A chance to step up

Saturday’s contest against Tennessee will be a tough test for South Carolina as it tries to elbow its way to the top of NCR Division I-AA 15s teams.

Both teams enter the contest with unblemished records and deep rosters. C-sides will kick off at 12:30 p.m. with A- and B- side contests to follow. The games will be played at the USC Club Sports complex at 1101 Bluff Rd. Admission is free.

While the Cocks have ruled the roost in 7s, capturing back-to-back Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference Championships, 15s has been a tougher path. But last year the squad took a big step.

Case in point. In fall, 2021, the Gamecocks struggled mightily. John Roberts had just been hired as coach, and the gap between USC and the SCRC traditional powers was huge. That year, the Gamecocks lost to Clemson and Kentucky by more than 40 points. And the University of Tennessee drummed USC in Columbia 56-7.

Last year, it was clear USC had closed the gap. Early going the Gamecocks defeated Clemson for the first time in recent memory but lost to Kentucky by 10 points. The Wildcats, who were not eligible to advance to the NCR national championship tournament, finished the fall with a single loss.

The Gamecocks then dropped a 27-12 game to the Volunteers in Knoxville but advanced to the SCRC finals for a rematch. USC held the lead late but surrendered to Tennessee 27-22 in a thriller. USC went on to finish ranked 7th by NCR.

This fall national polls have UT ranked 4 (Goff) and 5 (NCR) and Kentucky 3 (Goff) and 7 (NCR). The Gamecocks have been ranked 8 (NCR) and 11 (Goff). To be fair, we think the Goff ranking is more reflective of the strength of the Wildcats’ program.

Fall contests against Kentucky, UT, and Clemson (another top-tier 15s program) will offer the Gamecocks a chance to measure up against the very best in Division 1AA rugby. How will they do?

“Hopefully we can take another step up,” said Head Coach John Roberts. “We have not defeated KU or UT in nearly a decade.”

The Gamecocks return with most of last year’s team intact (just three starters have moved on). Thanks to another strong recruiting class, USC is deeper and bigger than last year’s squad.

Will it be enough?

We don’t know. But it should make for some entertaining – and very close – games. And it starts Saturday against the Vols.