the backs and forwards working more in unison, rather than separate units with their own game plans.  We’ll also be working with the freshmen reserves to improve our communication channels and our ‘team skills’ so that we are not overly reliant on the talents of a few dynamic individuals. All in all, we’re making progress, but there’s much to do.”

Next up for the Gamecocks is their Southeastern Conference opener on Saturday, September 20th against the University of Georgia Bulldogs. The match will take place at Strom Field at 1pm with a reserve match to follow. All matches are free to the public.


Carolina Prepares For A New SCRC Season

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Columbia, SC - South Carolina is getting ready to kick off their 4th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference with a home match scheduled against the University of Georgia on Saturday, September 20th. As a whole, the conference has been very competitive with three different teams winning in three years. Florida won the inaugural year, followed by Tennessee in year two, and, last year, South Carolina took the title and finished with a nice run in the national tournament.

The Eastern Division continues to look strong with South Carolina coming in as the early favorites following an impressive showing last season and a great recruiting class. Carolina is closely trailed by the perennial powerhouses of Florida and Tennessee who know what it takes to win in the SCRC. Kentucky, Georgia, and Vanderbilt round out the division, with each having made huge strides over the last 3 years, making the East anyone’s game. Louisiana State is expected to dominate the West again this season, though the runner-up seems to be a toss-up between Alabama, Ole Miss and Auburn, with Mississippi State rounding out the division.

“Our goals have been the same since year one: compete for the SCRC Eastern Division, the conference championship, and the D1-AA national championship,” says Head Coach Mark Morris. “We were very fortunate last season, though now it’s time to start looking towards the next round and getting these new players acclimated to our game plan.”
 
South Carolina only lost 5 seniors from last season, though many of them were standout players to include last year’s Southeastern Player of the Year, USA Rugby All-American, and team captain Matthew Berenato. Also included is the USA Rugby Academic All-American duo of inside-center Matthew Augustine and prop David Mysona. While both have moved on to medical school, Augustine will stay on as an Assistant Coach, along with former SCRC All-Conference 7’s 1st Team flyhalf and Team MVP, Colin McKeon. “It’s tough to lose these players, especially their years of leadership, though it’s great to have Augustine and McKeon on the sideline to help bring the newer players up to speed,” adds Morris. “It’s also great to have former Head Coach Geoff Mason return to work with the forwards, and new addition, Jim Repka, to assist with our developmental side.”
 
Carolina looks to continue to play a fast paced attack this season with a high pressure defense based on producing turnover opportunities and counter-attacking other’s mistakes. “Our goal is to improve in all phases of the game, and we will be looking to the leadership of our upper classmen who have played in the last two Southeastern Championships and National Championships,” says Morris. “We have several standout players returning this season who should be a joy to watch. Junior, captain Tim Hamill, an SCRC All-Conference 1st Team wing, is one of our fastest players and a leading try scorer. Junior, scrumhalf Brian Keown, an SCRC All-Conference 1st Team scrumhalf, is a great passer, an excellent kicker for goal, and an outstanding runner with a nose for the try line. Junior, 8-man Mike Mahon is a hard runner off the rucks and continually makes huge tackles on the try line and on kickoffs. Senior, captain, Zac Gorman, an SCRC All-Conference 1st Team lock, is an excellent jumper, a devastating tackler on defense, and is an excellent open field runner who can offload very well in contact.”
 
