Author Archives: Dr.Cole@CPTG.net

Closing Fall 2021

The final week of the regular season will firm up the playoffs on 11/13.  In Div I we know its Georgia at Tennessee and Kentucky v Clemson.   In Div II it appears Memphis, Auburn, and Georgia Tech are in and its MTSU or Ole Miss in the 4th spot.  Overall order of finish still has to be settled this weekend.

Standings:  https://southeasternrugby.org/schedule/

Championship Weekend
The SCRC Championship on 11/20 will be held in conjunction with the NCR Div IAA and Div II playoffs in Knoxville.   On Friday there will be two NCR matches for Div 1 and two matches for Div II.  On Saturday, they will play consolation matches.  SCRC Div II championship match is set to kickoff at noon on Saturday.   SCRC Div I championship is set to kickoff at 3 PM.  On Sunday NCR will play two matches that will be the winners of Friday’s matches. 

National Playoffs
On the weekend of December 4/5 the SCRC Div I and Div II champion will play in Charlotte as part of a larger collegiate rugby event.   Our SCRC Div I champion will play the MAC Div I Champion for the 2021 Fall USA Collegiate Division I Club Rugby Championship.  Our SCRC Div II champion will play the Rocky Mountain Conference Div II Champion (Montana State) for the 2021 Fall USA Collegiate Division II Club Rugby Championship. 

2021 Fall in Full Swing

SCRC Playoffs

Tentative plan is for the top 4 teams to meet at a central location on the weekend of November 20/21.  If we limp to the finish line in our competition in Div I or Div II we may be forced to drop that to 2 teams per division.  Please contact Commissioner Bradley at the below listed contact info if you are interested in hosting. Remember this is a rain or shine event.  It could be as many as 4 matches on Saturday and 2 on Sunday or as little as 2 matches on Saturday.  SCRC pays the reasonable expenses associated with hosting of the event.  We hope to be able to announce a venue before October 09.

Match Reports
Each team must submit a match report that contains legible information on the participants and signed by the team representative and referee.  Winning team is responsible to submitting both teams match reports.   In the event of a tie, they should be submitted by the home team.  Get this done on Monday following the match weekend.

Match Day Medical
Each Participating Team should have an athletic trainer at matches. Host Teams may provide (but are not required to provide) an athletic trainer to assist the visiting team on match day and may pass any expenses on to the traveling team. Host teams are required to have the appropriate medical staff available for the entirety of the match and any reserve match but are not required to provide preventative athletic training to visiting team unless prearranged.  Matches should not kick off prior to verifying there is medical coverage that has the ability to tend to any injuries during the match.  If teams agree to kick off before medical coverage is verified, those teams play at their own risk and liability.  I have been told explicitly by referee societies that it is not the referee’s job to verify medical coverage so it is the responsibility of the teams.  If you arrive at a venue and medical coverage is not present, the home team should be given a reasonable amount of time to cure the situation.  But, please remember, the requirement is for the host to have medical on site in the event of injury during the match; not to tape ankles or thighs of the visiting team (unless prearranged). 

Field set up and markings

All fields should be lined and an attempt made to comply with the USA Rugby Technical Zone and Sideline Management Guidelines.  Most teams play on their school’s rec fields so this sometimes can be a challenge, particularly if you play on turf.  There are most likely multiple sports lines on turf fields so the host team should use cones and flags to assist in making the rugby lines as identifiable as possible.  And, on turf the posts may be on the end line instead of the try line so visiting teams should always take time to review the field layout prior to kickoff.  Under no circumstances should fans and supporters have access to the area behind the team benches. 

Match Day Info: https://southeasternrugby.org/game-day/

Current Standings: https://southeasternrugby.org/schedule/

SCRC Looks Forward to Fall 2021

The SCRC faces the fall of 2021 with great expectation. Last fall was a bust due to Covid-19 and member teams are ready to play. The schedule is available to view here.

Commissioner Bradley is monitoring member teams to determine if there will be limitations to competition this fall because of the Delta Variant. Stay tuned.

Here are the highlights from Commissioner Bradley’s recent email to conference members.

2021-2022 Global Law Trials
All conferences and teams with USA Rugby at the adult level are playing under the Global Law Trials this fall and that includes the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference.  These are significant so each team needs to familiarize themselves with the changes.

USA Rugby
All players and coaches will again be required to register with USA Rugby.  Same process as last year and player and coach registration system is up and running. 

Team Participation Agreement
Each team must sign and return the SCRC Team Participation Agreement.

Player Eligibility Form Completed by the Registrar
Due prior to your first conference match.  Player Name, Student #, Date of Birth and HS Graduation Date must be typed into the form and include player signature.  Handwritten forms will not be accepted.  Forms not in alphabetical order will require additional time to validate which may affect  match day eligibility.  Registrar should complete their section (may be handwritten), add seal and sign. This document also must include the Recsports signature.  Supplemental forms may be submitted as new players join your club.
Email the completed form to scrceligibility@gmail.com

Forms: https://southeasternrugby.org/eligibility/

Player Eligibility Waiver Request

This form is required for any player outside of the standard eligibility policy including part time, grad student, 6th year, 7th year, consortium agreement or military waiver.  This form should also be typed (fillable PDF) and supporting documentation must be included for consideration.  Please note this is a request and not an actual waiver.  Confirmation of approved waiver will be provided to the student athlete and the club.

