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Franciscan Rugby is No. 1 in the Nation
Steubenville, Ohio – The Barons have proven their skills extend beyond what was predicted for 2011. At the end of 2010, Franciscan University's rugby team was ranked 16th in the nation by the National Small College Rugby Organization. By August, the NSCRO ranked them 10th out of 25. Released today, the NSCRO named the Barons No. 1 in the nation.
"Chris Ledyard put it perfectly when we found out," said head coach Mark Hanrahan when he shared the news with the University's Director of Athletics. "He said it's good to see it on paper."
The Barons already knew that their performance this season put them at the top of the league, defeating powerhouse the University of Wisconsin-Parkside 35-5 during the mid-November regional finals.
"This midseason ranking validates what we already knew," added Hanrahan. "We knew we would be ranked in the top four because of how well we did at the semi-finals, but this adds fuel to the fire. Winning the semi-finals showed even more that we are a pretty tough team to beat."
Aside from tying their first game of the season versus Fairmont State, 0-0, the Barons have averaged about 40 points per match during 2011. No team has gained more than 17 points against them, and most were held to five points or less.
"We didn't really have any close games," said Hanrahan. "We have the best point differential in the country within our division."
Franciscan faces the No. 2 ranked team, Salve Regina University in the finals this coming April. Salve Regina is 8-0 on its season and were previously ranked No. 1 back in August. This only makes Franciscan's ruggers more focused on the prize.
"We are on a mission. This doesn't mean anything if we go out to Colorado [for the finals] and lose," noted Hanrahan. "We want to be number one when the postseason rankings come out."
In the meantime, the ruggers can be found in the Finnegan Fieldhouse, training every day. "The guys have not lost their focus; they are 100 percent focused on that championship," Hanrahan added.
Ledyard noted that the development of rugby at Franciscan University back in 2000 would pave the way for sports and spirituality at the University. "It is fitting then that Baron rugby and our NCAA Div. III teams are now both making national headlines," he said.
Along with its membership in the NSCRO, Franciscan University's rugby team is a member of USA Rugby and the Allegheny Rugby Union.
The team travels to Glendale, Colorado, for the NSCRO finals April 28-29, 2012.
