College rugby tournament in Chester a prelude to sport’s return to Olympics in Rio
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The Talen Energy Stadium was host to the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship this weekend. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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A scrum between University of Michigan and UCLA during tthe Collegiate Rugby Championship at Talen Energry Stadium. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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Players from Saint Joe's University lift a teammate to catch the ball in a match against University of Arizona. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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Players jump for the ball during a match that saw Temple come from far behind to overtake Clemson University. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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Fans cheer during an exciting match between Temple and Clemson University. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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The Commodore Barry Bridge and Chester Waterfront were the backdrop for the Collegiate Rugby National Championship Saturday and Sunday. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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Players from University of Wisconsin and University of South Carolina in action at the Collegiate Rugby National Championship Saturday at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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Players from University of Maryland and University of Tennessee in action Saturday. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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The women's teams from Penn State and Ohio State faced off during Saturday's tournament. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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The women's teams from Penn State and Ohio State faced off during Saturday's tournament. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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Players from UCLA and University of Michigan take the field at Talen Energy Stadium. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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Players from UCLA and University of Michigan dive for the ball. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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University of Michigan fans react to a call during a match that saw their team get shut out 31-0 by UCLA. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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Players from UCLA and University of Michigan dive for the ball. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
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UCLA fans cheer on their team as they cruised to victory over University of Michigan. (Brad Larrison for WHYY)
Collegiate rugby teams from across the United States travelled to the Talen Energy Stadium in Chester this weekend for the Penn Mutual National Championship tournament.
Inside the stadium and in adjacent fields, teams of men and women faced off in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans of the sport.
As the 2016 Summer Olympic Games approach, the event served as a spotlight for the sport, which is making it’s return to the games in Rio De Janeiro after a 92-year hiatus.
Launched in 2010, The Penn Mutual championship has been part of a nationwide effort to build talent and grow interest in rugby as the sport gains popularity in the U.S. and abroad.
Ten alumni of Saint Joe’s Prep high school rugby program faced off against each other, playing for University of South Carolina, Penn State University, Saint Joe’s University, Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, Mt. Saint Mary’s, and Temple University.
In one of the more exciting matches Saturday, the Temple Owls scored 19 unanswered points in a comeback against the Clemson University Tigers. Down 12 points after the first half, the Owl’s rallied while the hometown crowd, wearing cherry and white, cheered them on.
University of California is the defending three-time champion of the tournament in which the winner takes home the Pete Dawkins trophy. The award is named after the Heisman Trophy winner from West Point’s football team who went on to become a Rhodes Scholar and excelled on the rugby field while attending Oxford University.
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