We reach another week of rugby here in Louisiana. Though some of the universities don’t start their season until the fall, we still are seeing good play from the teams. Some teams are in their matrix season, namely those in Division 2. Here are the rankings for this week for the Fall season.
College Rankings – 10/2/2013
1. LSU – D-1AA – (Southeastern Rugby Conference)
Next Matrix Match – TBD
Though LSU did not have a 15’s match played this past weekend, they were however participants in the inaugural Loyola Collegiate 7’s Tournament. They gave a strong showing, going 6-0 and winning the overall tournament title. What was impressive was not just watching a strong core group from their primer side, but the depth they had for their second side was equally impressive. LSU looks like they have a lot of talent that is developing in preparation for the 15-a-side.
2. Loyola – Division 3 – (Deep South Rugby Conference)
Next Matrix match – TBD
Loyola hosted their first inaugural collegiate 7’s tournament, in New Orleans, this past weekend. They managed to make it to the finals, only to fall short to New Orleans. Loyola showed much of the same grinding play in 7’s that they showed most of the summer. They look to be fielding a squad with few veteran leadership, but quite a bit of talent with new incoming players.
3. University of Louisiana Lafayette – Division 2 – (Deep South Rugby Union)……..(2-0)
Last matrix match – vs. University of Southern Mississippi (@Hattiesburg) – W 142-0
Next matrix match – October 12, 2013 – vs. Springhill College, @Mobile, AL
University of Louisiana Lafayette faced a fledgling USM team that was only able to field 13 players. Though USM showed a lot of heart, and played the full 80 minutes, they were unable to do anything to stop the Ragin Cajuns from scoring at will. After two weeks of gaining wins through an undermanned USM and a forfeited Tulane team, they will face their first set of competition against Springhill College in 2 weeks.
4. Louisiana Tech – Division 2 – (Deep South Rugby Union)………………………….(1-0)
Last matrix match – vs. University of South Alabama, @Mobile, AL – W 29-15
Next matrix match – October 5, 2013 – vs. Troy University, @Troy, AL
Louisiana Tech opened their season with a strong win against a competitive South Alabama team. Despite having a number of new players and only in their second year back as a 15-a-side squad, they are looking to continue to start the season off strong. Louisiana Tech moves up one spot in the rankings as they prepare to face a Troy University team that just came off a blow out win against Tulane.
5. Tulane – Division 2 – (Deep South Rugby Union)…………………………………………….(0-2)
Last matrix match – vs. Troy University, @ Troy, AL – L 14- 43
Next matrix match – October 5, 2013 – vs. Springhill College, @New Orleans, LA
Tulane has not started off the season well. They had to forfeit their first match against ULL, and were blown out by Troy University last weekend. They are looking to recoup against a strong Springhill College Rugby club, who are coming off a bye week.
6. Southeastern University – Division 3 – (N/A)