UT Rugby Final Four Streaming Video

[TennesseeRhett]

I posted a few days ago about how Tennessee Rugby has made it to the national semifinals for the first time in team history. Several people asked about being able to watch the match and at the time I had no information. Turns out there is a link to watch it:

Watch your Rugby Vols play San Diego State in the USA Rugby D1-AA Semifinal Match from Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT on Friday May 18th at 5 PM EST

USA Rugby

Click on the large window on the main page for the broadcast schedule for college and high school championships (ESPN3 and KSL are shown in the window), then scroll down to the schedule, where you will find the link.

I hope many of you have an opportunity to watch it. Rugby's a great game (the granddaddy of American football, as someone pointed out earlier) and hopefully our Vols can push through to the national championship!

Again, it's tomorrow, 5ET, on the above link.

[golfballs]

What's the difference between 1A and 1AA?

If I remember, Tennessee played with most of the 1A teams last year in Columbus.

[TennesseeRhett]

Originally Posted by golfballs

What's the difference between 1A and 1AA?

If I remember, Tennessee played with most of the 1A teams last year in Columbus.

1A and 1AA is a relatively new distinction that was made just a year or so ago. 1A is comprised mostly of teams that offer rugby at a varsity level, and thus can offer scholarships to play. Cal, BYU, Life, Navy fall into this category. Tennessee (which does not offer scholarships to its rugby team) was invited to 1A when 1A got started and competed in that category for a while. Even though Tennessee was able to compete at that level (beating teams like Navy and Army in the past), it was clear that Tennessee was not going to be able to compete for championships in that league. For example, the last time Tennessee played Cal rugby, several of the Cal rugby players were current, active and starting members of the US Eagles international rugby team, which represents the US in the rugby world cup. It wasn't close.

1AA is comprised of rugby programs that do not offer scholarships for rugby, and field teams entirely of guys who support their own program. The entire SEC along with most college rugby programs in the country fall into this category.

[UTvol53]

My good friend plays for Davenport who's in the other semifinal game. I hope they both win and UT smacks the crap out of Davenport because all the guy talks about is how good Davenport is and stuff.

[R0CKYT0P 16]

Well here is what happened. I actually am playing College Rugby, We got knocked out in the First round By Florida State in the Playoffs so I was so Glad to see UT Destroy FSU. ANY TEAM CAN OFFER A SCHOLARSHIP, its just in state tuition. Teams like BYU, Arkansas State, Life and others connect their rugby programs to the international Departments so they get more money from the university, exchange students full scholarships to players. But most schools can only give an in-state tuition waver. Cal is actually in D-1AA. Within about 5 years I see all the teams dropping to D-1AA. The reason UT did it is because they made an SEC conference for Rugby, There is now an SEC, ACC, Pac-10 Big XII. Just they aren't offically under those names. When Rugby becomes bigger in the US (which It will) They already have conferences set up. It's why Cal is in the D-1AA now as well. It's isnt recognized as an NCAA sport but USA Rugby which governs the leagues set it up just like the NCAA. I hope before I graduate I see it become an NCAA recognizd Sport. UT would contend for titles if it was

[R0CKYT0P 16]

Originally Posted by UTvol53

My good friend plays for Davenport who's in the other semifinal game. I hope they both win and UT smacks the crap out of Davenport because all the guy talks about is how good Davenport is and stuff.

Davenport is VERY GOOD!! They are the sevens champs. UT would have to play a perfect game to win. If they play like they did in the SCRC final (SEC championship) it will be a long game... But I don't see that happening

[TennesseeRhett]

Originally Posted by R0CKYT0P 16

Well here is what happened. I actually am playing College Rugby, We got knocked out in the First round By Florida State in the Playoffs so I was so Glad to see UT Destroy FSU. ANY TEAM CAN OFFER A SCHOLARSHIP, its just in state tuition. Teams like BYU, Arkansas State, Life and others connect their rugby programs to the international Departments so they get more money from the university, exchange students full scholarships to players. But most schools can only give an in-state tuition waver. Cal is actually in D-1AA. Within about 5 years I see all the teams dropping to D-1AA. The reason UT did it is because they made an SEC conference for Rugby, There is now an SEC, ACC, Pac-10 Big XII. Just they aren't offically under those names. When Rugby becomes bigger in the US (which It will) They already have conferences set up. It's why Cal is in the D-1AA now as well. It's isnt recognized as an NCAA sport but USA Rugby which governs the leagues set it up just like the NCAA. I hope before I graduate I see it become an NCAA recognizd Sport. UT would contend for titles if it was

Interesting, thanks for the clarification. I played at Tennessee from 2005-2008, and at the time we were in the South Conference along with Clemson, UNC, MTSU, UGA, Vandy, UF, etc. Ark. State showed up at the end of my run, and like you said, they were offering South Africans in state tuition to play there (played em to a 10-10 tie in 2008 for the conference final). After I left, the South Conference was dissolved, and I have honestly had a tough time keeping track with the organization and structure of collegiate rugby since. I do know that when we got smoked by cal in 07 there were Eagles on that team.

[Minibull]

Originally Posted by R0CKYT0P 16

I hope before I graduate I see it become an NCAA recognizd Sport. UT would contend for titles if it was

I think this will happen sooner than later as smaller colleges drop their football teams due to the cost. Their current football players will either switch schools or join the much less expensive rugby team.

