The 2023 Division 1-A Rugby Championship is the eleventh season of the Division 1-A Rugby championship, the annual university rugby union competition run by USA Rugby for teams from the top twelve college teams in the United States. Navy won their first Championship with a 28–22 win over California, capping a perfect 18–0 season.[1]
| Division 1-A Rugby Championship | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Countries |  United States |
| Tournament format(s) | knockout |
| Date | 6 April 2023 – 6 May 2023 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Teams | 12 |
| Matches played | 11 |
| Tries scored | 109 (9.91 per match) |
| Final | |
| Venue | SaberCats Stadium, Houston |
| Champions | Navy (1st title) |
| Runners-up | California |
Teams
editTwelve clubs from the six major conferences compete in the 2023 National Championship playoffs.
The distribution of teams is:
- PAC Rugby Conference: two teams
- California: two teams
- Rocky Mountain: one team
- Independent: one team
- Rugby East: two teams
- Mid-South Conference: three teams
- Red River Conference: one team
The following teams qualified for the tournament.
| PAC Rugby Conference | California | Rocky Mountain | Independent | Rugby East | Mid-South Conference | Red River Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team locations
edit
Life
Lindenwood
Davenport
Navy
Army
Texas A&M
Central Washington
BYU
Arizona
Cal Poly
San Francisco
Bay Area
California
St. Mary's
Bay Area
California St. Mary's
Standings
edit
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Bracket
edit| Round 1 (April 8) | Elite Eight (April 15) | Final Four (April 22) | National Championship Game (May 6) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Central Washington | 31 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | BYU | 71 | 4 | BYU | 62 | ||||||||||||||
| 5 | Arizona | 33 | WEST | 4 | BYU | 31 | |||||||||||||
| 3 | California | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Saint Mary's | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | California | 82 | 3 | California | 29 | ||||||||||||||
| 6 | Cal Poly | 15 | 3 | California | 22 | ||||||||||||||
| 1 | Navy | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Navy | 30 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Army | 36 | 4 | Army | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| 5 | Davenport | 34 | EAST | 1 | Navy | 12 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Lindenwood | 10 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Lindenwood | 29 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Life | 82 | 3 | Life | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| 6 | Texas A&M | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
Round 1
edit| 8 April 2023 |
BYU  | 71–33 |  Arizona |
| Try: Manhuinga, Austin, Olivera (3), Matthews (2), Klintworth, Sagala, Barker, Fountaine Con: Matthews (8) | Report[9] | Try: 19' m, 42' c, 60' c, 66' c, 80' c Con: Hickey (4/5) |
| South Field, Provo, Utah |
| 8 April 2023 |
California  | 82–15 | Cal Poly |
| Try: Clark (2) 2' m, 38 m Aguero 17' Dixon (2) 21' c, 68' m Santos (2) 24' c, 52' m Kirsten (2) 27' c, 79' m Threlkeld 46' c Walsh 49' m Williams 65' c, Weigold 72' m L. Freeman 76' c Con: Schumacher (4) 21', 24', 27', 46' Salter (1) 65' L Brundage (1) 76' Pen: 10' | Report[10] | Try: 55' c 77' m Con: Crowley (1/2) 55' Pen: 10' |
| Witter Rugby Field, Berkeley, California |
| 8 April 2023 |
Army  | 36–34 |  Davenport |
| Try: Delai 4' c Bardak 16' m Oglesbee 23' c Pattinson 33' c Liskey 77' c Con: Haley (4/5) 4', 23', 33', 77' Pen: Haley (1) 83' | Report[11][12] | Try: Howard 11' m Van der Westhuizen (2) 28' m Casey 40' m Kurti 44' m Pen: Nolan (3) 55', 65', 81' |
| Anderson Rugby Complex, West Point |
| 8 April 2023 |
Life  | 82–0 |  Texas A&M |
| Try: Carrion, Safodien, Chadwick (2), Crane, Cain, Kramlich, Pantor, Reed, Hoffman, Michnya Con: Crane (11/12) | Report[13] |
| Lupo Family Field, Marietta, Georgia |
Quarter-finals
edit| 15 April 2023 |
Central Washington  | 31–62 | BYU |
| Try: Treacy (2) 30' m, 34' c O'Shannessey 38' c McQuade 58' m Grande 66' c Con: Cline (3/5) 34', 38' | Report[14] | Try: B. Tenney, Parry, Fountaine, Matthews, Biagi, Beck, Vaitohi, Sagala, Clark, Toso Con: Matthews (6) |
| Tomlinson Stadium, Ellensburg, Washington |
| 15 April 2023 |
| Saint Mary's | 28–29 | California |
| Try: Waqavesi 15' c Pongi 25' c Marchant 34' c Toia'ivoa 78' c Con: Yacubian (3/3) Sorti (1/1) | Report[15][16][17] | Try: Clark 29' m Schumacher 38' c Santos 48' c O'Connell 59' Con: Schumacher (3/4) 38, 48', 59' Pen: Schumacher (1) 74' |
| Saint Mary's Stadium, Moraga, California |
| 15 April 2023 |
Navy  | 30–6 | Army |
| Try: MacLaney 7' m Bengston 25' m Opp 44' c Haugh 54' c Con: Krieger (2/4) 44', 54' Pen: Gray 41' Krieger 61' | Report[18][19] | Pen: Haley (2) 25', 32' |
| Prusmack Rugby Complex, Annapolis, Maryland |
| 16 April 2023 |
Lindenwood  | 29–8 | Life |
| Try: Hardrict II 3' m Bynard (2) 15' c, 30' c Al-Jiboori c Pen: Peignon (1) 69' | Report[20][21] | Try: Bizer 23' m Pen: King (1) |
| Harlen C. Hunter Stadium, St. Charles, Missouri |
Semi-finals
edit| 22 April 2023 |
| California | 55–31 | BYU |
| Try: Aguero 2' c Santos (2) 5' m, 78' c O'Connell 30' c Clark 46' m Williams 49' c Zylstra 53' c Penalty Try 73' Con: Schumacher (5/7) 3', 31', 50', 54', 79' Pen: Schumacher (1) 64' | Report[22][23][24] | Try: Tenney (2) 14' c, 33' c Vaitohi (2) 24 m, 69' c Toso 79' m Con: Hammer (3/5) 15', 34', 70' |
| Witter Rugby Field, Berkeley, California |
| 22 April 2023 |
