Rugby To Open First Round of D1A Rugby Playoffs With BYU
JONESBORO – Arkansas State University’s rugby team will play No. 4-ranked Brigham Young University in the opening round of the 2018 D1A College Rugby National Championship, Saturday, April 14, in Provo, Utah. Game time is 6 p.m. CDT at BYU’s South Field.
“We’re very excited to be in the playoffs our 10th consecutive year,” said first-year head coach Blake White. “BYU is a very tough team with a great history and their coach David Smyth is obviously one of the best. This will be a great match to see how we stack up amongst the best.”
A-State, ranked 11thnationally, won its last two matches with a combined score of 105-35 including victories over Clemson (57-21) and Indiana (48-14). The Red Wolves enter the playoffs, hosted by D1ARugby.com, seeded 13th while the Cougars are seeded fourth. BYU is coming off a 77-3 win over Utah.
The two teams met previously in 2016 when A-State fell to BYU in the Penn Mutual Varsity Cup semifinal game and again in 2012 when the Cougars won the USA Rugby D1A 15s national title.
Arkansas State will be counting on the strong play of numerous players including veterans Zach Young, Tabo Maree, Val Balande, Brock Roper and Tanner Pope. A solid group of newcomers have gained valuable experience throughout the season including Tinotenda Masanure, Patrick Meagher, Asa Carter and Wallace Kwasu.
Here are the full set of games (with seeds) for the first round of playoffs:
#1 Saint Mary’s vs. #16 Cal Poly– 5 p.m. EDT 4/14
#2 Life vs. #15 Central Washington– 2 p.m. EDT 4/14
#3 Cal vs. #14 Grand Canyon– 5pm EDT 4/14
#4 BYU vs. #13 Arkansas State– 7pm EDT 4/14
#5 Penn State vs. #12 Arizona– 1pm EDT 4/14
#6 Indiana vs. #11 Navy– 11am EDT 4/14
#7 Colorado State vs. #10 Army– 10pm EDT 4/13
#8 Texas A&M vs. #9 Lindenwood– 3pm EDT 4/14
FloRugby.com will stream the playoffs live. For information check that website.