The Gamecocks also have a talented group of freshmen this year from several of the top high school programs across the nation, including three from Gonzaga College High School. At 6’1, 190 pounds, Charles DePont captained his team to the 2014 HS National Championship, receiving Forward of the Match honors in that event. DePont also received 1st Team All-Conference honors during his junior and senior seasons, and started in their runner-up finish in the 2013 HS National Championship. At 6’2, 230 pounds, Bobby Nealon played 4 years at prop and 5’10, 145 pound Anthony Morabito served at wing, both with DePont in their 2013 and 2014 National Championship runs. From Downingtown West High School in Downingtown, PA, Nicholas Pagel is a 6’4, 180 pound scrumhalf majoring in business and marketing. Pagel’s team was the Pennsylvania State runner-ups in 2013 after winning the championship the year before. From Mount Saint Joseph High School in Hanover, MD, Brett DeBoy is a 5’8, 165 pound flyhalf majoring in exercise science. DeBoy was a three year varsity starter, receiving All-MIAA honors in 2013, as well as being named the team’s Backs MVP. As a versatile back, DeBoy runs a 4.6 40yd dash and an 11.0 100m dash, and he can kick around 55-60yds from a tee and 40yds from a drop kick. Representing St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, OH are 6’0, 180 pound wing Richard Benninger and 5’5, 145 pound scrumhalf Jack Hyland, each pursuing a degree in business. “This is only a handful of those with established high school pedigrees,” adds Morris, “though we also have 6’0, 190 pound inside center, Christian Harrell, from Cumberland Valley, and 6’4, 240 pound 8-man, Corbin Hopkins, from Lugoff-Elgin, among others who have showed promise in early drills. With another preseason match under our belts, it should give these players an opportunity to prove themselves prior to conference play. The roster changes week-to-week, so don’t be surprised if you see some of these players in the starting lineup.”  
 
In all, South Carolina is well positioned for another run at a Southeastern Rugby title and a trip to nationals. “Just like last year, we’ll take each game one at a time and steadily chip away at our goals. Looking ahead, that means our final preseason match against UNC-Wilmington and then our season opener against the University of Georgia. We’ll have stiff competition on the road against Tennessee and Florida, though with our conference every match will be hard fought.”

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Gamecocks Capture Preseason Victory

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Conway, SC - Carolina Rugby hit the road this past weekend and both sides came out victorious over the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina University. The Premier Side struggled with handling and backline pressure all game, though they were able to put up a solid defense in a 19-0 victory. Point scorers were junior, 8-man Mike Mahon with an early try to start the match and junior, scrumhalf Brian Keown with a pair of tries and conversions to finish it. Man of the Match honors were awarded to Freshman Chuck DePont, flanker from Gonzaga College High School, and senior Michael Rudzinsky, center from Boston, MA.

Carolina's Reserve Side saw a much more even match with a final result of 12-10. Man of the Match honors were awarded to sophomore, hooker Eric Lucci and junior, flanker Brian Pun in the forwards and freshman, scrumhalf Nick Pagel in the backs.

Next up for the Gamecocks is their final preseason match on Friday, September 12th against Division II powerhouse UNC-Wilmington. The match will take place at Strom Field under the lights at 7pm with a reserve match to follow against the Columbia Olde Grey Developmental Side. These two teams rarely meet, so it should be an interesting match to watch.


Foundation Announces "30/10 Campaign"

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Columbia, SC - Following With the announcement of the short & long-term strategic plan, the Carolina Rugby Foundation is unveiling a new annual capital campaign known as the "30/10 Campaign." 

As the program continues to achieve new heights and accomplish strategic benchmarks both on and off the pitch, the one consistent factor that determines our rate of growth is access to financial resources from year to year. Currently, the team is able to operate off of a $40,000 annual budget, with roughly $30,000 (30) devoted towards 15's and $10,000 (10) devoted towards 7's. With the "30/10 Campaign," it is our goal to eventually develop enough resources through both the Foundation and the Endowment to cover these baseline expenses on an annual basis, allowing the team to continue to grow, develop, and achieve new heights. The charts below provides a graphical outline of how current resources are both received and allocated:


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Your financial support of Carolina Rugby through the annual "30/10 Campaign" will have a direct impact on our players, our coaches, and our facilities. Keeping Carolina Rugby strong and vibrant is more important than ever as we continue to compete with the Nation's best. By keeping our facilities and equipment updated, investing in travel, tournaments, and coach and player development, and engaging potential recruits and spectators with new resources, we can remain one of the leading programs in the country and prepare our student athletes to achieve great things.

