One year ago, Thomas More College didn’t even have a Men’s Rugby Program, today it’s ranked among the best! In the Men’s Top 50 Fall Rankings released by the National Small College Rugby Organization, TMC’s Men’s Rugby comes in at number thirty-two. This list was based on approximately 185 NSCRO playoff eligible teams that participated in fall league play.
The men’s team finished with a record of 6-1 in its inaugural season, with the only loss to Xavier University, the number one ranked team in the country. The Saints were the only team to score a try on Xavier during the regular season. Noteworthy TMC victories came against Eastern Kentucky University, nationally ranked Ohio Wesleyan University, and Wittenberg University.
Player highlights included Damon Jones, freshman rugger from Virginia, being named Cincinnati area player of the week after his strong performance against Eastern Kentucky University, and Trent Ledbetter, Kevin Root, and Damon Jones celebrated as individual scoring leaders.
The team is comprised of players from 18 different high schools in seven different states and is led by Head Coach Al Lucas, Director of Rugby Recruitment John Fox, and Assistant Coaches Kirk Dube, Tim Ryan, and Chuck Tunnacliffe.
Thomas More College fields both a men’s and a women’s rugby team as a co-curricular activity under the Department of Student Affairs. Both teams will compete in the NSCRO League playing 7s in the spring semester.
