Austin Blacks Head To USA Rugby Division 1 Playoffs Via Forfeit Win

The Austin Blacks Division 1 team was training hard this week when they heard a bit of surprising news. Their opponent for the USA Rugby “Round of 32″, The Denver Barbarians, will not travel to Austin for the match and have forfeited. The news brought mixed emotions from Coach Lachlan Ferguson. “On one hand its great because obviously we are one step closer to our ultimate goal, plus we get to rest some guys that have a few nagging  injuries. On the other hand we’re a little bummed because we were excited to see where we stack up against a top team like Denver.”

The Blacks will now play a few warm up matches against touring sides from London and Vancouver in preparation for their first round match in the Division 1 Club playoffs on May 21st against likely opponent Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC) from San Diego. That matchup will take place basically in OMBAC’s backyard in nearby Chula Vista California.

With a superb record of success in years past, and “home field” advantage, the Blacks will have a tough opponent ahead of them in OMBAC. This Blacks team however seems destined for a great run at the Division 1 National Championship after going an undefeated 10-0 in the TRU season with an amazing 499  points scored while holding their opponents to a meager 136 points. Will this year finally be the year where the Austin Blacks hoist the Championship trophy after being runner up on 3 separate occasions (2002, 2004, 2007)?  Only time will tell.