State has moved up to Division-I to compete in the ACRL against the top competition in the area. Nine of 12 ACC schools are in the ACRL, with the exception of Boston College, the University of Miami and Florida State University.
And the team won its first game in the newly formed Atlantic Coast Rugby League, Feb. 26 at Georgia Tech. The Pack beat the Yellow Jackets 34-6.
“It’s our natural rivals, all of the teams are in the ACC,” coach Robert McAllister said. “It is definitely a step up for us in competition level, we had been competing at the Division II level, we’ve moved up a level to get into this league.”
The new league was formed in response to the playoff format of USA Rugby. It was felt that with the current structure not all teams were able to compete at the highest levels nationally. The new league would afford that opportunity.
“The coaches in this area decided that the schools would have a competition amongst themselves that would have some meaning to their players and then other leagues quickly formed,” McAllister said. “Then it was decided that the national playoff structured formed off of that.”
Wake Forest head coach Patrick Kane initiated and drove the institution of the ACRL. Kane also co-founded the Atlantic Coast Invitational Tournament in 2008 and the 2010 Tournament was the first within the ACRL. State won the tournament, defeating UNC in the final.
The league grants the teams other opportunities as well such a sponsorship from Addidas, endorsing the league. It is the first endorsement of its kind for rugby in America.
“There is an advantage to being sponsored by such a big brand name. Addidas is coming out with a new rugby line and is using this league as its flagship,” Bryan Maxwell, club president, said. “Teams are in the purchasing phase right now, customizing the gear.”
The attention the sport gains when creating such a powerful league with the rivalries that exist in the ACC also boosts the attention the sport will receive.
“I think what it does is makes our league structure more fan friendly to the average sports enthusiast because it is an ACC league and it is easy for people to understand,” McAllister said.
Specifically for State, the team hopes recruiting and fanfare will rise.
“It is going to bring a lot more attention to N.C.State rugby, especially in national forums,” McAllister said. “It would be a lot easier to recruit now, going into places saying come out and play UNC and Duke for the chance at a National Title.”
The team plays Saturday versus UVA, one of the teams picked to win the ACRL, at home. In a preseason coaches poll Virginia Tech was picked to win the league with UVA in second and State finishing fourth.
“We need this victory in order to be competitive in the league,” Mcallister said.
The top two finishing teams in the ACRL with have a neutral site game with the winner advancing to the National Tournament. There are 16 Division-I leagues and the winner of each league will compete in the National Tournament.
”We cant afford to mess up or have a bad game the rest of the year. We have to play consistently good every weekend,” Maxwell said.
