Rugby PickEm

The 2024 CRC's did not disappoint. A uniquely American tournament format featured a "win and advance" style of bracket, and the excitement that came with the high stakes was exhilarating.

Premier Division -

1st Place: Wheeling

Back in January, Aaron Juma and Joe Iye led the Great Lakes NCR all star team to a cup final in Round Rock Texas. The two players dominance continued this weekend as Wheeling blew through their Saturday & Sunday competition. Juma is ready for the next level, and should be considered for a PR 7's contract this summer.

With 10 players from Zimbabwe and South Africa coach Michael Geibel shows he can recruit internationals aplenty, fielding an extremely competitive collegiate side. Will the college game ever have a cap on internationals? For now it comes down to how many scholarships you have and how hard you're willing to recruit.

2nd Place: Kutztown

At just 5'7", 155lbs, Chris Cleland is once again in dominant form. Last year's tournament MVP for Mount St. Mary's is now suiting up for the Kutztown Bears and showing size doesn't really matter in 7's. The flyer is excellent at stretching defenses in open space, just gassing teams off scrum set piece. Would winning back to back championships with two different schools be a first for the new age "transfer portal" collegiate era?

Kutztown fielded a team with an English / American blend. Four players from England and one from Scotland mix with American recruits from Pennsylvania and Georgia. The Kutztown program has been elite for the better part of a decade and won the entire tournament in 2022.

3rd Place: Babson

First of, let's just take a step back and realize that Babson (a small college) moved from the small college division ALL THE WAY up to the Premier bracket. That's a massive leap in competition, but they never flinched and clearly belong with the top competition.

Brice Muller stands out at 6'6" 230 lbs, the Fairfield Prep grad has had as big of an impact on a program that a freshman can provide. A pivotal part of Babson's small college XV's championship, he can do it all. Run, pass, tackle, lineout ... he's a jack of all trades and will surely be a force for Babson in his next 3 years.

4th Place: ICCC

Dubbed "The United States of Iowa Central" for the weekend, coaches Brent Nelson and Joe Lippert have built a mid-west monster in Fort Dodge Iowa. The Tritons have gotten better year after year and the program's success shows that you don't need a large group of alumni boosters to build a successful program.

The majority of their scoring was done by Hlanga Mbela who was carving up defenses throughout the weekend. Noah Champion & Koen Webb created an impact running hard and straight earning the front foot in attack, while the skipper Matt Surles-Davis was ice cold in defense as he chopped down large ball runners all weekend .

Division 1 - Louisville blanks North Carolina State 29-0

Division 2 - Maine stuns Georgetown at the death 19-15

Small College - Slippery Rock beats St. Thomas 19-12

In the end, it was an exhilarating Friday and Saturday for the tournament. The women round out the championship rounds on Sunday and hopefully the event will be just as spectacular next year.

Special thanks for John Fitzpatrick of Rugby Morning for hopping on the show.

PICKEM!

After winning 14 straight, the defending champs lost at the death in their home opener against rival Old Glory D.C. Jason Robertson was clutch down the stretch and drilled the game winning kick with no time on the clock. It was truly a game winning conversion (they were down 1, not tied), and it silenced a rowdy crowd in Quincy. Not only did Robertson's boot come up clutch, but he facilitated just about all of their tries (as a good fly-half does).

This shakes up the "Power Structure" on the Eastern Front (see below). It's going to take more than 1 (1 point) loss to dethrone New England. They've been on a tear, and deserve the benefit of the doubt ... for now. After just 2 weeks (and not nearly enough rugby to make an informed decision), here's the current outlook.

1. NEFJ - one loss won't shake 14 straight wins.

2. NOLA - they've started hot before, but can they stay hot?

3. OGDC - after a week 1 dud, they delivered big on the road.

4. CHICAGO - ran out of oxygen up in Utah.

5. MIAMI - it wasn't "pretty in pink" up in Seattle.

6. ANTHEM - Still just a feel good story as of now.

Special thanks to Bozo6 from the Jack's Rangers who came on the to talk everything FreeJacks.

PICKEM!

Historical Record: 32-42-3

Week 1 Result: 22-15 loss to Houston

Skinny: The Utah Warriors have always been an MLR staple. There's no prettier backdrop than the snow kissed mountains just west of Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman Utah. The Warriors will be missing legend Lance Williams as he pursues Olympic dreams with the Eagle 7's, but they won't lack veteran leadership. Paul Lasike and Angus McClellan return, and the grandstands in Utah will be begging for a home playoff game come July. Have you Unleashed Your Inner Warrior?