Please think about leaving a lasting legacy with the rugby team today by donating to either the Foundation fund or the Endowment fund.  When you make your donation to the Endowment fund, please specify your contribution as one for the "Carolina Men's Rugby Endowment Fund - (B11857)" otherwise it will be deposited into the University's general account. Also, mention this in the 'memo' section on any check or money order. You may begin donating today by choosing one of the options listed above.

Foundation Announces Strategic Plan

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Columbia, SC - The Carolina Rugby Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of a strategic plan, outlining goals and benchmarks over the next ten years. It is our intention to institutionalize the funding and programs that make our program successful so that we are not overly reliant upon the contributions of dynamic individuals. To do so, we are calling on all Foundation supporters to make a pledge towards assisting the Board in developing the following areas: 

  • Foundation & Endowment Outreach with Rugby Based Scholarships
  • Implementation of a Marketing Plan with Corporate Sponsors
  • Elevate Game Day Atmosphere & Fan Experience
  • Accommodate a Robust Travel Budget to Improve Competition and National Rankings
  • Expand Public Relations, Promotion, & Media Relations with a Strong Brand and Culture
  • Create a Recruitment Network with a Local & National Reach
  • Expansion of Coaching & Administrative Personnel
  • Elevate the Program's Standing within the Rugby Community through Hosting Opportunities & Philanthropic Events
  • Strengthen Alumni Relations & Broaden our Base of Supporters
  • Return to the Collegiate Rugby Championship 7’s Invitational on NBC Sports

Success on the pitch through victories, championships, and accolades will always be a priority, though additional emphasis in these key areas will help position the program to continue to achieve new heights. It's important to realize that each of these areas include several components that require supporters such as yourself to make it possible.

If you would like to receive more information and are interested in assisting the Foundation in any of the areas listed above, either in the form of time, resources, or expertise, please contact the Foundation via email at TheCarolinaRugbyFoundation@gmail.com The team appreciates your support! 



Players Return to Campus - Celebrate 47 Years of Gamecock Rugby

Skills Training: 
Tues. & Thurs. 7:00-9:00 PM
Beginning Thursday, August 21st 
STWFC Rugby Field
1000 Blossom St, Columbia, SC 29208
 
Additional Skills Training:
Wed. 6:00-8:00 PM
Beginning Wednesday, August 27th 
Greene Street Field
700 Greene St, Columbia, SC 29201
(Concludes on September 17th)

Strength & Conditioning:
Mon. 8:00-9:00 PM
Beginning Monday, August 25th 
STWFC Rugby Field
1000 Blossom St, Columbia, SC 29208

Incoming players, please contact Team Administrator Luke Bolembach.
Player Expectations:
Each week, players are expected to attend weekly coach led skills and conditioning sessions, player led weight lifting and strength training, as well as any matches assigned to them by the Head Coach. Players are also expected to complete a number of logistical items to include the following:

1) USA Rugby Waiver 
2) South Carolina Rugby Waiver (Online Submission) 
3) South Carolina Academic Form
4) CIPP Registration ($40)
5) Pay Team Dues ($250 or $350)
Player Dues
Team members are expected to be booted and ready to warm-up 15 minutes early. Please show up to practice with all necessary forms filled out and ready, if possible.

USA Rugby Academic All-Americans, Matthew Augustine & David Mysona

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Columbia, SC - On behalf of the Carolina Rugby team, we would like to congratulate South Carolina's own Matthew Augustine and David Mysona on being selected as USA Rugby Academic All-Americans, demonstrating both academic and athletic excellence during the 2013-2014 season!

Since 2011, USA Rugby has recognized the hard work and accomplishment of collegiate rugby players, on and off of the field, with the National Collegiate Rugby Scholar Honor Roll. More than one thousand college students have been acknowledged during this period. Augustine and Mysona both exceed the program criteria, which includes being a consistent starter on the South Carolina rugby team and posting a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 (on scale of 4.0) or higher, with cumulative G.P.A.’s of 3.90 or higher, representing the highest bracket of the awards list.
 
