🎄 Holiday note: We’re off for Christmas and New Year’s. Back in your inbox in the new year. Cheers 🥂

🏟️ NCR Winners

Shout-out time for the NCR national title winners! This year featured 3 first-time title winners 👊

🏆D1 — St. Bonaventure
A totally dominant performance by these guys down in Houston — a well-earned second National Title for this impressive squad.
Final Score: Bonnies 55 — 19 Queens

🏆D2 — Vermont
Fought through a tough semi and demolished Chicago in the final for their first ever National Title.
Final Score: Vermont 71 — 5 Chicago

🏆D1-AA — Tennessee
An electric, gritty performance in the final. Bowling Green gave them a huge fight, but the Vols completed a perfect undefeated season and captured their first ever National Title.
Final Score: Tennessee 21 — 15 Bowling Green

🏆D3 — Franciscan
They blasted past Holy Cross to set up a rematch with Slippery Rock in the final, where they displayed a complete team effort to take the crown — the program’s first National Title.
Final Score: Franciscan 29 — 17 Slippery Rock

🌎Global Youth Sevens

Did you know: We’ve got a crew of badasses over in New Zealand ripping up the turf at Global Youth Sevens right now.

The USA boys tore through the Cook Island squad 35-0 yesterday, and followed that up with a 35-14 result over Waterboy Rugby (is that a real name?).

The USA boys have several games over the next couple days:
📺 Watch here
Confession time: We honestly cannot figure out what times the games are playing. Time zones are bonkers — good luck!

Here are a couple shots from yesterday, courtesy of Vasen Menon 👇

🎙️Goff commentary on TMO

Alex Goff posted a video with some pointed commentary about the TMO and coach’s challenge flags used at NCR Nationals.

Goff’s bottom line:
1. If you’re going to use TMO, you really need more/better camera angles and review equipment.
2. What’s the point of the challenge flag after TMO has reviewed the play already? (there is none)

Riot Take:
Pretty much in agreement with Mr. Goff. The TMO and challenge flag system added some intrigue for viewers (good), but it felt like a swing and a miss in the is-this-useful department — and it really slowed down the game (bad).

Our biggest gripe, however, is that TMO and challenge flags chip away at the ref’s authority. This is slippery slope territory. We want well trained officials making decisions, human error and all. It’s part of rugby’s soul.

Let the ref ref.

👉Streaming alert:
La Costa Canyon (CA) and St. Augustine (CA) face off this weekend.
⌚️ 1:30pm EST kickoff
📺The game will be streaming right here — don’t miss it!

Rees Curtis — Torrey Pines (CA) — may be a sophomore, but man… he’s ballin out these days.
This is the second time we’ve seen him do this in the past couple months.

📍Charlotte, NC
🗓️December 19, Friday
⌚️7pm kickoff

Charlotte Catholic and Marvin Ridge are both 2-0 on the season after steamrolling their first two opponents. Each have serious talent on their rosters — returners from last year’s squads.
Last season, Catholic took a 20-10 victory over Marvin Ridge, but it felt much closer than that. We have a feeling this one might go right down to the wire.

Here’s what Marvin Ridge head coach, Alan Mitchell, shared leading up to game day👇

Here’s an example of how dangerous the Charlotte Catholic guys can be on the attack:

For good measure, here’s Marvin Ridge’s Zane Schumacher showing off his lightning speed:

Oddball musings, thanks to the cold tub.

🏉 While re-reading my section on Goff’s critiques of the NCR TMO, I thought:
“Now we need a review process, to review the review process, which I am now reviewing.”
My head hurts.

🏉 South Africa made waves this year with their mid-field lineouts. What’s next? Mauling backwards into their own try zone? Props taking drop goals? Wearing their jerseys inside-out? Feels like nothing is off the table for Rassie Erasmus.

🏉 Nothing makes you feel more awesome than carrying a big ole Christmas tree into the house. One shoulder. No big deal. Just doing man things over here. 🎄IYKYK