Christendom rugby is headed back to the Collegiate Rugby National 7s Tournament, defeating Franciscan University of Steubenville 33-27 in a National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) qualifier tournament over the weekend. This will be Christendom's seventh-straight trip to the big dance as they look for their third National Title.
The men's rugby team, after a strong 15s season that saw them go all the way to the National Collegiate Rugby Sweet Sixteen, has competed well so far in their spring 7s season, winning two tournaments before heading to Columbus, Ohio, this past weekend for the NCR 7s qualifier tournament. The team took on John Carroll in the first game of pool play, falling behind 7-12 after the first half of play. John Kennedy brought them within three points after a try, later punching one more across the line in the final seconds to win the game for Christendom, 19-17.
Christendom took on Taylor in the second game of pool play, immediately taking control of that game, thanks to tries from Dominic Oakley, Charlie Koach, and Kennedy. Tries from Jude Burkett and Daniel Di Falco wrapped up the second half for Christendom, securing a 35-0 shutout win.
In the final game of pool play, Christendom took on Hillsdale, also shutting down their offense in the first half of the game. Chris Santschi, Burkett, and Frank Woltering provided all the offense Christendom needed in the first half, giving them a robust 26-0 lead. Hillsdale fought hard in the second to make it a closer game, but Christendom ultimately held on for the 31-17 win.
All three wins earned Christendom a trip to the tournament championship game against longtime rival Franciscan University. The teams traded tries all of the first half, with Christendom hanging onto a tight 19-12 lead. In the second half, the Barons took a 22-19 lead, before Koach gave Christendom the lead again with a late try. Franciscan, refusing to back down, tied the game at 27-27 seconds later, before Hugh Wingate punched one last try in for Christendom to win the game, 33-27.
The tournament win earned Christendom their latest trip to the Collegiate Rugby 7s Tournament, which will take place over the weekend of April 26-28 near Washington, D.C. Christendom previously won the tournament in 2017 in a dramatic overtime victory that brought the college its first National Title in school history.
The team has two tournaments remaining in their spring schedule before then, including the St. Paddy's 7s tournament this coming weekend, and the Cardinal Conference Championship 7s tournament on April 13.