Arkansas State Rugby 7s Team Earns No. 1 Ranking
JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas State’s rugby team sits in at the top spot in the latest Top 25 collegiate 7s rankings by Rugbymag.com that were announced Friday morning. A-State, who holds a perfect 13-0 record, will play for the national championship in two weeks.
“The guys have worked hard to regain their number one ranking,” said interim coach Matt Huckaby. “Now, we have to go to the tournament and back our ranking up by winning in.”
The 2013 USA Rugby College 7s National Championship is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23-24, in Greensboro, N.C. Arkansas State is the defending national champion.
Huckaby noted that the Red Wolves were ranked fifth and sixth prior to the fall season due to the loss of five players from last year’s championship squad to graduation. Huckaby, who returned to coach the team throughout the fall, will finish the season before turning the reins over to new chief NeMani Delaibatiki.
The Rugbymag.com poll shuffled a bit based on tournament results from last weekend. Arkansas State’s Elite 7s invitational figured prominently in the new rankings with teams from Oklahoma, Lindenwood, and Davenport sustaining losses in the four-team matchup. The Red Wolves won all three matches, defeating Oklahoma, 21-6, in the first game, then knocked off Lindenwood, 28-7. The third victory was a dominating 31-7 matchup over Davenport.
Arkansas State won the South Independent 7s qualifier Oct. 28 by defeating Middle Tennessee State, 33-5, in the semifinal before taking down Life University, 24-19 in the final.
Here is the latest Rugbymag.com Top 25 ranking:
1. Arkansas State
2. California
3. St. Mary’s
4. Life
5. UCLA
6. Central Washington
7. Dartmouth
8. Navy
9. Brigham Young
10. Cal Poly
11. Lindenwood
12. Davenport
13. Oklahoma
14. Air Force
15. San Diego State
16. Oregon State
17. Arkansas
18. Auburn
19. Pennsylvania
20. Middle Tennessee State
21. Arizona State
22. North Texas
23. Santa Clara
24. Virginia Tech
25. Florida
