Life University Athletics

KENNESAW, Ga. --- It took a complete team effort, but all the hard work payed off as the Life University Men's Rugby team captured their first seven's championship in over a decade at the USA Rugby 7's Collegiate Championships in Fifth-Third Bank Sunday afternoon.

Competition started Saturday with all the teams competing in pool play with the top eight teams from the opening day moving on to the Gold Cup Championship Bracket for a chance at the top level title. Life U started in Pool D with Cal Poly, Air Force, and Indiana, the Running Eagles running away with their grouping as they beat their three opponents by a total of 71-12.

As one of only two teams to collect three day one victories, Life U earned the second overall seed in the bracket, starting Sunday with a game against a familiar foe from the first day, Cal Poly. The distance between the teams stayed the same in the second meeting, the Running Eagles quickly dispatching them in the Quarterfinals by a score of 35-7. The Semifinals saw Life U's toughest test of the tournament to that point, facing a very talented and disciplined Saint Mary's program. In what was a tough fought, defensive match that was tied 12-12 late, Philani Simamane broke away late and jumped into the try area to record the game-winning score, sending the Running Eagles into the championship game with a 19-12 win. 

The championship game saw Life U line up against their longstanding rival, Lindenwood. The first half of the match could not have gone better for the Running Eagles, smart, clean playing leading to a huge 19-0 lead as the teams took a brief pause for halftime. The victory would not come that easily against Lindenwood, the Lions running off 19 points of their own to see the game tied at the end of regulation. Lindenwood held the advantage going into sudden-death overtime, receiving the opening kick, but excellent defensive play led to a Darius Law charge down, Law collecting the ball and racing all the way down the field to tap down the game winning try.

Acting seven's coach Jacques Odendaal spoke on how important the win was for the team and community and what helped propel the team to the victory, "This win wasn't just for the team, obviously the fans held a part in this too. This game brought the Life community together; the fight was insane. It really felt like everyone was a part of the team. Moving forward from here, I think Life has put themselves back on the map [in regards to sevens rugby], since it's been 11 years since the last championship." Odendaal continued, "A couple weeks ago the team sat down and we asked ourselves what did we want to accomplish this weekend. Did we want to just come and have fun, or did we want to win. Building up to this win was like a puzzle, putting together small pieces, one at a time, working up to the final here today where everything just came together. The main thing that helped pull us through was just how close this group is."

With the conclusion of the USA Rugby 7's Championship, Life U's 2021-22 season comes to a close on as sweet of a note as could be asked for, the team now looking forward to and building towards next season.