UMaine Men’s Rugby Team places fifth in division of national championship

The University of Maine Men’s Rugby Team placed fifth in the small college division of the 2022 Collegiate Rugby Championship May 28–30.

Black Bears, led by team captain Shawn Nitsche of Shelton, Connecticut, defeated teams from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, the University of Denver, Susquehanna University, the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Coastal Carolina University and Loyola University Maryland during the competition in New Orleans, also known as May Madness 7s. They lost to Christendom College, 21–7. Their division consisted of 28 teams overall. 

Of the 25 UMaine team members, 16 competed in the national championship, including eight who were returning players for the team. It was the first 7s national championship, meaning seven players per team competing in a game, for which the Black Bears have qualified. The last national championship the team participated in was a 15s championship in 2016, during which it finished in sixth place.