Wheeling, W. Va. - 2024 was a big season for Wheeling Rugby with the Men's and Women's programs both bringing home National Championships. On Friday, the celebration continues for both teams as they are honored during Wheeling University night when the Wheeling Nailers honor both teams before they take on the Reading Royals. Both teams will be honored during the pregame ceremony and will participate in activities throughout the night in honor of the National Championship run.
"We are very excited to be recognized by the Nailers," said Wheeling University Head Men's Rugby Coach Mike Geibel. "The Wheeling community has been so welcoming and supportive of our teams. With the Lightningbirds winning their championship and the Nailers clinching a playoff spot, Wheeling is becoming a city of champions and we're proud to be able to add to that and bring home some hardware to the Friendly City."
During the pregame ceremony, six players will be selected to sit on the bench during warm-ups before the ceremony begins at 6:45 PM. The Wheeling Men's Rugby team will be making the tunnel for the players to take the ice through, while the Women's team will hold the team flag. Head Coaches Mike Geibel and Ken Pape will be part of the ceremonial puck drop before the game starts, and the team will head up to the stands for the action. At the end of the first period, both teams will come back onto the ice for a tug of war match between the men's and women's teams. When the second period comes to an end, the Nailers will be holding a special "Chuck a Puck" fundraiser for the Wheeling Women's Rugby team. It will be a night of celebration for the two Rugby programs, celebrating their elite status in the collegiate Rugby scene.
The Men's Rugby team were the first to bring the National Title home to Wheeling, winning the 2024 Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) National 7's Championship. It was a big regular season for the Cardinals, with the team going 20-0-1, winning the Big Rivers Rugby Conference (BRRC) Championship over the University of Rio Grande. They earned the #1 seed for their CRC run and would go 3-0 on the first day with wins over Fordham University, Mt. St. Mary's, and Indiana to get to the semifinals. There, they would meet Babson College, who they took down 24-0, and they would earn a meeting with Kutztown in the National Championship game. The Cardinals scored early and often, putting 29 points on the board and it was enough to earn the National Championship with a 29-12 win.
For the women's program, the National Championship came in the Fall after the team went 8-0 in their inaugural season. They earned a spot in the Allegheny Rugby Union (ARU) Championship match against St. Bonaventure and brought home the title with a 55-10 win. They made it into the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) 15's Playoffs. They would face a tough test in their opening match, surviving the University of Virginia in a 31-27 game. They would come back with a convincing 35-19 win over Northeastern, and advanced to the National Championship game. It would be no easy task, as they faced Southern Nazarene in Houston, Texas, but the offense was up to the task. The Cardinals would take down Southern Nazarene 58-17, wrapping up the day and earning them their first National Championship.
Get your tickets for Wheeling University night now to celebrate the Wheeling Rugby National Championships by clicking HERE.
