Historic Nationals Win Ends UWEC Men’s Rugby Club’s Dominating Season
national title is a first in program’s 45-year history
The Chippewa Valley’s growing rugby scene can be seen in action across a variety of age and skill groups: the area's first women's team, The Vipers, hit the scene in 2022; The Chickadees, a youth flag rugby team, now enters its second season this year; and The Orcs, the area's men's rugby team, made its debut in 2024.
At the university level, UW-Eau Claire's Men's Rugby Club has been around for 45 years – and is still making milestone plays.
On April 26, Blugold rugby talent officially became undeniable: the men's team earned its first-ever Division III National Championship in an incredible 20-0 win over Massachusetts's Springfield College.
The historic moment was the cherry-topper on an impressive season for the rugby team, finishing with a 30-2 record and 965 total points scored – both of which set new single-season university records for wins and total points, according to a recent media release.
"It was a surreal moment," Club President and Rugby Director Andrew Boucher said of the team's title win. "Hearing the crowd erupt and knowing we had just secured a national championship was incredible. It felt like the culmination of everything we had worked for all year: the training, the travel, the sacrifices, all coming together in one unforgettable moment."
The national title is a well-earned milestone for the program, which was founded in 1980.
FROM DAY ONE, WE KNEW THIS GROUP WAS SPECIAL.
ANDREW BOUCHER
CLUB PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF RUGBY
This year’s Blugold team is stacked with players across multiple grade levels, and began the season with a dominating presence. “Eau Claire’s spring campaign began with tournament titles at the Carleton Cup (Faribault, MN) and the Peach Cup (Atlanta, GA), a win that officially qualified the team for nationals and made them the first team in the country to secure a spot,” a media release stated.
The club takes part in the Great Midwest Rugby Conference alongside more than a dozen schools, including neighboring UW-Stout. Entering nationals, the Blugolds were positioned as the No. 1 seed in a 16-team field, ultimately earning their place in the finals after winning 19-12 over No. 2 seed Duke University.
"From day one, we knew this group was special. We had a strong core of committed, talented players and pushed ourselves by traveling across the country to compete against top programs," Boucher said. "That level of preparation and willingness to seek out the best competition made sure we were the most battle-tested team heading into nationals."
Looking ahead, the team is already preparing for this fall's 15s season – with the majority of last fall's starters returning – aiming for a national title in that format as well, Boucher said. "Our goal is to unify the titles and become national champions in both 15s and 7s."
Learn more about the UW-Eau Claire Men’s Rugby Club at uwecrugby.com and keep up with the team online (@uwecrugby).
