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Furman to host USA Rugby Fall Championships
USA Rugby has announced that Furman University will be home to some of the best college rugby has to offer Dec. 3-4 when the university hosts USA Rugby Men’s Division II National Championships, the Women’s DI, DII, and Men’s DIAA Fall Championships.
In all, 12 colleges and universities will participate over two days, culminating with four champions being crowned Sunday. Many of the games will be held at John S. Roberts Field, which is located adjacent to Paladin Stadium.
Furman hosted the Men’s DII National Final Four in 2013 and 2014. Last year, Furman hosted championships for Men’s DII (won by Minnesota Duluth), Women’s DI (University of Connecticut) and DII (Davenport University).
“USA Rugby is extremely pleased to be returning to Furman University for these important championships,” said USA Rugby Collegiate Director Rich Cortez. “College rugby is becoming increasingly competitive and fan friendly, and we have found the ultimate setting for our National and Fall Championships where we can showcase the core values of our sport—integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect. Moreover, the hospitality of our friends in Greenville is without peer.”
Furman Rugby Coach John Roberts, who founded the Furman Rugby Team in 1998 has a 183-60-2 record as head coach, said the university is honored to host the USA Rugby event.
“We are proud of our facility and our championship history, but we are proudest of the way we treat the game,” he said. “We hope that pride resonates throughout this event.”
Furman will also host USA Rugby’s Men’s DII South Regional, which will be held Nov. 19-20 at Roberts Field. Four yet-to-be determined teams from the East Coast will participate in that tournament.
The Furman’s men’s rugby team, currently 8-0 and ranked fourth nationally, will square off against Coastal Carolina University 1 p.m., Saturday in the Southern Rugby Conference (SRC) semi-finals at Roberts Field. With a win, the Paladins would advance to the SRC finals on Nov. 5. A win in that contest would secure Furman a regional play-off spot on their home field.