Kutztown Rugby

There is currently, only one venue which allows an opportunity to qualify for the NBC telecast known as, The Collegiate 7’s Rugby Championship Tournament (CRC). It is held in PPL Park and located in Chester, Pennsylvania. There are sixteen collegiate teams on the format, fifteen of those teams are playing exclusively by “invitation only”. They are selected by their marketing power and football rivalries. An example being, Ohio State vs. Michigan -their gridiron tradition being the drawing power for American viewers not familiar with the collegiate rugby scene. Fair enough, it is what it is, and major conglomerations are entitled to do whatever they deem necessary to be prosperous. They are also doing a great service to the sport of collegiate rugby, by telecasting the competition on prime time airwaves.

Kutztown Rugby finished second in the 2011 Las Vegas Invitational. The Golden Bears defeated Brown, UCLA, Air Force Academy, Whittier College, San Diego University and Delaware en route to the finals. They lost to Central Washington University in the championship match (12-0). Kutztown is coming off a December 2011 Final Four appearance in the inaugural USA Rugby National Collegiate 7’s Tournament, held in College Station, Texas – home of Texas A&M University. Here Kutztown defeated Florida State, UC-Davis, Florida and the University of Tennessee before losing in the semi-final match to Central Washington once again, (19-17). Those two tournaments, the CRC and the USA Nationals are the most prestigious collegiate tournaments in America. Kutztown has demonstrated and earned national prominence in both of those events. They will inevitably be one of the pre-tournament favorites in the 2012 Las Vegas Invitational, held February 9-11. Thirty two college teams have entered the tournament and the field is complete. Alongside Kutztown and battling for the championship, will be the likes of Life College, Central Washington, Utah, Texas, Missouri, San Diego State, UCLA, Stanford, Air Force, Georgia, Cal Poly, New Mexico, Oregon, Claremont, Indiana, Brown, Pitt and Miami of Ohio, to mention a few. This tournament is measuring up to be the most competitive Las Vegas Invitational to date. Certainly every entrant wants to win this prestigious tournament and showcase their program on national television.

The Kutztown coaching staff will bring their sevens players back to campus one week prior to the finish of winter break. The squad will be tested once again and tryout invitations have been sent to pre-selected athletes that weren’t picked for the USA Nationals in December. The Las Vegas squad may have some new names on the roster. Whatever the outcome in training camp, rest assured,  that the Golden Bears will be prepared for the competition in Las Vegas.

On another note pertaining to the Las Vegas Tournament. The Kutztown Rugby Alumni are attempting to put together an alumni weekend in Las Vegas. If interested, please contact Marco Cardillo at  mcardillo12@hotmail.com or 856-466-7250. Alumnus Brian Dettling and Steve Hasselbach will be in attendance. This is a tremendous opportunity for the alumni to support the college side, watch international sevens and have an unforgettable weekend on the Las Vegas strip.

RUN WITH THE BEARS!