More AQs Expected In April

The collegiate rugby landscape is heating up as the biggest Automatic Qualifier (AQ) weekend of the Spring season draws near, with nine tournaments poised to send ten teams to the Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) in Maryland. Fans will witness intense battles across the Men’s Premier Cup, Men’s DI-AA, and Women’s Division II and III brackets, as established contenders and dark horses alike vie for coveted national championship berths. Highlights include the Fighting Irish 7s, a crucial double qualifier where teams like Iowa Central, Aquinas, and Rio Grande will challenge qualified powerhouses like Notre Dame and Wheeling, the latter fresh off a Ruck the Rock victory. Elsewhere, the Old Blue 7s will see Siena, last year's runners-up featuring All-Stars Jack Burns and Harry Ryder, battling rivals such as Fairfield, UMass, and a strong Fordham side that previously upset Kutztown. On the women's side, Baldwin Wallace, led by All-Stars Molly Cancian and Jasmine Ludt, enters their "Powerful Women on the Pitch" tournament as favorites for a DIII AQ, while Colorado Mesa, with All-American Reese Williams, seeks a Women's DII berth at Peachtown 7s after falling to eventual champs Coast Guard last year. With the promise of thrilling upsets and the forging of future stars, this weekend is vital for shaping the national championship picture, providing a glimpse into the talent and determination propelling US collegiate rugby forward.