Email Completed forms to: scrceligibility@gmail.com

Forms: https://southeasternrugby.org/eligibility/

Player Eligibility Policy and all forms may be found on the website at: https://southeasternrugby.org/eligibility/

We are looking forward to the competition. Stay tuned!

SCRC Evaluates Affiliation Options

SCRC Conference Commissioner Marty Bradley has been spending hours calling, talking, thinking and evaluating options for affiliation for the SCRC since the collapse of USA Rugby. The possibilities for conference affiliation are many, each one with opportunities and challenges.

We are grateful for the work of Marty on these important matters for the conference. He hopes to bring proposals to the conference Board of Directors at our next meeting that is scheduled for late May.

USA Rugby Cancels Competitions

USA Rugby canceled all post season play in the USA. On March 20th they issued the following statement.

“All sanctioned competition and rugby activities are suspended for the foreseeable future, effective March 20, 2020. Members and clubs are asked to refrain from match play, training or team gatherings during this period. Accident and Liability claims will not be accepted during the above window of time. Information on when rugby activities will potentially be able to resume will be communicated by USA Rugby before June 1.”

SCRC Commissioner Marty Bradley noticed member teams that the conference Olympic Rugby tournament would be cancelled for 2020. It will not be rescheduled.

2019 All Conference Teams Announced

The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has announced the selections to the 2019 All Conference Teams.

This year, the conference has selected an all-conference team from the D1AA competition, an all-conference team from the DII competition, and an overall first 15 Dream Team.  Each team was given the opportunity to nominate players from their own team plus identify players from the fall competition that they then could also nominate.

Tennessee’s Ben Schwartz

The D1AA All-Conference team is lead by a very talented group of men, including Kennesaw State’s Ben Dorsey at center, Kentucky’s Brendon Esson at flyhalf and Tennessee’s Ben Schwartz at fullback.   Forward standouts include locks Greg Janowick (UT) and Campbell Robinson (KSU), and Alabama’s Ethan Miner at Flanker.

The DII All-Conference team is led in the forwards by Memphis’  front rowers Austin Kelley and Musa Banat, along with Auburn’s Jerome Bohuslavizki at #8.  Standout backs included centers JJ Greatrex (MTSU), Calvin Gentry (Memphis) and Sam Delmerico (Georgia Tech).   

Memphis’ Austin Kelley

The 2019 15s D1AA Player of the Year is the University of Tennessee’s Ben Schwartz.  Schwartz (Senior Mechanical Engineering major from Knoxville, TN) led the Volunteers at fullback in a season that saw more teams than ever before turn to tactical kicking.  He capped the year with 16 points in the conference championship match (4 conversions, 1 penalty kick and 1 try).  The MVP of the conference championship match is also the 2019 SCRC D1AA Player of the Year.

The 2019 15s DII Player of the year is the University of Memphis’ Austin Kelley.  Kelley (Sophomore Pre-Law major from Collierville, TN) led the Tigers at prop in a season that saw Memphis win the SCRC DII regular season title and advance to the USA DII National round of 8.

2019 Dream Team

1Austin KelleyMemphis
2Dirk van den BergKentucky
3Nick BruneAlabama
4Greg JanowickTennessee
5Campbell RobinsonKennesaw St
6Ethan MinerAlabama
7Andy LloydTennessee
8Patrick BeacomTennessee
9Luke DaviesTennessee
10Brendan EssonKentucky
11Jacob GeoppnerKentucky
12Ben DorseyKennesaw St
13JJ GreatrexMTSU
14Chris BagbyKennesaw St
15Ben SchwartzTennessee

2019 SCRC D1AA All Conference

Backs 
Caleb StrumAlabama
Matt PikowskiAlabama
Shea O’HanlonKennesaw State
Ben DorseyKennesaw State
Chris BagbyKennesaw State
Josh InglisKennesaw State
Brendon EssonKentucky
Jacob GoeppnerKentucky
Connor HoeferSouth Carolina
Luke HarrisSouth Carolina
Ben SchwartzTennessee
Luke DaviesTennessee
  
Forwards 
Ethan MinerAlabama
Nick BruneAlabama
Michael CurranGeorgia
Campbell RobinsonKennesaw State
Dirk van den BergKentucky
Anthony MenciniKentucky
Tommy MaxwellSouth Carolina
Greg JanowickTennessee
Andy LloydTennessee
Patrick BeacomTennessee
Creighton CouchTennessee

2019 SCRC DII All Conference

Backs 
Sam DelmericoGeorgia Tech
Brittin RoedelMemphis
Alec SiscoMemphis
Calvin GentryMemphis
John DentamoreMississippi State
Cam MassengilMississippi State
JJ GreatrexMTSU
Devauntae BeasleyMTSU
  
Forwards 
Jerome BohsulavizkiAuburn
Mason WilliamsonAuburn
Jermiah RussellGeorgia Tech
Andrew AllenGeorgia Tech
Jas PyneniGeorgia Tech
Austin KelleyMemphis
Musa BanatMemphis
Jason LeonardMississippi State
Colby PearlMTSU
Jaxon WallaceMTSU

2019 All Conference Olympic Teams Announced.

The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has announced the 2019 All Conference Olympic (7s) Team based on the performance at this year’s championship event in Columbia, South Carolina.  

