Big weekend

The University of South Carolina men’s rugby team posted an impressive 3-1-1 record at the Sunshine 7s tournament in Gainesville on Saturday.

The Gamecocks finished just one point shy of a semifinal berth, ultimately placing fifth after the bracket tiebreakers did not fall their way.

South Carolina opened the tournament with a 14-14 draw against Aquinas College, a varsity program from Michigan. After a dominant 42-0 win over Clemson B, USC dropped a hard-fought 26-19 decision to Division I Indiana. The Gamecocks created opportunities late, but two unconverted lineouts proved costly in the narrow defeat.

USC closed out the day with convincing wins over Alabama (27-12) and Virginia Tech (33-7).

With the weekend’s results, the Gamecocks now stand at 10-3-1 in 7s play this season. The squad has earned decisive victories over DI-AA opponents and has pushed top Division I teams to the brink, though a signature win against a D1 side remains elusive.

Meanwhile, in Oxford, Mississippi, South Carolina claimed the Magnolia 7s championship. The Gamecocks fielded three teams in the tournament, competing against Ole Miss, Middle Tennessee State, and Mississippi State.

“It’s no small undertaking to take one team to Gainesville and send three others to Oxford on the same weekend,” said Coach John Roberts. “It speaks volumes about our fundraising, organization, and our commitment to providing a rugby student experience that is unmatched.”

This weekend, the Gamecocks’ 7s squad travels to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for the Frostbite 7s, while the 15s team hits the road to face NC State.