NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE RUGBY IS RANKED #1 NATIONALLY
NEC Rugby Unseats Defending National Champions and Earns Spot in National Championships
HENNIKER – The New England College Rugby Team has been ranked #1 in the country heading into the National Championship that will be held at Infinity Park Stadium in Glendale Colorado on April 27-28, 2013.
The National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) released the rankings for the Top 30 collegiate men’s clubs on December 1, 2012. New England College earned the #1 ranking over a total of 210 collegiate men’s clubs in the country. This ranking comes after an extraordinary season for the NEC Rugby Team as they capped an undefeated season by unseating the reigning national champions Salve Regina 36-17 at the Northeast Regional Championships on Sunday, November 19, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island, earning the right to compete for the school’s first national championship.
The NEC Rugby team finished its first season in the New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU) undefeated, with a final record of 11-0. The team, led by Co-Captains Anthony MacQueston and AJ Mudford outscored opponents by a whopping 600-74. The average score of this season’s matches were score 55-7.
"This is a special and remarkable team. From training camp in August through to the championship in November, they never gave up and remained focused throughout the long physical rugby season. It is proven true that through hard work, dedication and teamwork anything is possible,” explains Jeremy Treece, Head Coach of NEC Rugby.
On the way to their perfect record, these giants of the pitch have defeated UNH, Colby and Amherst colleges, and they also defeated in state rival Keene State in the playoffs, laying claim to the best team in New England.
By winning the Northeast Region Championship, NEC has earned a spot to play in the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) National Championships to be held at Infinity park stadium in Glendale, Colorado on April 27-28, 2013.
“It takes a special team and the right chemistry to put together the type of season we have seen from NEC Rugby, and we congratulate these young men for their success,” says NEC President, Dr. Michele Perkins. “Their success is the pride of students on campus in Henniker and we wish them the best of luck as they pursue a national championship title.”
NEC staff consists of head coach Jeremy Treece, assistant coach Rupert Leeming, strength and conditioning coach Aaron Warner and athletic trainer Rolinda Mitchell. You can follow the NEC rugby program at www.necrugby.org.
Fall Rankings Top 30 - 2012-13
NSCRO Small College Men
Number of Eligible Clubs = 210
ISSUED: December 1, 2012
1. New England College (New England RFU). 11-0
2. St. John's University (Minnesota RFU). 8-0
3. Salve Regina University (Colonial Coast CRC). 8-1
4. Grove City College (Three Rivers RC). 7-1
5. University of Wisconsin - Parkside (Wisconsin RFU). 8-3
6. Colorado School of Mines (Eastern Rockies RFU). 5-0
7. Colby College (New England RFU). 7-2
8. Quinnipiac University (New England Wide CRC. 9-1
9. Roger Williams University (Colonial Coast RC). 4-3
10. University of Maine- Orono. (New England RFU). 7-1
11. Notre Dame College (Great Lakes RC). 5-2
12. University of Puget Sound (Pacific Northwest RFU). 5-0
13. University of Southern Indiana (Indiana RFU). 6-1
14. Montclair State University (Empire Downstate Conference). 9-0
15. Gettysburg College (East Penn RU}. 6-2
16. University of Wisconsin- River Falls (Minnesota RFU). 5-1
17. DePaul University (Chicago Area RFU). 5-1
18. University of Texas- Dallas (Lonestar RC). 4-0
19. Susquehanna University (East Penn RU). 6-2
20. Benedictine College (Heart of America RFU). 5-1
21. Calvin College (Great Lakes RC). 5-2
22. University of Denver (Eastern Rockies RFU). 4-1
23. Wayne State College (Great Plains RFU). 5-1
24. Christopher Newport University (Virginia RU). 3-1
25. Oregon Institute of Technology (Pacific Northwest RFU). 5-1
26. Regis University (Eastern Rockies RFU). 5-.1
27. Lord Fairfax Community College (Virginia RU). 3-1
28. University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point (Wisconsin RFU). 7-1
