The Franciscan Barons ruggers aimed to secure an automatic bid to Nationals by winning the ARU 7's Conference Championship after finishing 4th in the Pittsburgh 7's qualifier. Despite a strong start in pool play, they faced a challenging match against Slippery Rock University in the semifinals, where errors cost them victory, leading to a 5-24 loss.

By the Numbers
  • Franciscan beat Clarion 36-5 and UPJ 50-0 in pool play.
  • They lost to Slippery Rock University 5-24 in the semifinals but defeated Robert Morris University 52-0 in the third-place match.
Yes, But

Despite their loss in the semifinals, the Barons regrouped to secure a convincing victory in the third-place match, finishing the day with a 3-1 record.

State of Play
  • Franciscan awaits a potential at-large selection into the National Championship Tournament in Washington D.C.
  • The selection will be revealed during the selection Saturday Show on The Rugby Network this Saturday night.
What's Next

Franciscan will focus on improving their game plan execution and structure to enhance their chances of success in future competitions.

Bottom Line

The Franciscan Barons faced ups and downs in the ARU 7's Conference Championship, highlighting the importance of minimizing errors to secure crucial victories and advance in high-stakes competitions.