# 2024 Division 1-A Rugby Championship

The 2024 Division 1-A Rugby Championship is the twelfth season of the Division 1-A Rugby championship, the annual university rugby union competition run by USA Rugby involving the top sixteen college teams in the United States. Navy entered as defending champions having won their first Championship, capping a perfect 18–0 2023 season. St. Mary's beat Navy in the final 26–22 in the final to secure their fourth championship.

## Teams

Sixteen clubs from the six major conferences compete in the 2024 National Championship playoffs.
The distribution of teams is:
* PAC Rugby Conference: three teams
* California: two teams
* Rocky Mountain: one team
* Independent: three team
* Rugby East: five teams
* Mid-West Conference: two teams
The following teams qualified for the tournament.
| PAC Rugby Conference | California | Rocky Mountain | Independent | Rugby East | Mid-West |
| Arizona California UCLA | Cal Poly Saint Mary's | BYU | Arkansas State Central Washington Grand Canyon | Army Life Mount St. Mary's Navy University of Mary Washington | Davenport Lindenwood |
Sources:

## Standings

Rugby East :
| Pos. | Team | Record | BP | Pts |
| 1 | Navy | 7–0 | 4 | 32 |
| 2 | Life | 5–1–0 | 6 | 26 |
| 3 | Notre Dame College | 4–1–1 | 3 | 21 |
| 4 | Mount St. Mary's | 4–2 | 2 | 18 |
| 5 | St. Bonaventure | 4–3 | 2 | 18 |
| 6 | University of Mary Washington | 3–3 | 4 | 16 |
| 7 | Army | 2–4–1 | 4 | 14 |
| 6 | Kutztown | 2–5 | 6 | 14 |
| 9 | Queens | 2–4 | 3 | 11 |
| 10 | Southern Virginia | 1–5 | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | Penn State | 0–6 | 3 | 3 |
Big Ten :
| Big Ten East ||||
| Pos. | Team | Record | Points |
| 1 | Ohio State | 3–1 | 12 |
| 2 | Michigan State | 2–0 | 8 |
| 3 | Michigan | 1–4 | 5 |
| 4 | Notre Dame | 0–3 | 2 |
| Big Ten West ||||
| Pos. | Team | Record | Points |
| 1 | Indiana | 4–0 | 16 |
| 2 | Illinois | 1–1 | 4 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 1–1 | 4 |
| 4 | Purdue | 1–2 | 4 |
Mid-West :
| Pos. | Team | Record | BP | Pts |
| 1 | Lindenwood | 3–0 | 2 | 14 |
| 2 | Davenport | 2–1 | 3 | 11 |
| 3 | Adrian | 0–2 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | McKendree | 0–2 | 0 | 0 |
California :
| Pos. | Team | Record | PD | BP | Pts |
| 1 | Cal Poly | 7–1 | +422 | 8 | 36 |
| 2 | Saint Mary's | 7–0 | +525 | 7 | 35 |
| 3 | UC Santa Barbara | 5–3 | +118 | 5 | 25 |
| 4 | Long Beach | 5–2 | +66 | 5 | 25 |
| 5 | UC Davis | 4–4 | –144 | 4 | 20 |
| 6 | San Diego State | 3–5 | –132 | 6 | 18 |
| 7 | Santa Cruz | 1–5–1 | –291 | 2 | 8 |
| 6 | Santa Clara | 1–7 | –266 | 3 | 7 |
| 9 | Sacramento | 0–1–6 | –298 | 1 | 3 |
Independent :
| Team | Record | PD |
| Central Washington | 8–3 | +79 |
| Grand Canyon University | 4–4 | +63 |
Pac Rugby Conference :
| Pos. | Team | Record | PD | BP | Pts |
| 1 | California | 3–0 | +176 | 3 | 15 |
| 2 | UCLA | 2–1 | +29 | 2 | 10 |
| 3 | Arizona | 1–2 | –38 | 2 | 7 |
| 4 | Utah | 0–3 | –170 | 1 | 1 |
Rocky Mountain :
| Team | Record | PD |
| BYU | 5–0 | +339 |