| Navy | 12–10 | Lindenwood |
| Try: Gray 13' c Bullock 40+2' m Con: Kireger (1/2) 14' | Report[25][26][27] | Try: Kige 61' c Con: Peignon (1/1) 62' Pen: Peignon (1/2) 3' |
| Prusmack Rugby Complex, Annapolis, Maryland |
Final
edit| 6 May 2023 |
| California | 22–28 | Navy |
| Try: O'Connell 9' c Shea 13' m Kirsten 52' c Con: Schumacher (2/3) 10', 53' Pen: Schumacher (1) 23' | Report[28][1][29][8] | Try: Webb 29' c MacLaney 38' c Bullock 62' c Opp 68' c Con: Krieger (4/4) 30', 39', 63', 68' |
| SaberCats Stadium, Houston[30] |
Rudy Scholz Award
editWinner
edit- Lewis Gray, US Naval Academy
Finalists
edit- Wyatt Parry, BYU
- Max Schumacher, Cal
- Joe Marchant, Saint Mary's
- Lewis Gray, US Naval Academy
- Orrin Bizer, Life University
2022–2023 First Team All Americans
edit- Gabe Mahuinga – Brigham Young University
- Runako Brynard – Lindenwood University
- Joe Marchant – Saint Mary’s College
- Ben Haugh – Navy
- Lucas Pattinson – Army
- Kaipono Kaioshi – Saint Mary’s College
- Alex Cleary – Central Washington University
- Orrin Bizer – Life University
- Tiaan Mosconi – Army
- Max Schumacher – University of California – Berkeley
- Nick Hardrict II – Lindenwood University
- EJ Freeman – University of Arizona
- Lewis Gray – Navy
- Daelen Denenberg, Santa Clara University
- Roanin Krieger – Navy
- Emilio Shea – University of California – Berkeley
- Adam Chadwick – Life University
- Connor Devos – Lindenwood University
- Jack McMahon – Navy
- Dominic Besag – Saint Mary’s College
- Cole Semu – Brigham Young University
- Calvin Liulamaga – Central Washington University
- Donovan Law, Life University
Sources:[33]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Central Washington University 2023 Men's Rugby Schedule". CWU. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Around D1A: Confirmations, Cancelations, and Surprises". Goff Rugby Report. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "UCLA Gets PAC Conference Win on the Road". Goff Rugby Report. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Fall 2022 Standings". Rugby East. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "D1A Playoff Brackets Confirmed". Goff Rugby Report. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "The Goff Effect: Who Are the Bracket Busters in D1A Championship Playoffs?". CRAA. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "What the First Round of D1A Playoffs Told Us". Goff Rugby Report. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Bears Defeat Mustangs, Advance To Quarterfinals". Cal Bears. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Men's Rugby Wins Instant Classic to Advance to Quarterfinals". Go Army. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Davenport Men's Rugby finishes off their season strong". Davenport Panthers. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Life U Rains Down Tries in 82-0 Victory to Open USA Rugby D1A Playoffs". Life Running Eagles. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Wildcats Fall into Early Hole, Suffer Season-Ending 31-62 Loss to BYU in D1A Quarterfinal". Wild Cat Sports. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Cal Beats Saint Mary's to Advance in Rugby National Championships". Sports Illustratated. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Bears Clinch Victory Over Gaels, Advance To Semifinals". Cal Bears. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "IN MEN'S RUGBY QUARTER FINALS, GAELS FALL TO CAL BY ONE POINT". St Mary's. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Dominant Second Half Sends Navy Past Army in Division I-A Elite Playoff Quarterfinals". Navy Sports. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Men's Rugby Falls to Navy in USA Rugby D1A Quarterfinals". Go Army. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "After Delay, Lindenwood Punches Ticket". Goff Rugby Report. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Men's Rugby Falls in CRAA D1A Elite 15's Quarterfinals to Lindenwood, 29-8". Life Running Eagles. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "Cal Advances to Rugby National Championship Match by Beating BYU". Sports Illustratated. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Cal Punches Ticket To National Championship". Cal Bears. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Cal Storms Past BYU in Big Second Half". Goff Rugby Report. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Men's Rugby Advances to National Championship with Defensive Win over Lindenwood". Navy Sports. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "As Close as You Can Get: Navy over Lindenwood". Goff Rugby Report. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Navy men's rugby edges Lindenwood, 12-10, in semifinals, setting up rematch with Cal for the national championship". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "Cal Loses to No. 1 Navy in National Rugby Title Match". Sports Illustratated. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Cal Falls To Navy In National Championship Match". Cal Bears. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "CRAA Championship Weekend Set for May 6th -7th, 2023". USA Rugby. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Finalists for Rudy Scholz Award Named". Goff Rugby Report. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ "Lewis Gray Wins 2023 Rudy Scholz Award". Goff Rugby Report. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "College Rugby Association of America Announces D1A 2023 Collegiate All-Americans". CRAA. Retrieved 6 May 2024.