Gamecocks advance to SCRC Championship game
While the fall regular season has two games remaining, South Carolina has punched its ticket to the Southeastern Rugby Conference (SCRC) championship game against Tennessee on November 12.
With wins over East Division opponents Clemson and Georgia, the Gamecocks assume the top-seeded post in that competitive division. While Kentucky defeated all of their East Division opponents, the Wildcats opted out of post season play earlier this year and will not be participating in the conference playoffs.
Tennessee, meanwhile, easily defeated their West Division opponents: Alabama, LSU and Kennesaw State.
So, this weekend’s game against Tennessee in Knoxville (noon kick-off at 3620 Southerland Ave. in Knoxville) will be a preview of the SCRC championship game. The location of the SCRC championship tournament, which will also feature a contest between Division IAA teams Clemson and Alabama, has not been determined.
The winner of the SCRC championship game will automatically advance to the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) national championship tournament. The SCRC runner-up may also receive an at-large bid, but we don’t know yet.
Nevertheless, advancing to the SCRC 15s championship is a huge accomplishment for the Gamecocks (3-1). The last time South Carolina made it this far was in 2015 when the Gamecocks lost to Tennessee 23-22. South Carolina captured the SCRC 7s championship last spring and has been fighting to return to national relevance. The team is ranked #5 among NCR D1AA teams and is ranked #32 among all D1 programs.
“Through recruiting, game preparation and alumni engagement we have been working to raise our profile and organization,” said Head Coach John Roberts. “Advancing to the SCRC 15s championship game is validating, and it is a result of the hard work we have done on these three fronts.”
In addition to the two games against Tennessee, the Gamecocks also host Kennesaw State November 5.
While the fall regular season has two games remaining, South Carolina has punched its ticket to the Southeastern Rugby Conference (SCRC) championship game against Tennessee on November 12.
With wins over East Division opponents Clemson and Georgia, the Gamecocks assume the top-seeded post in that competitive division. While Kentucky defeated all of their East Division opponents, the Wildcats opted out of post season play earlier this year and will not be participating in the conference playoffs.
Tennessee, meanwhile, easily defeated their West Division opponents: Alabama, LSU and Kennesaw State.
So, this weekend’s game against Tennessee in Knoxville (noon kick-off at 3620 Southerland Ave. in Knoxville) will be a preview of the SCRC championship game. The location of the SCRC championship tournament, which will also feature a contest between Division IAA teams Clemson and Alabama, has not been determined.
The winner of the SCRC championship game will automatically advance to the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) national championship tournament. The SCRC runner-up may also receive an at-large bid, but we don’t know yet.
Nevertheless, advancing to the SCRC 15s championship is a huge accomplishment for the Gamecocks (3-1). The last time South Carolina made it this far was in 2015 when the Gamecocks lost to Tennessee 23-22. South Carolina captured the SCRC 7s championship last spring and has been fighting to return to national relevance. The team is ranked #5 among NCR D1AA teams and is ranked #32 among all D1 programs.
“Through recruiting, game preparation and alumni engagement we have been working to raise our profile and organization,” said Head Coach John Roberts. “Advancing to the SCRC 15s championship game is validating, and it is a result of the hard work we have done on these three fronts.”
In addition to the two games against Tennessee, the Gamecocks also host Kennesaw State November 5.