## Bracket
### Playoffs

| Sweet 16 (April 6) | Sweet 16 (April 6) | Sweet 16 (April 6) | | | Elite Eight (April 13) | Elite Eight (April 13) | Elite Eight (April 13) | Final Four (April 20) | Final Four (April 20) | Final Four (April 20) | | National Championship Game (May 4) | National Championship Game (May 4) | National Championship Game (May 4) |
| 1 | Saint Mary's | 78 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Grand Canyon | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Grand Canyon | 7 | | | 1 | Saint Mary's | 34 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | California | 16 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | California | 70 | | | 4 | California | 16 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Cal Poly | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Cal Poly | 13 | | | | | | 1 | Saint Mary's | 46 | | | | |
| WEST | WEST | WEST | WEST | WEST | WEST | WEST | WEST | 1 | Saint Mary's | 46 | | | | |
| WEST | WEST | WEST | WEST | WEST | WEST | WEST | WEST | 3 | BYU | 31 | | | | |
| 3 | BYU | 48 | | | | | | | | | 3 | BYU | 31 | | | | |
| 6 | UCLA | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | UCLA | 15 | | | 3 | BYU | 40 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Central Washington | 26 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Central Washington | 23 | | | 2 | Central Washington | 26 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Arizona | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Arizona | 17 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Saint Mary's | 26 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Navy | 22 |
| 1 | Navy | 41 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Navy | 22 |
| 8 | University of Mary Washington | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | University of Mary Washington | 7 | | | 1 | Navy | 57 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Arkansas State | 5 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Arkansas State | 23 | | | 4 | Arkansas State | 5 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Davenport | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Davenport | 17 | | | | | | 1 | Navy | 27 | | | | |
| EAST | EAST | EAST | EAST | EAST | EAST | EAST | EAST | 1 | Navy | 27 | | | | |
| EAST | EAST | EAST | EAST | EAST | EAST | EAST | EAST | 2 | Life | 17 | | | | |
| 3 | Lindenwood | 26 | | | | | | | | | 2 | Life | 17 | | | | |
| 6 | Mount St. Mary's | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Mount St. Mary's | 0 | | | 3 | Lindenwood | 10 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Life | 25 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Life | 24 | | | 2 | Life | 25 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Army | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sources:

### Round 1

* 5 April 2024
| Arkansas State | 23–17 | Davenport |
| Try: E Roode (2) Con: W Day (1/1) Madden (1/1) Pen: W Day (3/4) | Report | Try: J Bennie S Pitout T Kambani Con: van der Westhuizen (1/3) |
* Curt Huckaby Field, Jonesboro, Arkansas
* 5 April 2024
| BYU | 48–15 | UCLA |
| Try: T Hammer (2) W Parry (2) L Clark J Campbell Z Mendenhall Con: T Hammer (5) Pen: T Hammer (1) | Report | Try: C Carter S McMillan Con: J Cox (1) Pen: J Cox (1) |
* South Field, Provo, Utah
* 6 April 2024
| Saint Mary's | 78–7 | Grand Canyon |
| Try: S Ofa (2) T Pappas J Negrete M Storti (2) K Matu JB Wilson M Abbes N Deegan E Younger C Lujan Con: M Storti (9/13) | Report | Try: L Jackson Con: (1/1) |
* Saint Mary's Stadium, Moraga, California
* 6 April 2024
| California | 70–13 | Cal Poly |
| Try: O Newall (2) 5' c 69 m C Seastrand 12' c E Weigold (3) 24' m, 60' m, 78' m M de Beer 27' m, 52' m J Kirsten (2) 32' c, 54' m B Dowgiewicz 74' c E Cook 75' Con: R Santos (3) 5', 12', 32' J Kirsten (1) 74' | Report | Try: D Caillouel 40' c Q Tindel 51' m Pen: C Baker 10' |
* Witter Rugby Field, Berkeley, California
* 6 April 2024
| Central Washington | 23–17 | Arizona |
| Try: O Treacy (2) 18' m, 47' m D Ferrington 40' c Con: J Tregoning (1/3) 40' Pen: J Tregoning (2) 41' | Report | Try: A Turpen c C Blair m T Champion 79' m Con: T Champion (1/3) |
* Tomlinson Stadium, Ellensburg, Washington
* 6 April 2024
| Navy | 41–7 | University of Mary Washington |
| Try: J Beitia JD Bengston A Baublitz J Cornelius R Krieger R Hotaling Con: R Krieger (4/6) Pen: R Krieger (1) | Report | Try: A Hayward Con: S Schefferman (1/1) |
* Prusmack Rugby Complex, Annapolis, Maryland
Notes:
* The Mids improved to 11-0 at home on the season outscoring opponents, 606-110
* Beitia scored the fifth-fastest try to begin a game in team history
* Krieger led Navy with 16 points in the win, which is the eighth-most points scored in a single game in program history
* Krieger's effort helped him pass 300-points scored in his career.
* 6 April 2024
| Lindenwood | 26–0 | Mount St. Mary's |
| Try: AM Tapia 8' c J de Jager 28' c D Cathcart(2) 50' c, 68' m Con: B Forward (3) 9', 29', 51' | Report | |
* Lindenwood Track Complex, St. Charles, Missouri
* 6 April 2024
| Life | 24–17 | Army |
| Try: P Simamane 11' c L Ballinger 30' c S Lenzsch 63' c Con: B Crane (3/3) 12', 31' 64' Pen: B Crane (1) 73' | Report | Try: B Kemp Pen: J Haley (4) |
* Lupo Family Field, Marietta, Georgia

