SOUTH BEND, IN. – What. A. Day. The 2024 Big Ten Universities Rugby Conference Championship event featured six highly competitive matches to cap off a similarly competitive conference season.
Purdue vs Michigan
In the Shield Final, Michigan jumped out to a quick lead after scoring four tries and going into half up 26-14. When play resumed, the Wolverines controlled the next 20 minutes while scoring two more tries before Purdue answered with two tries of their own. The match ended in Michigan’s favor. Michigan 41, Purdue 26.
Michigan State vs Illinois
The Bowl Final was a thriller. Illinois controlled much of the first half after kicking three penalty goals before Michigan State scored two quick tries in the last three minutes of the half. The Spartans lead 12-9 at intermission. When the half resumed, the score remained until the 59th minute when a lucky bounce from a clearance kick turned into an 80-meter try for the Spartans, 17-9. The Fighting Illini quickly responded with a try of their own to bring the score to 17-14 with 14 minutes left to play.
After receiving the subsequent kick off, the Illini worked the ball back into the Spartans’ half before connecting on a beautiful kick ahead by the Illinois flyhalf that was collected by his outside center sprinting down the sideline. Illinois then converted that try and was up 21-17. After the restart, the Illini retained control of the ball and would kick a 20-meter penalty goal right before the final whistle to win 24-17.
Wisconsin vs Indiana
Indiana got on the board first with a couple of scores before Wisconsin was able to score their first converted try. At that point, Indiana was up 10-7. After more back-and-forth and trading respective scores, the half ended with Indiana in the lead, 22-14. The second half was all Hoosiers as they were able to shut out the Badgers and score 14 unanswered points to win, 36-24.
Ohio State vs Notre Dame
In the main event, Ohio State started the scoring when they crossed the try zone after a penalty shortly before 10:00 minutes. After converting the try, the Buckeyes held a 7-0 lead into halftime.
The intensity remained high into the second half as the two teams attempted to hold off the other’s attack. The Irish were the first on the board as they crossed over the line for a try after a tough goal line stand to make the score, 7-7. A short time later, the Irish were able to use a penalty to get back inside Ohio State’s 22-meter zone and after a number of phases, were able to sneak in another gutty try and go up 14-7. At 65:00 minutes, Ohio State used a lineout attack to push within the Irish 5 meter line. From there the Buckeyes scored their second try to tie the game, 14-14. After the Irish kicked the subsequent kickoff deep into Ohio State’s zone, the Buckeyes immediately returned the kick which the Irish used to force an Ohio State penalty for not rolling away. Notre Dame took that opportunity to line up and make a penalty goal to go up 17-14.
In the last 5 minutes of the match, Notre Dame was attempting to waste the clock deep in their zone, but they had to use a clearance kick that ultimately did not make touch. Ohio State used this error as an attacking opportunity to get close to the Notre Dame try line and allow them to use a Notre Dame penalty to set up a lineout 10 meters out. After a successful lineout and maul, it took Ohio State two phases to cross over the try zone for the last score of the match and an Ohio State victory. Final Score: Ohio State 21, Notre Dame 17.
Players of the Match were Dan Carroll (No. 8) and Tommy Kilbane (Fullback).
Second Side Championship
Ohio State also retained the Second Side Championship after defeating Indiana, 40-14.
Full Schedule
Match | Team | Score | Team | Score |
Shield Final | Purdue | 26 | Michigan | 41 |
Bowl Final | Michigan State | 17 | Illinois | 24 |
Plate Final | Wisconsin | 14 | Indiana | 36 |
Championship Final | Ohio State | 21 | Notre Dame | 17 |
Second Side Competitions
Match | Team | Score | Team | Score |
Second Side Championship | Indiana | 14 | Ohio State | 40 |
Notre Dame | 31 | Illinois | 24 |
About Big Ten Universities Rugby Conference
Founded in 2012, the Big Ten Universities Rugby Conference is an intercollegiate rugby competition in the United States with member clubs representing some of the largest and best academic public institutions in the country. Member clubs include; Indiana University, Purdue University, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, and University of Wisconsin.
For more information, visit www.BigTenRugby.com and follow @BigTenRugby on Facebook (facebook.com/BTURugby) and Instagram (instagram.com/BigTenRugby).