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Franciscan University of Steubenville’s men’s rugby team has won its first National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Division III National Championship. The Barons defeated Slippery Rock University 29–17 in the final match held in Houston, Texas, on December 14. This victory marks the first national title for Franciscan’s rugby program since it was established 25 years ago.

The team finished the season with a 12–2 record and remained undefeated at home. Their postseason journey included wins over several highly ranked teams. To qualify for the NCR Division III Tournament, Franciscan beat Susquehanna University in a play-in game on November 15.

In the Round of 16, held in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Franciscan upset top-ranked Virginia Military Institute with a score of 29–19. They then secured a decisive 36–10 win against Duke University in the Elite Eight. In Houston, during the Final Four, they defeated Holy Cross 44–20 before facing Slippery Rock again for the championship.

Franciscan and Slippery Rock had played twice earlier in the season, each winning one match. The Barons previously beat Slippery Rock when they were ranked No. 1 nationally but lost to them in their conference championship game.

Athletics Director Danny Andersen commented on the achievement: “We couldn’t be prouder of our rugby program. Our team went toe-to-toe with the finest competition in the country and came out on top. They grappled with plenty of adversity along the way and met it with poise, discipline, and grace while representing Franciscan University with honor,” Andersen said. “This national title is a testament to the men who founded and built the program over the past 25 years with a mission of spreading the Gospel and pursuing excellence through sport. This was a hard-fought, well-deserved championship a quarter century in the making.”

Junior accounting major Jacob Leerkes from Ypsilanti, Michigan was named MVP of the tournament for his performance throughout.

Sophomore captain Joseph Moleski reflected on what winning meant to him: “Playing on the team has meant everything,” Moleski said. “It took a lot of work and a lot of prayer, but I was surrounded by the tightest-knit group of guys. They poured themselves out for the team day in and day out. Seeing the final seconds expire and hearing the final whistle didn’t feel real. Our whole season came down to that moment, and it was perfect.”

Head coach Jason Adams spoke about how his players responded after an earlier loss to Slippery Rock: “The boys were of the mindset of taking it one game at a time,” Adams said. “They learned from the Slippery Rock loss earlier in the year and became better finishers with each match that followed. After that loss, they immediately said they wanted Slippery Rock in the finals. That’s when I knew we could catch fire—and glory to God, that’s exactly what happened.”

A photo capturing their victory can be found here.

More information about Franciscan University’s rugby program is available at franciscanathletics.com.