BACK TO BACK: Men's Rugby Repeats with 7s National Championship
Men's Rugby / 05.08.23
HOUSTON, TX — The Life University men's rugby won their second straight 7s National Championship in what took a complete team effort. All of the hard work payed off as the Life University Men's Rugby team captured their third USA Rugby 7's Collegiate Championship in Aveva Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Competition started Saturday with all the teams competing in pool play with the top four teams from the opening day moving on to the semis and championship for a chance to compete for the top honors. Life U started in Pool B with the University of California Los Angeles, Grand Canyon University, and the CRAA Men's Selects. The Running Eagles ran away with their grouping, beating their three opponents by a combined total of 55-19 over Los Angeles and Grand Canyon University while the CRAA Men's Selects match was forfeited.
With a second overall seed in the bracket, the Running Eagles won their back and began Sunday with a quarterfinal match against a familiar foe, Penn State. The Running Eagles easily the dispatched the Nittany Lions in the Quarterfinals by a score of 17-0, the first of two dominant shutouts prior to the championship appearance. In the Semifinals, Life U faced a talented Davenport team, earning another commanding shutout, this time 21-0.
In the championship game, Life U lined up against their longstanding rival, Lindenwood. The first half of the match began with the Lions scoring a try with a successful conversion to go ahead 7-0. The Running Eagles then responded with two successful tries and conversions to gain a lead 14-7. In the second half the match remained close until a late try provided Life U a cushion, 28-17. Despite the scoreline, the victory did not come that easily against Lindenwood, as the Lions continued to attack.
Life University head men's rugby coach Colton Cariaga spoke on the efforts, the win, the team, and what helped propel the Running Eagles to their second-straight 7s National Championship, "It was a great program effort and the best way to cap off our season. Debutant Captain Orrin Bizer as well as our young coaching duo of Jacques Odendaal and Chase Schor-Haskin led the team incredibly well throughout the tournament and over the last few weeks. Our leaders injected passion and energy into every performance and each team member responded well."
With the conclusion of the USA Rugby 7's Championship, Life U's 2022-23 season comes to a close.