### Quarter-finals

* 13 April 2024
| Saint Mary's | 34–16 | California |
| Try: K Matu 11' m D Besag 32' c JT Toia’ivao 40' K Kayoshi 43' S Pongi 65' Con: Storti (3/5) 33', 44', 66' Pen: M Storti (1) | Report | Try: R Santos 71' m C Tomasin 78' m Pen: K O'Connell (2) 13', 35' |
* Saint Mary's Stadium, Moraga, California
* 13 April 2024
| Central Washington | 24–40 | BYU |
| | Report | Try: J Tenney (2) L Clark Con: T Hammer (5) |
* Tomlinson Stadium, Ellensburg, Washington
* 13 April 2024
| Navy | 57–5 | Arkansas State |
| Try: W Webb (2) 8' m, 14' c B Haugh (2) 34' c, 44' R Krieger 47' c A Taylor 55' c E Soeder 64' c A Ganse 66' c Con: R Krieger (7/8) 15', 35', 45', 48', 56', 65', 67' Pen: R Krieger (1) 80' | Report | Try: 21' m Con: (0/1) |
* Prusmack Rugby Complex, Annapolis, Maryland
Notes:
* Krieger's point total helped him become the first mid to score more than 200 points in a single season (219)
* 13 April 2024
| Life | 25–10 | Lindenwood |
| Try: S Kramlich 8' c S Matthysen 58' c W Piggins 73' m Con: B Crane (2/3) 9', 59' Pen: B Crane (2) 16', 42' | Report | Try: C Wallace 5' c Con: B Forward (1/1) 5' Pen: B Forward (1) 27' |
* Lupo Family Field, Marietta, Georgia

### Semi-finals

* 20 April 2024
| Saint Mary's | 46–31 | BYU |
| Try: D Besag (2) S Pongi I Toia'ivao E Storti (2) K Kayoshi H Modlin Con: M Storti (4/8) | Report | Try: C Semu c Tenney (2) Parry Worthington Con: T Hammer (3/5) |
* Saint Mary's Stadium, Moraga, California Attendance: ~3,000
* 20 April 2024
| Navy | 27–17 | Life |
| Try: W Webb 10' c J Cornelius 38' c I Bullock 56' Con: R Krieger (3/3) 11', 39', 57' Pen: R Krieger (2) 33', 65' | Report | Try: K Hoffman 28' c penalty try 65' Con: B Crane 29' Pen: B Crane 23' |
* Prusmack Rugby Complex, Annapolis, Maryland

### Final

* 4 May 2024
| Saint Mary's | 26–22 | Navy |
| Try: D Besag 2' c E Storti 5' c J Battle Wilson 25' c S Pongi 42' m Con: M. Storti (3/4) 2', 6', 26' | Report | Try: B Haugh 35' m W Webb 50' c V Schmitz 67' c Con: Krieger (2/3) 51', 68' Pen: Krieger (1) 70' |
* SaberCats Stadium, Houston, Texas

## Rudy Scholz Award
### Winner

* Wyatt Parry – BYU

### Finalists

* Eduan Van Heerden – Lindenwood
* Wyatt Parry – BYU
* Evan Roode – Arkansas State
* Dom Besag – Saint Mary's

### Nominations

* Caden Crist – Cal
* Calvin Liulamaga – CWU
* Cole Semu – BYU
* Dom Besag – Saint Mary's
* Eduan Van Heerden – Lindenwood
* EJ Freeman – Arizona
* Erich Storti – Saint Mary's
* Evan Roode – Arkansas State
* Hayden McKay – Mount St. Mary's
* Ishma-eel Safodien – Life
* Jack Phillips – Kentucky
* Oliver Corbett – Brown
* Peyton Wall – Indiana
* Remy Thomson – Notre Dame College
* Roanin Krieger – Navy
* Tiaan Mosconi – West Point
* Vaughn Schmitz – Navy
* Wyatt Parry – BYU
Sources:

## 2023–2024 First Team All Americans

* Emilio Shea – University of California – Berkeley
* Cade Crist – University of California – Berkeley
* Connor Devos – Lindenwood University
* Alejandro Martinez Tapia – Lindenwood University
* Will Sherman – University of California – Los Angeles
* Logan Ballinger – Life University
* Kaipono Kaioshi – Saint Mary’s College
* Ben Haugh – United States Naval Academy
* Solomon Williams – University of California – Berkeley
* Wyatt Parry – Brigham Young University
* Dominic Besag – Saint Mary’s College
* Erich Storti – Saint Mary’s College
* Oscar Treacy – Central Washington University
* Josefa Toiaivao – Saint Mary’s College
* Tayson Hammer – Brigham Young University
* Quinton Tindal – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
* Campbell Robb – Central Washington University
* Leon Best – Life University
* Hayden McKay – Mount Saint Mary’s University
* EJ Freeman – University of Arizona
* Jake Cornelius – United States Naval Academy
* Rand Santos – University of California – Berkeley
* Ronan Krieger – United States Naval Academy
Sources: