All to Play for in ACRL

The Atlantic Coast Rugby League, the college conference made up of teams from the ACC, has set its Fall 2015 schedule.

It’s a season full of questions in the ACRL, as defending champion Clemson has undergone a coaching change. Justin Hickey, also the league commissioner for 15s, has stepped down and moved to Pennsylvania, and Steve Lynch has taken over for the Tigers. Clemson graduates some key members of their pack, and will likely be a little younger up front, so this is a season where others might try to unstrap the Tigers.

Among them would be Maryland, which returns several members of their forward pack, led by No. 8 Joe Whalen and Guy Lopresti at hooker. With Ben Cima expected to slot in at flyhalf despite some flirtations with pro academy teams, the Terps should be solid at 2-8-9-10, giving them a core of experience and talent.

And certainly the team everyone will be looking at is NC State, http://www.goffrugbyreport.com/college-men/nc-state-slams-texas-state-ac..., as the Wolfpack finished 4-2 in 2014 and with an aggressive forward group will expect to challenge all comers this fall. Virginia Tech may well be a team to watch, also.

With that in mind, keep an eye on the October 3 clash between Maryland and Va Tech, and certainly the October 23 game between the Terps and the Tigers at Maryland.

The ACRL has committed to ACRC Bowl games in Charlotte, NC in November - probably the top two teams.