The toughest conference in all of college rugby takes center stage on Friday Night Rugby, as Rugby East newcomers Walsh University (6th) and Belmont Abbey (8th) face off in North Canton, OH in National Collegiate Rugby’s game of the week streamed live on The Rugby Network.
The host Cavaliers enter as both a favorite and a relative unknown. Notre Dame College won the 2023 Division I national championship, defeating St. Bonaventure in the driving rain in the final in Houston, TX last December. The school folded at the end of the spring semester, and almost the entire team transferred up the road to Walsh.
Still, there has been immense change, including in the coaching staff. The program is led by longtime NDC director of rugby Jason Fox, but he delegates the day-to-day coaching to an assistant. Hugh Johnston led the Falcons to the title in that role last season, his first after starring as a player at NDC. Cornel Britz, who comes from the decorated Stellenbosch Academy in South Africa, now fills that role.
The result is an 0-2 start to the conference campaign for the de facto defending champions, as Walsh opened Rugby East play with losses to Kutztown and Life.
“Hugh Johnston was around the program for six years. Losing that kind of continuity is tough,” said Fox.
“I think the guys are getting used to the new system, and it’s going to take some time. There’s a little learning curve. We have new expectations on what is needed to be on that next level. Being from a top tier program in South Africa, Cornel has all the tools to be able to tell these kids what’s needed.”
All-American scrumhalf Remy Thompson is at the top of his game, and fullback Lachie McDonald is healthy and playing well, as is barnstorming prop Tanner Smith. However, All-American lock Fraser Leslie hurt his back against the Running Eagles and is questionable for Friday, as is center Stephen Herbst, who was injured in the Kutztown game.
Belmont Abbey is 3-0 to start the season, scooping up wins over Clemson, North Carolina and Southern Virginia. The 31-17 defeat of SVU goes down in the books as Belmont Abbey’s first Rugby East win, a momentous occasion for a young program.
“It was a very emotional game because it’s our first in the conference. We have been working toward that for the past four years,” said Crusaders head coach Genaro Fessia.
“For all the senior guys, that game means a lot, because they’ve been here from the beginning of the program. The first game was against the Gargoyles, a senior club team, and after four years working, it means a lot for them. They believe in the program and the coaches, and now they have their treat.”
Joaquin Dlugovitzky leads Belmont Abbey in tries so far with three, scoring a hat-trick against the Tar Heels. The Brazilian freshman is part of a talented freshman class, alongside flyhalf Harrison Tu’isila from Auckland, NZ and Argentine wing Jean Teson. Tuisila has taken over the kicking duties for the Crusaders, and Teson dotted down twice against SVU.
Life in the Rugby East gets a lot tougher over the next three weeks for Belmont Abbey, with Walsh, Queens and Life on deck.
“They are the former champions,” said Fessia of Walsh. “I don’t care if they’re wearing different colors, but we’re going to respect them because of last year. Basically, they have the same players, same coaches, so it’s a team you have to respect.
“This level of rugby, for eight weeks, for us will be tough. We have three very, very tough games. We will see if the team is ready for that, because it will be a huge challenge for us.”
This match can be streamed live at 7pm EST on The Rugby Network.
