USA Rugby DIII Men’s Club Projected Bracket
By Doug Coil / 05.06.15
The 2015 USA Rugby DIII Men’s Club Playoffs have been in progress since April 25th and the Round of 32 brackets will be completed this weekend, with the Midwest West and East Division Champions being decided. After the eight Region Geographic Regions are decided next weekend, the Quarterfinal and Semi-final matches will be held at the West and East Regionals on May 30-31 in San Francisco, California and Charlotte, North Carolina, respectively. The National Championship will be held June 13th in Glendale, Colorado.
One quarterfinalist is already known. Old Gaelic, (PA) survived the Mid-Atlantic Region Playoffs with a 33-24 win against James River (VA) April 25th and then had a thrilling victory in the Finals May 2nd, 36-28 against the South Jersey Devils. They now wait to see who their next opponent will be from the Southeastern Region.
This weekend, the Midwest will provide closure to the Round of 32 participants. These playoffs will determine who the West and East representatives will be on May 16th. The West Division will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin. On Saturday, 8-0 Green Bay Celtics play 10-2 Iowa City Ducks, while the 12-0 Bremer County Bucks play the 7-1 Milwaukee Barbarians D3 side. The East Division, in Midland, Michigan, has last year’s Final 4 club, the Tri-City Barbarians 8-0 against 9-1 Cincinnati Kelts and the Pittsburgh Highlanders facing Michiana. Both have 7-1records. The Saturday winners play Sunday in Round 32 action.
This Saturday also will determine who will represent the Pacific North and the Pacific South Regions in the Western Regionals.
The Pacific North Final is being held at Cal Maritime, Vallejo, California where Colusa County (CA) will meet the Salem Spartans (OR). Colusa County won the Northern California Championship April 25th against the Reno Zephyrs (NV) 48-17. Salem, the Pacific Northwest Champions beat the Battleground Bulls 58-14 April 26th.
The Pacific South Region Final will be at Little Q, San Diego, California. Northern Arizona represents both the Arizona and Rio Grande Rugby Unions. Northern Arizona won 43-14 against the Las Cruses Horny Toads (NM) in the Arizona/Rio Grande Final on April 26. They face the Southern California Champion, the 10-0 Orange County Ravens, 28-14 winners May 2nd versus Eagle Rock.
Next weekend decides not only the Midwest Region mentioned earlier, but begins the weekend competition to decide Frontier, Red River and Southeastern Regions.
Competition has been hot and heavy in the True South, Georgia, Florida and Carolinas Rugby Unions. Their Champions now face off May 16th and 17th in the Southeastern Region Championship in Augusta, Georgia to see who will go to the Eastern Regionals and a date against Old Gaelic. Clinch River Crusaders (True South) will face the Savannah Shamrocks (Georgia), while the Gainesville Hogs play Cape Fear.
A recap of how these clubs won their individual Union titles is as follows:
* True South: Clinch River 42-3 Huntsville (April 26)
* Georgia: Savannah Shamrocks 29-24 Athens Eagles (April 26)
* Florida: Gainesville Hogs 35-24 Palm Beach Panthers
* Carolinas: Cape Fear 41-24 Charlotte Barbarians (April 18)
The Frontier Region tournament will be held in Wichita, Kansas. The Semi-Finals pit Heart of America Champion, 7-1 Wichita Barbarians against the 12-0 Missouri Champion the St. Louis Royals. The other match is HOA #2 Kansas City Blues D3, 6-2 versus the Rocky Mountain Champion, Queen City Rams 8-1. The winners play Sunday to advance to the West Regional.
Lastly, the Red River will hold their tournament at Lake Highlands Park, Dallas, Texas. One Semi-Final is a rematch of last years Final pitting North #1 Seed, Dallas Athletic 10-0 against the South #2 Seed, San Antonio 11-1. In the other Semi-Final, South #1 seed San Marcos Greys 11-1 face #2 North seed Euless Texans 8-2. The Sunday finals winner May17th will also advance to the West Regionals.
Congratulations to all clubs in participating in this National Championship. I expect many outstanding matches.
USA Rugby DIII Playoff Bracket
