ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine men’s rugby club will host the New England Rugby Football Union College Men’s Division Conference Championships this weekend.
UMaine (5-1), the No. 1 team in the northern division of the conference, hosts Tufts (4-1), the No. 2 team in the southern division, at noon Saturday at Lengyel Field. Phasathon Itthipalakorn of Augusta captains the 40-member UMaine squad, which has outscored opponents 202-52 this season.
“The team being able to host and compete in the playoffs this year shows all the hard work and dedication the players have put in during this season and the off-season,” coach Dale Russell said in a news release.
The University of Maine at Farmington (5-1), the No. 2 team in the northern division of the conference, plays Eastern Connecticut State University (6-0), the No. 1 team in the southern division, at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The winners of Saturday’s matches will square off at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 8.
The conference champion will advance to the National Small College Rugby Organization Regional Tournament at Eastern Connecticut State University on Nov. 21-22. The runner-up will take on the Upstate New York Rugby Conference runner-up on Nov. 14 in Saratoga Springs, New York.