About this episode
🔑 Key Takeaways: Nearly 40% of D1A college rugby games were decided by 9 points or fewer, showing rising parity. St. Ignatius (Cleveland) and Charlotte Cardinals are strong favorites heading into nationals, but several contenders could shake up the field. Playing tougher schedules , attending camps/tours , and focusing on long-term player development are critical for teams seeking national recognition. 1. College Rugby Season Recap Cal vs. Life : Cal wins D1A National Championship No team went undefeated in D1A Nearly half of top matchups were close contests Notable program improvements: UCSB, Cal State Long Beach, Mount St. Mary’s Emphasis on growing domestic talent alongside international athletes 2. High School Rugby Landscape St. Francis (NorCal), Torrey Pines & Cathedral Catholic (SoCal) maintained rankings despite early season end St. Ignatius (Cleveland) showed dominance across top-tier matchups Surprise risers NorCal Premier League: Over one-third of games decided by close margins 3. How Teams Can Level Up Play tougher opponents —even at the risk of losing Encourage players to join select sides and off-season camps Create player exchange/tour opportunities (e.g. Oliver Kirk’s NZ tour) Develop players across all age groups , not just high school varsity 4. Nationals Preview Club Tier 1: Charlotte Cardinals are the team to beat Single School: St. Ignatius (Cleveland) enters as favorite, with Herriman in close pursuit Tier 2 Dark Horse: Fort Hunt (VA) highlighted for their explosive and unpredictable style 5. Next Steps for Coaches & Programs Review schedules to include out-of-region matches for national exposure Promote player participation in camps, academies, and tours Support ongoing growth of competitive rugby across all U.S. regions worldrugbyshop.com rugbynorcal.org