Wheeling, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Men's Rugby program (8-3) reached new heights in terms of 15's play in 2024. The Cardinals made it to the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) DI Semifinals for the first time in program history, finishing 8-3 on the season. They wrapped up the historic season by finishing fourth in the NCR Top 20 Coaches Poll, their highest finish in program history, bringing a historic season to an end. 

The Cardinals took on eventual NCR runners-up Queens University of Charlotte in the National Title game, and it was a back and forth match throughout the night. The Cardinals would be the first to get the offense going, scoring a try in the game's fifth minute, but the Lions wouldn't be held down for long. They scored three straight tries over the next 35 minutes, building a 21-7 advantage. Wheeling answered with a Penalty Kick before the half, but would go into the locker room trailing 21-10. Wheeling would come out of the locker room energized, scoring 12 points over the final 40 minutes, and going 1-2 on the conversion kicks. However, the damage had been done as Queens added 12 points of their own and went on to win 33-22, ending the Cardinal's season. 

Leading the team throughout the postseason was Panashe Mugorogodi, who scored the first try of the night and finished with five points. With both offenses trying to get established early on, Mugorogodi took the ball into his own hands to get the Cardinals on the board. It was his fourth try of the NCR tournament as he scored at least one try in all three games. His biggest scoring effort of the postseason came in the quarterfinal against Notre Dame, where he went off for two tries and helped send the Cardinals to the semifinals for the first time in program history during 15's season. Mugorogodi wrapped up a solid first season with the Cardinals and will look to continue that success into 7's season. 

Leading the Cardinals in the kicking game was Shadreck Mandaza, who was the team's leading scorer with seven points on the night. He would attempt two conversion kicks, putting both through the uprights and added a Penalty Kick to round out his day. Mandaza has been one of the most consistent kickers in the league, making nearly every kick he attempted during the season. The Cardinals had two other try scorers on the day, with Aaron Juma and Alex Nyamunda each scoring and finishing with five points. Nyamunda finished the year as the Cardinal's leading try scorer, finishing with 11 tries on the season, and rounding out a strong 15's season. Juma, who was drafted in the most recent Major League Rugby (MLR) draft, finished his season with six tries as he rounded out his final 15's season. 

Leading the way in the final NCR Top 20 Coaches Poll was National Champion Brown University. They were followed by #2 Queens and #3 St. Bonaventure to round out the top three. The rest of the Top 20 Coaches Poll looks like this: 

The Wheeling University Men's Rugby team now prepares for the upcoming 7's season, where they will serve as defending National Champions.