Rugby Books Trip to National Championship Sweet Sixteen

Christendom rugby punched their ticket to the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) National Championship Sweet Sixteen Tournament over the weekend, defeating Susquehanna 28-18 in a regional playoffs play-in game.

The rugby team, coming off a second-place finish in the Cardinals Conference Championship the weekend before and a strong 15s regular season, took on Susquehanna on Saturday in the crucial play-in game. Playing in Culpeper, Virginia, Christendom quickly asserted themselves on the pitch, with Andrew Krolick scoring a try to give the team a 7-0 lead. Susquehanna fought back the rest of the first half, scoring on a penalty kick and then a try to take a 13-7 lead into the second half.

With their backs against the wall once again, Christendom played their best rugby of the season yet. Hugh Wingate gave Christendom the lead again to start the second half, scoring a key try. Susquehanna scored again to retake the lead, before John Kennedy punched across the try line for Christendom, giving them a tight 21-18 lead. Kennedy scored once more near the end of the second half, securing the 28-18 victory for Christendom and sending them into the National Championship Sweet Sixteen.

This will mark Christendom's latest trip to National Championship Sweet Sixteen, following the team going all the way to Houston — and a National Championship title — in 2021.

The team is also in the final week of a raffle, raising money to cover the costs of their next playoff run. For more information on how to compete in the raffle, visit here.