Matthew Augustine
 
Exercise Science is a mixture of exercise physiology and public health related topics at South Carolina, which prides itself with one of the top programs in the country. Augustine spent a year and a half working in the Integrative Muscle Biology Laboratory as an undergraduate researcher for Dr. James Carson studying cancer cachexia and related topics to disease and skeletal muscle. Augustine received second place in his category for his poster presentation "Unloading and Irradiation on Skeletal Muscle Protein Turnover" at South Carolina Discovery Day 2014 this past May. Augustine graduated Suma Cum Laude from both South Carolina and the South Carolina Honors College, the top public honors college in the country. He was awarded two undergraduate research grants while at South Carolina, the Magellan Scholars Grant and the Scientific Undergraduate Research Fund. Looking ahead, Augustine is scheduled to begin medical school at the South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia this month and looks to continue researching his interests in oncology, neurology, and emergency medicine. One point of achievement for Augustine, aside from one B+ his first semester freshmen year, he received straight A's all four years at South Carolina.
 
David Mysona
 
Biomedical engineers strive to increase both our knowledge of medicine as well as the quality of healthcare across the planet through innovative design of surgical techniques, medical devices, and methods of drug delivery. As a future physician and biomedical engineer, Mysona believes it his responsibility to provide new innovative methods to advance the quality of care of all human beings by applying what he learned as an engineer and what he will soon learn as a doctor of medicine. Graduating Summa Cum Laude, Mysona served as president of his residence hall during 2012 and was a two time SCRC All-Conference rugby player. As a Tau Beta Pi scholar, Mysona was also awarded an undergraduate research grant while at South Carolina, the Magellan Scholars Grant, for his project: Determining the role of the Sag G protein in necrotizing fasciitis. Looking ahead, Mysona is scheduled to begin medical school at the Medical College of Georgia this month and looks to continue his research and devoting his life to his patients.
 
“On behalf of our USA Rugby collegiate programs of more than 900 teams, Tam Breckenridge, associate director of College Rugby, and I congratulate these scholar-athletes on their accomplishments on the field and in the classroom,” USA Rugby Director of College Rugby Rich Cortez said. “The criteria for this award require commitment and determination in both arenas. We wish the honorees continued success in their chosen fields.”
 
Once again, congratulations to Matthew Augustine and David Mysona on being recognized as USA Rugby Academic All-Americans for the 2013-2014 season, and we look forward to welcoming you back to campus this fall at the annual alumni match!


Carolina Rugby Welcomes Incoming Class

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Columbia, SC - Twenty-three freshmen make up the new class of student-athletes on South Carolina Men’s Rugby Club, bringing to the Gamecocks an exciting mixture of leadership and athleticism from across the nation that could have an impact on the program as early as this fall.

“We lost a great group of seniors this past semester who certainly left their mark on the program in returning us to national prominence,” said head coach Mark Morris. “Every new class brings with it its own personality and challenges, which we as a coaching staff have to compensate for and do our best to integrate into our existing game plan. I’m happy to say that I have met with or have been in contact with a majority of the incoming players and their families and I know they are committed to the program and are ready to make the transition to the collegiate level.”

The incoming class of twenty-three will hail from eight different states, mostly in the eastern United States, and one foreign country, Australia. Following those from the home state of South Carolina, the largest contingent of players will be coming from Maryland and Philadelphia, continuing a pattern established three years ago which has amounted to 40% of the team now being from the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. “I credit the demographic shift to the competitive level of youth rugby being played in those regions,” says Coach Morris. “It’s great to work with coaches like Lee Kelly from Gonzaga and Scott Brown from Rugby Pennsylvania and learn that interest in our program continues to build and that high-caliber athletes want to compete at South Carolina. In the mix we have MVP’s, team captains, star athletes in their respective positions, and state and national champions. It’s our job as a coaching staff to channel these individual talents and to put the best possible product on the pitch.”

