NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University men's rugby team is bound for the national stage once again, qualifying for the 2025 Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) Division II 15s National Tournament and earning a berth in the Sweet 16 round in the Midwest Region.

The Cadets will open play as the #3 seed against second-seeded Scranton University on Friday, Nov. 21 at Fortress Obetz Stadium in Obetz, Ohio.  Regardless of the outcome, Norwich will return to the pitch in the following days, either in the regional final on Nov. 23 or a consolation matchup on Nov. 22.

This marks the program's ninth consecutive appearance in the CRC Division II Sweet 16, a streak that has yielded six Elite Eight berths and five Final Four appearances, including last year's third-place national finish.  Two of those national semifinal runs (2017 and 2024) ended in sudden-death double overtime, underscoring the program's consistent presence at the highest levels of college ruby.

Norwich enters the Midwest pod after finishing as runner-up in the North Atlantic Collegiate Rugby (NACR) Championship on Nov. 9, falling 43-10 to #1-ranked University of Vermont in Burlington.  The Cadets opened the match with early attacking pressure before a 60-meter interception try flipped momentum toward the Catamounts.  Norwich responded with a composed second half, notching tries from Jake Peterson (Trumbull, Conn.) and Tejuan Hammons (Hampton, Va.).

"It was similar to Halloween on the scoreboard, but we played much more in attack," said Head Coach Bob Weggler following the match.  "We played with heart and grit.  I am so proud of our guys."

Peterson was named Norwich's Man of the Match for his efforts, leading a core that includes Doran Schwartz (Akron, Pa.), Aedan Kerr (Hillside, N.J.), and Jeff Pappalardo (Boxford, Mass.).  That leadership group, alongside four-year seniors Dumisani Janda (Harare, Zimbabwe) and Sonny Mammaro (Asbury, N.J.), has been a foundational presence in the program's rise, with most making their fourth straight Sweet 16 appearance this weekend.

Standing in their way is Scranton University, the #2 seed in the Midwest Region and the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference (MARC) Champion.  The Horsemen are riding a six-match winning streak after dropping their season opener, capped by a 23-20 victory over Salisbury in the MARC title match.  Freshman Ryan Wimmer was named MVP of the MARC playoffs, helping pace a balanced and resilient Scranton squad into the national bracket.

Weggler, alongside assistant coach Austin Manhey, noted the challenge ahead with respect and readiness.

"Coach Manhey and I are proud of how this young team has battled to get to this stage," Weggler said.  "We all are looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead in Columbus, Ohio."

The Midwest Region includes top-seeded Northern Iowa, #4 Grand Valley State, Scranton, and Norwich.  Elsewhere in the bracket, the West Region will take place in Missouri and features #1 Chicago, #2 Colorado Mesa, #3 Loyola-Chicago, and #4 Benedictine.  The East Region is headlined by #1 Vermont, #2 IUP (the reigning national champions), #3 Cornell, and #4 Villanova.  The South Region includes #1 UNC-Wilmington, #2 Coastal Carolina, #3 Memphis, and #4 Salisbury.

The four regional winners will advance to the CRC Division II Final Four, hosted Dec. 12 in Houston, Texas.

For the Norwich program, the national tournament remains a proving ground for both tradition and tenacity.  The Cadets have stood among the most successful college teams in the country, blending tactical discipline with physicality and depth.  Last year, they reached the Final Four with wins over Villanova and Georgetown before falling to IUP in a heartbreaking double-overtime semifinal in Houston.  Norwich bounced back to defeat Towson and secure a third-place national finish.

This year's squad brings that experience forward while blending in new faces across the forward pack and backline.  A physical, defense-first identity has shaped the Cadets' fall campaign, and with a nine-year run of postseason berths behind them, they will look to extend their stay in Ohio and earn another ticket to Texas.