WWU selected to host USA Rugby regional playoff tournament April 8-9 at Harrington Field
USA Rugby, the governing body for collegiate rugby in the United States, has announced that Western Washington University has been selected to host the regional rounds of the 2016-17 Men’s Division I-AA and Women’s Division-II National Championships. Matches will take place on April 8 and 9 at Robert Harrington Field on WWU’s campus.
These playoff matches will feature the top eight men’s and women’s teams from USA Rugby’s West region. The winners of this region, along with the victors of the East regional tournament being held in Spartanburg, South Carolina, will advance to face each other in the Spring Championships hosted by Stanford University on April 22-23.
The winners of the Spring Championships will advance to the National Championships in Marietta, Georgia on May 5-6, where they will face off against the winners of the fall rugby season championship held last December. The men’s spring champion will face off against Notre Dame College, while the women’s spring champion will take on Davenport University.
This is the first time that WWU has been selected to host a regional playoff tournament by USA Rugby. By virtue of their strong play this season, the Vikings will be represented in both the men’s and women’s brackets.
The event is being organized by WWU’s Campus Recreation department in conjunction with the Vikings men’s and women’s rugby clubs.
On the women’s side, Western finished with a perfect 7-0 record in the Cascade Collegiate Women’s Rugby Conference, outscoring their opponents by a commanding 597-53 margin. WWU will be joined by Eastern Washington University, Fresno State University and Santa Clara University in the women’s regional bracket.
On the men’s side, the Vikings currently hold a 6-0 record in the Northwest Collegiate Rugby Conference with one match remaining. Even with one game in hand, WWU has already clinched the NCRC title and will advance along with Grand Canyon University, winner of the Gold Coast Conference. The final two teams making up the men’s regional bracket will be determined when qualifying matches conclude on April 1.
Four matches, two men’s and two women’s, will take place on Saturday, April 8 starting at 10am at Harrington Field. The winners of those contests will advance to the regional championship on Sunday, April 9, with matches again kicking off at 10am. Two consolation matches will also be scheduled for Sunday featuring the losing teams from the Sweet Sixteen round. A complete schedule with seedings and match-ups will be announced at a later date.
General admission tickets will cost $10 for adults per day, with admission good for all four matches on each day. Tournament passes good for every match are available for $15. Admission for students with ID and children under 12 is free all weekend. Pre-sale tickets will be available soon through the WWU box office.
For more information, contact the WWU Campus Recreation department at (360) 650-4191 or by email at campusrec@wwu.edu.