OU Men's Rugby Team Travel to Dallas for West Qualifier

The OU Men's 7s squad travel to Dallas on Saturday to compete in a tournament that could qualify them to compete for the Western Territory Championship.

The tournament, a men's-only venue, is hosted by the Dallas Harlequins and has over two-dozen teams vying for the top three spots, according to the tournament website.

"The men have worked trmemdously hard at practice during these past few weeks since the last time we went to Dallas for the Lone Star Classic," said head coach Kenny Foreman. "They're coming out at 6:00 in the evening when it's still 95 degrees outside and running their asses off. Their heart and dedication proves how bad they want this."

Teams that finish first, second and third in West qualifying tournaments will earn points toward entry the West Territory 7s Championship Tournament. The number of points earned not only determines who will be able to enter the tournament, but also the seeding of those teams.

Two OU Women Ruggers represent Oklahoma on all-star rugby team

Two players from the OU Women's Rugby Team traveled to Pittsburg, PA, last week to play for the West Rugby Territory Under-23 Select-Side Team at the 2009 Women's Inter-territorial Tournament (ITT).

Kelsey "K-Hud" Hudson and Whitney "Emo" Wayland, selected in March at a tryout venue in Glendale, CO, are the first ruggers to represent OU on the West U-23 Select-Side Team in over three years, and their selection will help OU Women's Rugby regain the national notoriety it has enjoyed in years past, according to former Head Coach Tracy Curtis.

The West Territory is comprised of four rugby unions (rugby's version of "conferences") from around the region, and 25 players were selected from 10 different states for the all-star team. The West Team played three games during the week, wrapping up competition on Sunday with a final record of 2-1.

"Representing OU felt pretty badass," Hudson said. "I love carrying our Oklahoma Rugby kit bags because people notice who you are and where you're from. It also felt good giving the Texas people shit, because even though we're on the same team, the OU/Texas rivalry never ends." Hudson, who served as Co-Captain of the women's team during the 2008-2009 school year, said Wayland represented OU very well. "Everyone knew who Emo was, her nickname was 'Sooner Nation.'"

The Pittsburg ITT served as a venue for coaches from the USA Under-23 National Team to scout and talk to potential players. Because of their stellar performance last week, Hudson and Wayland may have a shot at making the USA National Team, according to the West's Head Coach Angie Cranmore.

Men's Summer 7s Squad takes Bowl Championship at Lone Star Classic

The OU 7s Rugby Team placed 3rd at the Lone Star Classic 7s Tournament in Dallas, TX, Saturday.

This earned the squad 4 points in the TOLA (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas) 7s Series, starting the summer off as 4th in the men's standings, according to the TOLA website.

7s is a fast-paced variation of rugby played during the summer months where each team fields seven players for a game of two seven-minute halves (instead of the usual 15 players and 40 minute halves played in traditional rugby during the spring and fall).

The OU squad was exhausted after playing six games throughout the day, said Team Captain Danny Dunlop; their first game kicked off at 9 a.m. and their last game wrapped up around 5:30 p.m.

OU's Club will host their own tournament in the TOLA series - Tornado Alley 7s - here in Norman on July 18.