Not to hi-jack this thread, but why are so many high school football coaches against rugby? I'm in Knoxville and most if not all of the local football coaches bar their players from playing rugby in the spring. The chance of injury seems much less than the potential of increasing the conditioning, tackling skills, and overall toughness of a player for the fall.

[R0CKYT0P 16]

Originally Posted by TennesseeRhett

Interesting, thanks for the clarification. I played at Tennessee from 2005-2008, and at the time we were in the South Conference along with Clemson, UNC, MTSU, UGA, Vandy, UF, etc. Ark. State showed up at the end of my run, and like you said, they were offering South Africans in state tuition to play there (played em to a 10-10 tie in 2008 for the conference final). After I left, the South Conference was dissolved, and I have honestly had a tough time keeping track with the organization and structure of collegiate rugby since. I do know that when we got smoked by cal in 07 there were Eagles on that team.

I remember when I first got into rugby, Tennessee and Arkansas state was the game to watch. Now it's Life Arkansas State. both teams have more money to recruit globally. My school is working on it at the moment. I hope to see Tennessee do the same.

[TennesseeRhett]

Originally Posted by R0CKYT0P 16

I remember when I first got into rugby, Tennessee and Arkansas state was the game to watch. Now it's Life Arkansas State. both teams have more money to recruit globally. My school is working on it at the moment. I hope to see Tennessee do the same.

Although I want to see Tennessee be as competitive as possible in as many sports as possible, I'm not sure I share your hopes for global recruiting. Tennessee rugby has always been (for the most part) comprised of Tennesseans, and I always took a lot of pride that these local boys were able to go toe to toe with great programs. The team that is in Utah right now is such a team. If UTRFC becomes a bunch of Ozzies and South Africans it will fundamentally change the nature of the program.

[R0CKYT0P 16]

Originally Posted by TennesseeRhett

Although I want to see Tennessee be as competitive as possible in as many sports as possible, I'm not sure I share your hopes for global recruiting. Tennessee rugby has always been (for the most part) comprised of Tennesseans, and I always took a lot of pride that these local boys were able to go toe to toe with great programs. The team that is in Utah right now is such a team. If UTRFC becomes a bunch of Ozzies and South Africans it will fundamentally change the nature of the program.

I didn't realize they were mostly Tennesseans on the team. I thought Tennessee recruited nationally. But now hearing that from a rugger that played for UT I think They should stay the same then.


The reason most high school coaches do not want them playing is in my opinion due to injury risk. The risk is there to get hurt. It may be less than football but it is still there Another big reason I feel is they could lose some players to rugby. Rugby is a year long sport, A lot of players in The U.S. are former football players. I have 5 players on my team who quit football to play so I can see that being a problem. Once you play One game of Rugby you're hooked

[SteelerVol]

I played rugby against UT, twice a year while in college at ETSU. We usually beat them every match but we had an Englander playing for us who was one of the best players in the south back in the 80s. We played Clemson, Vandy, UTC, Brevard College, Virginia Tech, JMU, Emory & Henry, Radford, USClite, MTSU, Tenn Tech, but other week-ends we might play Knoxville Rugby Club (The Possums who had Hacksaw Reynolds brother Art - a former UT LB playing for them) Nashville Rugby Club, Memphis Old No.7 Rugby Club (one of the best teams in USA at the time) Greeneville, SC Rugby Club, Huntsville, AL Rugby Club, Asheville Rugby Club, Charlotte Rugby Club, etc., etc..

A friend of mine (Andy Allen) helps coach the UT forwards or "the Pack" (linemen) and he said UT's rugby budget is up to about 75k a year now which isn't much when you get into all the travel. The UT club just barely missed out on the "7s" final four this past year which was on TV. Utah upset Cal whose rugby team has won more national championships than any other college sports team in history. Needless to say, Cal has a fat budget for rugby.

If you watch the 2 video tape series - "100 years of Volunteers" the history of UT Football, it starts by talking of how American Football evolved from rugby. It shows UT playing a Rugby match against one of my old ETSU / Johnson City teams with me and some of the other players in action. Pretty cool.

Funny note on Art Reynolds who is still considered one of the best all time UT LBs. The first time I met him I was in one of the knoxville bars during a post-game rugby party holding a pitcher of beer. Art walked up and stuck his whole fist down to the wrist in my pitcher and smiled and said ..."ain't cold enough" and walked off. One of my team-mates, David O'Donahue who was a former All Ohio Valley Conf DE (80s) while at ETSU looked at me and said... "Don't let him intimidate you like that." I was about 6'3" 225lbs and I looked at him and then at Art and went back to drinking my pitcher of beer.

Good Luck with San Diego. They are bad-ass, always have some Tongans playing for them and if UT beats them that says more than anything for the rugby program.

Later.

[UTvol53]

Originally Posted by R0CKYT0P 16

Davenport is VERY GOOD!! They are the sevens champs. UT would have to play a perfect game to win. If they play like they did in the SCRC final (SEC championship) it will be a long game... But I don't see that happening

It comes with being the only school to give full scholarships for rugby. The whole campus is one parking lot and the athletic department just started recently. Would much rather be a club player or just an academic student at Tennessee or any other D1 school than be on full scholarship at Davenport.

[ImportedVoL]

So anyone know if we won or not?

[utknate]

Originally Posted by ImportedVoL

So anyone know if we won or not?

IN THE OP

"Watch your Rugby Vols play San Diego State in the USA Rugby D1-AA Semifinal Match from Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT on Friday May 18th at 5 PM EST" .....