Here's how Texas Collegiates fared last season in their various competitions:
USAR 7s Collegiate Men's National Championships - Texas A&M (11th), Texas (20th)
Texas Women's Collegiate Rugby - Texas (2012 South Champions)
Collegiate Division 1A - Texas A&M (3rd place Mid-South Conference)
Southwest Collegiate Rugby Conference - Texas advanced to the national round of 16 and was defeated by eventual D-1AA Champion, Davenport.
Texas Collegiate Division 2 Rugby - Texas Tech advanced to the national round of 16 by defeating St. Edward's University for the division title, but had to drop out of the national tournament citing injuries and fiscal difficulties.
Texas Collegiate Division 3 Rugby - UT-Dallas defeated UT-San Antonio for the championship
USA 7s, LLC Collegiate Rugby Championship (invitational) - Texas (2-1 in pool play, lost to Cal in Bowl QF)
Several things will be different going forward
Some things have been hashed out and changed for the better. Others have issues left to be resolved. We are back to three divisions of play in Texas for the men's and some dedicated people have applied themselves to the women's collegiate structure (more on that later). 7s qualifier tournaments have been scheduled this fall and the USAR collegiate finals venue will be announced soon.
Clubs to watch this year
USAR 7s Collegiate Men's National Championships - Texas A&M (11th), Texas (20th)
- Brian Guillen of A&M & Kingsley McGowen of St. Mary's via Houston's St. Thomas HS were named to RugbyMag's All-Tourney Team.
Texas Women's Collegiate Rugby - Texas (2012 South Champions)
Collegiate Division 1A - Texas A&M (3rd place Mid-South Conference)
Southwest Collegiate Rugby Conference - Texas advanced to the national round of 16 and was defeated by eventual D-1AA Champion, Davenport.
Texas Collegiate Division 2 Rugby - Texas Tech advanced to the national round of 16 by defeating St. Edward's University for the division title, but had to drop out of the national tournament citing injuries and fiscal difficulties.
Texas Collegiate Division 3 Rugby - UT-Dallas defeated UT-San Antonio for the championship
USA 7s, LLC Collegiate Rugby Championship (invitational) - Texas (2-1 in pool play, lost to Cal in Bowl QF)
Several things will be different going forward
- Texas Women's Collegiate Rugby is now represented under the Southwest Women's Collegiate Conference (SWWC).
- Texas Collegiate Division 1A teams are now represented by the Allied Rugby Conference (ARC).
- Texas Collegiate Division 1AA teams are now represented by the Southwest Collegiate Rugby Conference (SWC).
- Texas Collegiate Division 2 teams are now represented by the Lonestar Collegiate Rugby Conference (Lonestar).
- It seems that last year's Division 3 teams have been absorbed into Lonestar, but this has not been confirmed, yet.
- Finally, Baylor has applied and has been accepted into the ARC, however the SWC has issue with the mode of their departure.
Some things have been hashed out and changed for the better. Others have issues left to be resolved. We are back to three divisions of play in Texas for the men's and some dedicated people have applied themselves to the women's collegiate structure (more on that later). 7s qualifier tournaments have been scheduled this fall and the USAR collegiate finals venue will be announced soon.
Clubs to watch this year
- In the SWWC, keep a weather-eye on Texas. They had a great year in 2012 and seem to be working toward creating a program. Texas A&M is my pick as the dark horse.
- In the ARC, the Aggies are the show this year. However, I think that Oklahoma and Texas have it in them to provide some fireworks and upsets.
- In the SWC, Rice is the likely candidate for the title. A program is brewing at Texas State, though. I've always said that Texas State is the one school that - once they got a program to provide consistent coaching and leadership year-to-year - could become a perennial contender. For the sake of overall Texas rugby improvement and development, I am hoping this is a break-out year for the Renegades.
- Finally, in the Lonestar Conference, I think that UT-D and UT-SA will be giving each other fits at the end of the year, again. However, Midwestern's Mustangs are NOT to be counted out. Rod Puentes coaches a fiery bunch in the middle of nowhere!