Historical Record: 43-33-1

Week 1 Result: 25-19 win against San Diego

Skinny: The Orcas in the Pacific Northwest have been known to be some of the most intelligent hunters in the ocean. The rugby team also knows how to hunt down playoff appearances and has posted a 7-2 playoff record over their history. They have only missed the playoffs once in 2021, but coach Alan Clarke has them trending up and ready to feed on any aquatic mammals (or fish) that cross their path. Sam Windsor clocks in for his 7th MLR season, can father time win another title like he did in 2021 with New York? The #HuntForNumber3 continues Saturday night when the Miami Sharks come to town.

Historical Record: 51-25-1

Week 1 Result: 25-19 loss to Seattle

Skinny: The team may have some of the last Generation X professional rugby players on the squad, but don't forget that age is just a number. After all, 40's are the new 30's, right? Ma'a Nonu and Matt Giteau want nothing more than the MLR Shield and won't stop until it reaches the sunny shores of Mission Beach. The Legion have won over 66% of their matches as a franchise, but playoff appearances won't be enough this year. It's shield or bust.

Historical Record: 0-0

Week 1 Result: 32-29 loss vs. Dallas

Skinny: Atlanta packs up and moves to the sunny hills of Los Angeles. Coach Steve Brett brings with him the core of the players that won a fair share of games as the RATLers. But just like the phoenix who rose from the ashes, Rugby FCLA arises with vibrant colors! The royal blue and tinge of yellow hits just right. Will this team be an immediate threat in the West? Remains to be seen ... Week 1 showed they can score points, but the last team to win an MLR Shield in Los Angeles also played stout defense. And the logo ... ? Well that looks like a Blue Acorn to me. And we all know that Blue Acorns soon become #BlueOaks

Historical Record: 29-48 (5.5 Seasons)

Week 1 Result: 22-15 win over Utah

Skinny: After a tough couple years of predominantly losing, it seems like Houston has turned a corner (or a roundabout?) ... Coach Pote Human ain't taking no guff from opposing teams, and has delivered the squad to playoffs in back to back years.... only to be ousted by Seattle. But this years team as added some serious weaponry in the form of Jeremy "Missile" Misailegalu and AJ Alatimu. A Week 1 win was accompanied by a sold out SaberCats Stadium. Can the attendance numbers stay high as the temperature and relative humidity also climbs in the spring and summer? Don't come to close to the mascot or he might just give you #CatScratchFever

Historical Record: 2-30 (2 Seasons)

Week 1 Result: 32-29 win over Rugby FC Los Angeles

Skinny: So Dallas hasn't been great so far ... no better time than now for a change. Sam Golla may be the best draft pick since the inception of the collegiate draft. The #JackalAllTrades already earned his way onto the Eagles and is now a Jackal Co-Capt. too. A week 1 win is huge for confidence, but can they beat the snake bitted SD Legion Sunday to make it two in a row? Now that Marc Cuban has sold his majority stake in the Mavericks, will be seeing a celebrity appearance at Choctaw stadium in 2024? That's what you do when you retire right ...? Just go to rugby games and mingle with the people! If I'm being honest, I'd rather see a Jerry Jones appearance. Wouldn't it be crazy if the Jackals win a title before Jerry's Cowboys end their Super Bowl drought? I think actually that just might put Jerry Jones in his grave.

Historical Record: 20-31-2 (3.5 Seasons)

Week 1 Result: 18-6 loss to NOLA Gold

Skinny: Moving on from Segra Field is a definite win. While the new pitch is still a ways out there, it boasts a beautiful grass surface with an accurately sized bowl for 5k fans. It's their 3rd venue since inception and they've finally checked off all three parts of the DMV. The match up in Quincy Massachusetts Saturday suddenly has more juice as the Flags will look to punch back at the team that knocked them off in last year's Eastern Conference Final. Does having a 4th coach in 4 years matter...? Not if the core of the team is in tact. With the wrecking crew of loosies expect OGMD to be back in the playoffs come July.

Historical Record: 36-40-1 (5.5 Seasons)

Week 1 Result: 18-6 win over Old Glory DC

Skinny: NOLA in a big year as they look to not only make the playoffs, but host a match in July. They have the glitz and glamour to get there, but after white knuckle defensive performance against OGDC down in the Gold Mine, it just might be DEFENSE that sees them through to the knockouts. Can Rodney Iona assert himself as one of the league's best 10's? There's a notable bye-week for the Gold during the epic New Orleans' Jazz Fest. Will the players have a well deserved night on the town ... or is it all business til' a top playoff seed is delivered? Big year in store for the Gold.