2016 A Look Back - March
2016 A Look Back - March
March rolled in like a lion with the USA 7s in Las Vegas, followed by a new World Series tournament in Vancouver.
Both were huge successes, with Vancouver selling out all available seats - allowing them to open the upper deck at BC Place for 2017 - and Vegas continues to grow, and will even more so with the Women’s World Series USA stop moving to Sin City as well.
The USA men’s team did well in Vegas, making the top four, but were once again up and down as they struggled in Day Two in Canada.
Still, big news was Perry Baker making it to 50 World Series tries A Baker's 50, yet another indication of the growth and development of that player.
On the 15s side, March was a cruel month for the USA team. going into the month 2-0-1 in the Americas Rugby Championship and playing Brazil and Uruguay. It seemed like they had the inside track on winning the trophy.
But it didn’t pan out that way. The USA lost to Brazil in the worst upset - based on World Rugby rankings difference - since World Rugby started their rankings. They looked tired, scrummed poorly, and were tactically unwise - here’s our take on that game:
Then they lost to Uruguay - Eagles Fall to Uruguay - and the trophy dream died. This was all a result of ongoing squad changes, lack of fitness of players who were put on the roster, and a lack of understanding of what it takes to win on the road.
On the women’s side, the USA 7s team saw Julie McCoy dismissed as Head Coach in what was a partial player revolt, and Richie Walker put in. Richie Walker New Coach for USA 7s Women . It was the third coach for the USA team during the 2015-16 season, and a sure sign that preparation for the Olympics was something to be concerned about.
Domestically, Utah won the CRC 7s Qualifier in Las Vegas, beating Notre Dame College. Utah Wins CRC Qualifier in Las Vegas
Cal started to show what they might be made of with an impressive win over St. Mary’s - Cal Fends Off St. Mary's in the Rain. The Bears went on to Clinch the PAC Conference Title.
Dartmouth won the Ariel Re Bermuda 7s. Army beat Navy - Four Tries from Lachina Sees Army Past Navy and the best college teams started to show themselves. It seemed inevitable that we’d get a Life v Saint Mary’s DIA final and a BYU v Cal Varsity Cup final. What would happen in DIAA was still a bit up in the air.
In the women’s competitions, the news was about the split seasons. Crowning a fall DI and DII champion and then a spring champion, with the two champions playing on a May weekend didn’t quite work, as 2015 fall champs UConn ended up not participating in the spring. Fall Champ Won't Play for National Championship. The result of this, and the later news that spring DII champs Tulane could not afford to make that final game meant that the fall-v-spring game has been tabled.
In high school, the NorCal Premier League provided one national-contender matchup after another:
Danville Edges Granite Bay - NorCal Prem. Latest
Danville Over Jesuit in Norcal
But we also saw that there were Northern California talents outside of the Premier League
Elsewhere, Ohio’s St. Edward started to make a splash - St. Edward 5-0 on NC Trip - and Gonzaga, Penn, and Xavier all looked to be thinking national title.
Penn Just Gets By St. Ignatius
Xavier, Penn, Ignatius Clash in Ohio
But we also saw some teams break through. West End was one that started well, faltered, and ended well.
RBMA Upsets Tampa, Florida Shakeup Due?
And some more news. New England Patriot Nate Ebner announced he would try out for the USA Olympic 7s team.
USA Rugby officially started its search for a new CEO
The 2016 US Rugby Hall of Fame class was announced.
We had a piece about Rod Holder’s book on East Palo Alto - Reaching Kids Through Rugby - Rob Holder Discusses Crossing the 101.
And, finally, we selected the nominees for the Scholz and Sorensen Awards - to be voted on by the populace.
Rudy Scholz Award Nominees Named
