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UK Rugby Gears Up For National Playoffs

Posted at 9:00 AM, Nov 16, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-15 22:43:56-05
Photo by Dave Redden

By Dave Redden

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky’s rugby team is ready to head to Greenville, North Carolina to participate in the national playoffs this weekend.

The Wildcats (7-1) face Bowling Green State (6-3) in their game on Saturday at East Carolina University. Kentucky retained the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference after a 36-31 victory against Alabama in the championship game on November 4. Kentucky defeated Bowling Green by a score of 54-5 on the road in a regular season game last season.

Photo by Cassie Redden

The other match in Kentucky’s bracket sees 2017 national champions, Mary Washington take on West Chester, also at East Carolina University. The Wildcats went out in last year’s Final Four to Mary Washington.

Kentucky head coach, Gary Anderson is hoping to have learned some lessons from last year’s playoffs, “Last year going into the semi finals we had several of our top guys out due to injuries and we could not recover,” he said, “this year we made a point to get our bench a lot more minutes in big games and big moments. We are optimistic that experience and confidence will help carry us through the back-to-back games this weekend.”

On the opposite side of the brackets, St. Joseph’s face Salisbury and Lindenwood-Belleville play Western Michigan. Both games will take place at Mount St. Mary’s University. The National Championship is set to take place on December 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina.