By Troy Hall · Two big wins at home for Clemson Rugby on Saturday! First and foremost, Saturday was a great challenge - not just because of the quality of the compe…
Two big wins at home for Clemson Rugby on Saturday!
First and foremost, Saturday was a great challenge - not just because of the quality of the competition, but because of the conditions.
Our 1XV Side came away with a hard-fought 24–22 victory over UNC Charlotte, while our 2XV Side put together an impressive performance to win 54–37 (played 10s with UNC being short of players).
The real feel must have been well over 100 degrees. It was hot, humid, and physically demanding for everyone out on the field. But despite the heat, we had a fantastic turnout at The Pier, with plenty of supporters lining the sidelines to watch two quality rugby programs go at it.
1XV Side: Clemson 24 - UNC Charlotte 22
Our first side faced a very good UNC Charlotte team with some quality players in key positions.
It was a proper test.
We also had plenty of adversity to deal with throughout the match. We picked up three yellow cards on the day and, at one point late in the game, found ourselves defending with just 13 men on the field.
But the boys showed tremendous fight and resilience.
They stuck together, worked for one another, and found a way to hold on and get the victory.
We scored some really nice tries, saw continued improvement in areas such as our breakdown work, and most importantly, got another opportunity to learn about ourselves under pressure.
That was our second and final preseason hit-out, and in many ways, it was exactly what we needed.
A close game. A good opponent. Adversity. Pressure. And a group that had to dig deep to find a way through.
2XV Side: Clemson 54 - UNC Charlotte 37
It was also great to see our 2XV Side get out on the field and put together a strong performance.
The opportunity for more players to compete and represent Clemson Rugby is incredibly important to the growth of our program. There was plenty of attacking rugby on display, and the boys did a great job finishing the day with another win for Clemson.
What was most satisfying is that we had 5 players play their very first game of rugby....
"Was an absolute blast - and I can't wait to keep getting better at it - see you at training!"
Things you LOVE to hear.
Preseason is done.
We have already ripped into another training week, with sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday before we travel to Tuscaloosa on Friday.
This weekend, we take on Alabama in our first conference match of the season.
We're excited about where this group can get to, but we also know there is still plenty of work ahead.
Every week is an opportunity to improve.
Every training session matters.
And every time we pull on that orange jersey, we have a responsibility to represent those who have come before us.
At the end of the day, that's what we're working towards - to leave the jersey and this program in a better place.
We're looking forward to heading down to Tuscaloosa and representing Clemson Rugby with plenty of pride.
First conference game of the year.
-Clemson vs. Alabama
-Tuscaloosa, AL
-1XV kick off at 12:00PM Local Time (2XV right after).
Troy