UA Rugby Club Beats Tennessee 12-8 for SCRC Championship

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It was a windy, brisk November afternoon at Life University in Atlanta, Georgia, when The University of Alabama’s Men’s Rugby Football Club defeated the University of Tennessee to claim the club’s first Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference 15’s Championship by the score of 12-8.

The club was led by their co-captains Ross Depperschmidt and Shawn Dawley in this defensive struggle between two top-tier teams. Daley is also club president.

Alabama Rugby finished the season 7-1 and made the conference title game by avenging their only previous loss against the University of Kentucky by coming back from a 27-10 halftime deficit to win 34-32 in the semi-finals game last week.

Alabama joined the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference (SCRC) in Fall 2011. At the time, it was a jump in level of play for the Tide up to the D1AA ranks. Alabama Rugby has continued to improve through the years, and was able to make the conference title game for 15’s in 2014 by beating UT in what was then considered to be a huge upset win before losing to South Carolina. Alabama Rugby then won the Olympic 7’s Rugby championship in the spring of 2015 and went on to represent the SCRC in the Collegiate Rugby Championships in Philadelphia.

Alabama hopes to continue their success under new Head Coach Eddie Buckner this spring in the SCRC Olympic 7’s rugby season. Coach Buckner worked with the USA Eagles Olympic team in 2015 and has brought great experience and guidance to the club.

Students interested in joining the club should contact club president Shawn Dawley at sfdawley@crimson.ua.edu, Coach Buckner at eddiebuckner12@yahoo.com or assistant coach Danny Depperschmidt at dldepperschmidt@crimson.ua.edu. Follow the club’s progress by liking its Facebook fan page at The University of Alabama Rugby Football Club.

UA Men's Rugby Club, SEC champions
UA Men’s Rugby Club, SCRC champions