First Team

Caleb Strum (Alabama)
Matt Pikowski (Alabama)
Obum Imonugo (Georgia)
Chris Bagby (Kennesaw State)
Ben Dorsey(Kennesaw State)
Brendon Esson (Kentucky)
Grant Broeder (Kentucky)
Cam Massengill (Mississippi State)
Danny Callahan (South Carolina)
Patrick Beacom (Tennessee)

Second Team

Patrick Feimer (Alabama)
Jerome Bohuslaviski (Auburn)
Shea O’Hanlon (Kennesaw State) 
Jacob Goeppner (Kentucky)
Ty Lewis (Kentucky)
Colby Pearl (Middle TN State)
Antonio Liberti (Mississippi State)
Walker Graham (South Carolina)
Conner Hoefer (South Carolina)
Ben Schwartz (Tennessee)

Kentucky Claims Olympic Rugby Championship

The University of Kentucky captured the 2019 SCRC Olympic Rugby Championship with a 26-14 victory over Kennesaw State University in the final.  The one day event proceeded under threatening skies in Columbia, South Carolina with the Gamecocks serving as excellent hosts. 

In what proved ot be the most competitive sevens event in conference history, UK emerged from pool play with narrow victories over Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi State.  Kennesaw State advanced to the final with equally narrow victories over Tennessee, South Carolina, Auburn and MTSU.  

Kentucky 7s Team
Kennesaw State 7s Team

Pool A

D  Kennesaw State12
A  South Carolina10
C  Tennessee8
E  MTSU6
B  Auburn4

Pool B

F  Kentucky12
H  Alabama10
J  Miss State8
I  Georgia6
G  Ole Miss0

Schedule / Results

9:00 AMAvBSouth Carolina12Auburn7
9:20 AMCvDTennessee5Kennesaw State14
9:40 AMFvGKentucky15Ole MissFFT
10:00 AMHvIAlabama21Georgia14
10:20 AMBvEAuburn0MTSU35
10:40 AMAvCSouth Carolina27Tennessee0
11:00 AMGvJOle MissFFTMiss State15
11:20 AMFvHKentucky10Alabama7
11:40 AMAvDSouth Carolina5Kennesaw State17
12:00 PMCvETennessee33MTSU14
12:20 PMFvIKentucky17Georgia10
12:40 PMHvJAlabama24Miss State14
1:00 PMBvDAuburn12Kennesaw State19
1:20 PMAvESouth Carolina26MTSU7
1:40 PMGvIOle MissFFTGeorgia15
2:00 PMFvJKentucky20Miss State5
2:20 PMCvBTennessee36Auburn19
2:40 PMDvEKennesaw State21MTSU12
3:00 PMHvGAlabama15Ole MissFFT
3:30 PMIvJGeorgia12Miss State19
4:15 PM5th PlaceTennessee12Miss State5
4:45 PM3rd PlaceAlabama17South Carolina14
5:15 PM1st PlaceKentucky26Kennesaw State14

SCRC Conducts 2019 Annual Meeting and Admits Memphis and Georgia Tech

Announces competition realignment for 15s

In the annual general meeting on April 07 the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference completed several items of business related to membership, competition and leadership.

Present:  Alabama, Auburn, Kennesaw State, Kentucky, Middle TN State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee
Absent:  Georgia

Meeting Opening at 8:00 PM EST

Elected Leadership
Commissioner – Marty Bradley
Treasurer / Secretary – Jim Farrar

Appointed Leadership
Competitions Director – Gary Anderson
Discipline Director – Charles Dube
Referee Director – Dave Haines

Membership
University of Memphis
Georgia Institute of Technology
Both teams were accepted by a unanious vote.

2019 15s Competition Review
Tier 1: Kentucky, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Kennesaw State
Tier 2: Auburn, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Middle TN State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State

Features: 1 crossover for a total of 6 matches. Championship game in each tier. challenge / promotion match options.

2019 7s Competition Review
April 13 – Columbia, SC
Winner – USAR National Tournament Bid
Highest finishing SEC team – CRC Bid

Financial Report
Membership voted unaniously to leave 2019-2020 dues at 2018-2019 level and also approved budget to reflect previous year budget.

High Performance
Review of plans and proposal for all-star team and camps/clinics.

Contacts
Please update. 

Meeting Adjourned at 8:40 PM EST