February 24, 2017
Penn Mutual Varsity Cup 2017 Bracket
Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Release
NEW YORK – The draw for the 2017 Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Rugby Championship has been announced, laying out pathways for the national postseason’s 14 collegiate rugby programs to reach the final of the single-elimination championship tournament. Round One kicks off April 8 at six different universities across the nation, followed by the April 15 quarterfinals and April 22 semifinals before the May 6 Varsity Cup national championship final.
For Round One on April 8, No. 1 California and No. 2 seed Central Washington receive a bye and will travel to face their quarterfinal opponents. Among the other top seeds, Round One takes No. 3 Arkansas State to face Oklahoma University in Norman, Okla., while No. 4 Penn State visits Cambridge, Mass., where it will meet Harvard University. Army hosts Notre Dame in West Point, N.Y.; Arizona State visits Los Angeles to play UCLA; Utah travels to Annapolis, Md., to battle Navy; and Dartmouth goes to Clemson, S.C., where it faces the Tigers from Clemson University.
The winner between Clemson and Dartmouth’s first-round matchup earns the right to host a quarterfinal on April 15, when the Tigers or Big Green take on top-seeded Cal, which will have learned of its opponent and booked travel plans from Berkeley to either Clemson or Hanover, N.H., on six days’ notice. The No. 3 Wildcats also travel in the quarterfinal round to face the winner of the Utes/Midshipmen match, taking CWU to either Navy or Salt Lake City. The Sun Devils or Bruins will meet the Red Wolves/Sooners winner in another quarterfinal clash, and the Irish/Army winner takes on Penn State or Harvard in the fourth quarterfinal.
The Varsity Cup semifinals will send advancing teams with lower seeds to the homes of the higher seeds for the national-championship qualifiers on April 22. Then, on May 6, the two surviving teams will meet at a location to be announced for the Varsity Cup national championship final.
ABOUT THE PENN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Since its founding in 1847, Penn Mutual has been driven by its noble purpose to create a world of possibilities. At the heart of this purpose is the belief that purchasing life insurance is the most protective, responsible and rewarding action a person can take, and is central to a sound financial plan. The company is committed to helping individuals, families and small businesses unlock life’s possibilities through life insurance and annuity solutions. This is accomplished through a national network of more than 5,000 financial professionals, who help clients make great things possible. Penn Mutual supports its field representatives with brokerage services through Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc. Registered Investment Advisor and wholly owned subsidiary. Member FINRA/SIPC. Visit Penn Mutual on the Internet at http://www.pennmutual.com/.
ABOUT UNITED WORLD SPORTS
United World Sports (UWS) is the largest commercial rugby entity in the United States, and the owner and operator of a growing portfolio of dynamic sports, media and apparel brands including, the USA Sevens Rugby international tournament, the largest professional rugby event in North America; the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship, the premier college 7s rugby championship; and the Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Championship, the 15s national rugby championship. Through its apparel division, UWS owns the exclusive North and South American license for Rhino Rugby, one of the world’s leading rugby apparel and equipment brands. UWS also owns and operates RugbyToday.com, the largest and most widely read media destination dedicated to American rugby. For more information about UWS and its properties, visit: http://www.unitedworldsports.com
ABOUT THE VARSITY CUP RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
The Varsity Cup is America’s top collegiate postseason championship. Established in 2013, the Varsity Cup features 14 of the most recognized and accomplished collegiate rugby programs in the United States, perennial conference champions from the most prestigious rugby conferences on the country, including the Ivy, Rugby East, PAC Rugby, Pacific Northwest, Mid-South, etc., along with elite at-large participants who have reached the national semifinals every year and the national collegiate championship in 31 of 33 years from 1980-2012.
