The Allied Rugby Conference (ARC) sends Texas Tech, Baylor, and Sam Houston. All seven of the Southwest Rugby Conference (SWC) teams (Texas, Rice, Texas Christian, UHouston, Stephen F. Austin, North Texas and Texas State) are included. While the Lone Star Conference's (LSC) Angelo State, Southern Methodist, St Edward's, LeTourneau, UT-San Antonio, and UT-Dallas round out the competition.
This single-elimination tournament, held over four weeks, leads to a Championship Match to be held on April 26th! Seedings are an approximation based on the teams' performance over the past season, conference play, and by collective cooperation of the Commissioners of the ARC, SWC & LSC with some consideration to match teams that haven't recently played.
The action starts April 5th!
This competition marks the first time that Texas-based college clubs have launched out on their own for a Regional XVs Competition that culminates in a Championship. This idea has been bandied about Texas for over a decade. It finally began to make sense to the member clubs at the end of the Spring 2013 season when Rice and Texas A&M had to make long trips in the first round of National College Play-offs. Texas A&M opted out for multiple reasons. A solid Rice squad made the trip to Bowling Green only to return home with losses under their belts.
First Round Predictions:
These are almost always wrong, given college rugby's late season fickleness, but here goes:
Baylor at SFA: SFA is just getting back into the college rugby scene this year but has played everyone tough. Baylor is at the end of a tough, but close ARC XVs season that featured them defeating the Aggies in College Station last weekend. Baylor has a young squad that can hold their own at the breakdown and show speed out wide. Baylor moves on.
UNT at ASU: The Rams had a great year in 2012-2013, but just could not get past St Edward's this year in the Lone Star South Division. The Mean Green Machine of North Texas played some TOUGH rugby this year, but just fell short of the top end of the table. North Texas should win.
Texas St at SMU: The Mustangs played some much-improved improved rugby this Spring, but it won't be enough to overcome the SWC runners-up. Texas St will make the short trip to Burr Field on the second weekend of April.
St Edward's at UH: The Cougars are one of those up/down teams that display magical moments one weekend, but travel light the next. They have an advantage of being at home, so they should be at full strength. They'll need it against a well-drilled, well-disciplined St Edward's team. The Hilltoppers saw the low side of the scoreboard twice this season: once against an in-tune Texas A&M squad and once in the NSCRO Cowboy Cup Challenge against the always solid University of Denver. Both games were close. The Hilltoppers are hungry now and they've some unfinished business to attend to in the quarterfinals. St Ed's moves forward.
Texas at LeTourneau: LeTourneau is the little team that could. Everything about the Yellow-jackets is like-able: their fans, their camaraderie, their pitch, their coach, etc. For Texas, this is a warm-up match before they travel to Gary, Indiana the following week for the first round match of the Varsity Cup against the Fighting Irish. Texas is the 2014 SWC Champion. While LeTourneau will play with sting, the 'Horns should leave Longview with the win.
Sam Houston at UTSA: Most years, this would be an easy pick. However, Sam Houston just weren't crisp this year. Tough, but not crisp. UTSA seemed to have had a rebuilding year. As they weren't as tough in the LSC as the two years previous. I'll pick Sam to win a close one, but UTSA could surprise.
UTD at Rice: Rice had a good year in the SWC, but not perfect. Still, the Owls are a smart. strong team and have the home-field advantage. UT-Dallas has huge advantage over most of their rivals in that they have developed a lot of depth. This in only three years. Comets for the upset.
Texas Tech at TCU: Texas Tech has had a fair season, but it could have been better with more game time. TCU is building a program that could leave other schools salivating, but the Frogs had a tough year in the SWC. TCU has played up a few matches this Spring, though. So they may be ready for some sweet victory. Texas Tech will move the ball well and show their speed. Who wants it more? Texas Tech has the advantage and should advance with a slim victory.