One unique characteristic is that the players cover nearly every position on the field, something that Coach Morris is happy about. “Normally, you have to deal with an influx of mostly forwards or mostly backs, so this is good to have, especially when I have openings throughout the roster.” With the incoming players, combined with returning players and a number of walk-ons, the team should expect around 70 players the first few weeks before things being to settle. “Coach Darnell and I keep a very fluid roster,” added Coach Morris. “There is no guarantee from one week to the next who will start where or on which side. It’s important that we create the opportunity for advancement if we are to expect our players to improve and diversify their talents. If there’s one thing the incoming players will learn, it’s not to get content. Every week is a new slate.”

The incoming class as a whole also boasts an impressive academic resume with an average GPA of more than 3.5. “The University has certainly elevated their academic standards in the last ten years when it comes to the admissions’ selection process, attracting some of the best minds from across the country,” says Coach Morris. “We have already seen this in recent years with outgoing players Matthew Augustine and David Mysona each receiving USA Rugby Academic All-American honors for their dedication in the classroom. I have a feeling that players who compete full time while also enrolled in research studies, academic fraternities, and the University’s nationally recognized Honors College will become the norm in the next 5-10 years, which will only benefit the program as a whole. We already have a number of players, past and present, that fall into this category which has helped the team achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.2, exceeding that of the overall undergraduate student body.”

As South Carolina's overall winningest sport, the Men’s Rugby Team has certainly made a name for itself over the past few years, winning the Southeastern Rugby Conference Championship, advancing to the National Sweet 16 and Elite 8, receiving both Coach of the Year and Player of the Year honors each of the past two seasons, and winning multiple tournaments in both rugby fifteens and rugby sevens. Not only were eight of South Carolina’s student athletes 1st Team SCRC All-Conference players, senior Captain Matthew Berenato received USA Rugby All-American Honorable Mention honors for his stellar performance guiding the South Carolina backline as a ferocious runner and try scorer. Overall, the Gamecocks had a great Fall and Spring campaign, competing in two USA Rugby National Championships and the CRC 7’s Invitational on NBC.

“Our recent successes have presented us with a unique opportunity to compete against the nation’s best and to challenge ourselves above and beyond our normal play,” added Coach Morris. “We have learned a great deal these past few years and have grown immensely as a program, though, as always, there is still much to improve on and we’ll be looking to this incoming class to continue to drive the program forward and to raise the bar in what we can accomplish.”

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Carolina Rugby Establishes Endowment Fund

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Columbia, SC - Through our relationship with Carolina Promise, the Carolina Rugby Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of the Carolina Men's Rugby Endowment Fund. This tax-deductible account will promote the spirit and high ideals of Carolina Rugby through a long term endowment fund that will provide sustainable returns for the program for years to come. With generous donations from the Smolka Family, the fund currently sits at $50,000, with interest funds available to the team after a one year maturation period.

Your financial support of the Carolina Men's Rugby Endowment Fund will have a direct impact on our players, our coaches, and our facilities. Keeping Carolina Rugby strong and vibrant is more important than ever as we continue to compete with the Nation's best. By keeping our facilities and equipment updated, investing in travel, tournaments, and coach and player development, and engaging potential recruits and spectators with new resources, we can remain one of the leading programs in the country and prepare our student athletes to achieve great things.

Please think about leaving a lasting legacy with the rugby team today by donating to the endowment fund. When you make your donation, please specify your contribution as one for the "Carolina Men's Rugby Endowment Fund - (B11857)" otherwise it will be deposited into the University's general account. Also, mention this in the 'memo' section on any check or money order. You may begin donating today by clicking here.


USA Rugby All-American Matthew Berenato

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Columbia, SC - We would like to congratulate South Carolina's own Matthew Berenato on being selected as a USA Rugby All-American Honorable Mention for the 2013-2014 season!

