There will be a new champion in Men’s Division I this season, as defending champion Notre Dame College shuttered its doors after the spring semester. As a result, first-year program Walsh University, having never fielded a team enters the 2024 season ranked No. 1, which is surely a first in intercollegiate athletics.
The overwhelming majority of the inaugural Cavalier roster is made up of defending national champions, as almost everyone in the program transferred the 52 miles from NDC in South Euclid, OH to Walsh’s campus in North Canton. That includes All-Americans Lachie MacDonald, Remy Thompson and Tanner Smith, as well as head coach Jason Fox, who was on the Falcon coaching staff for a decade.
2022 champion Brown is back in the mix at No. 2, with back rower Cameron McAlpine and wing Tito Edjua stepping into bigger roles after the departure of multiple All Americans. McAlpine played for the USA U20s last season, and Edjua emerged as an all-tournament selection at the Collegiate Rugby Championship in April before helping the U20s finish second to Scotland in the Junior World Trophy.
The top contender to unseat the Bears in the Liberty Conference is eighth-ranked Siena. The Saints pack, led by hooker Rupert Bronkort and flanker Sennen Grove, is as handy as any in the nation. Dartmouth and Fairfield are teams to watch, too.
2021 national champion St. Bonaventure enters the fall ranked third in what will be the first full campaign under head coach Danny Neighbour. The longtime assistant transitioned into the role last spring, succeeding Tui Osbourne, who departed for the expansion Miami Sharks of Major League Rugby.
The Bonnies have a budding star in second-row sophomore Maseah Young, who turned heads during the undefeated All-American tour in France this summer. Circled on the calendar is the October 5 visit from Walsh, which will go a long way toward deciding the Rugby East.
In the Big Ten, looking to challenge perennial favorite Indiana is a new contender in Wisconsin. The Badgers are driven by a mobile, quick, exhausting forward pack, led by Titus Henkels in the back row. Likely to line up at flyhalf is Sheboygan, WI product Karter Bell, who enters his second season in Madison after transferring from Colorado State.
In the Big Rivers Conference, reigning 7s national champion Wheeling looks to defend the conference XVs crown. All-American Aaron Juma is back for another go after standing out in France this summer. The Cardinals went 0-3 against Rugby East competition last fall, but lost by an average of just a couple of scores a game.
10th-ranked Principia and Marian will have something to say about the Big Rivers title, as well. The Knights return Italian flyhalf and field general Tommaso Lorenzetti, but will have to overcome the graduation of All-American JD Farrell. Celino Peterson, Damir Conci and Kudzai Chiwara headline a talented Principia senior class eager to collect some DI hardware before leaving Elsah, IL.