Berenato had a stellar season guiding the South Carolina backline as a ferocious runner and try scorer. Aside from captaining the team in both 7's and 15's, his accolades this year include being named Eastern Division Player of the Week 2 out of the 9 weeks of competition, being named to the Southeastern Rugby All-Conference Team at center, being awarded the South Carolina Team MVP Award, and most prominently, being selected as this year's Southeastern Rugby Player of the Year. As a graduating senior, Berenato has accumulated several accolades during his earlier years at South Carolina to include the following:
  • SCRC All-Conference Team 1st XV, wing - 2013
  • Eastern Division Player of the Week honors - Week 9, 2013
  • Most Valuable Back Team Award - Fall 2012
  • SCRC All-Tournament 7's Team - 2012
  • SCRC All-Conference Team Honorable Mention, wing - 2012
  • Eastern Division Player of the Week honors - Week 1, 2012
Unfortunately, due to a broken collar bone sustained during the Southeastern Rugby championship, Berenato was unable to attend the All-American Camp, nor was he able to compete in Philadelphia at the Collegiate Rugby Championship 7's Invitational on NBC. His presence was surely missed, though thankfully he has fully recovered and is currently pursuing his career in Criminal Justice.  

Once again, congratulations to Matthew Berenato on being recognized as a USA Rugby All-American Honorable Mention for the 2013-2014 season, and we look forward to welcoming him back to campus this fall at the annual alumni match!


2014 Carolina Rugby Alumni Weekend

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Columbia, SC - The 2014 Southeastern Rugby Champions welcome back the ruggers of yesteryear to celebrate 47 years of Carolina Rugby! The 2014 Carolina Rugby Alumni Weekend will be held Friday, October 31st through Sunday, November 2nd and will include a full range of festivities. 

The weekend will begin at 7:00pm on Friday with the 13th annual alumni match followed by a post-match social. On Saturday, the alumni will be hosting a pre-game tailgate at Shuman Owens Supply Co. before heading in to Williams-Brice Stadium to watch the #4 Gamecocks take on the Volunteers of Tennessee. On Sunday, the weekend will conclude with an 11:00am Foundation board meeting to be held at the Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center located at the corner of Blossom & Assembly Street in Columbia. 

For those interested in attending the Tennessee football game, we will be reserving a section of seats at $70 each, though we require a final head count by Thursday, August 7th in order to secure the tickets.

RSVP today by clicking on the link to the right! We also ask that you please register your information with the Carolina Rugby Alumni Association to continue to receive up-to-date match reports, news releases, and Foundation reports throughout the year. As a reminder, any donation of $60 or more to the Carolina Rugby Foundation will cover your participation for the 2014 Alumni Weekend. This will increase to $75 on game day.

Please continue to monitor the schedule online and make plans to attend this year's event, celebrating 47 years of Carolina Rugby!


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2014 Fall Southeastern Schedule Released

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Columbia, SC - Following the trend established over the past few years, the Southeastern Conference has elected to reverse its seasonality schedule to allow Conference 15’s in the Fall and organized 7’s in the Spring with corresponding conference events for both at the end of their respective seasons.

What became evident during the CRC's is that the competition has improved immensely nationwide, though we were falling behind by not securing the necessary “live” play under our belts to perform to our potential. This new format will be more conducive, allowing all 7’s events to take place in order and in a single season (Southeastern series, Southeastern Qualifier, USA Rugby Nationals, CRC Invitational).

The schedule also allows several non 7’s weekends during the spring to host northern/traveling sides (Army, Navy, Virginia Tech, Kutztown, Penn State, etc.) looking to escape the winter weather and play quality competition. The team may also arrange DII/DIII matches during the above mentioned 7’s weekends for those remaining at home, ensuring all players receive live action, regardless of the season.

Plan your next rugby match by viewing the team's online schedule 24/7!



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