Nicolet Grads in Rugby Sevens Championships

Six former Nicolet High School rugby players — all members of the Knights’ 2008 state champions — will compete this weekend in the inaugural USA Rugby Collegiate Sevens National Championships at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX.

Rugby Sevens is a fast-paced version of the full sport, with seven players per side and just seven-minute halves.

Three of the players are members of the team at UW-Milwaukee, which Nicolet coach James Davis said is the only Division II team in the championships. Those players are Colin Long, Billy Crass and Matt Conen. Milwaukee faces St. Mary’s, North Carolina State and Western Washington in pool play.

Representing UW-Madison are Ben Knight and Cory Katzban, while Nick Vigder plays for the University of Tennessee.

There are 24 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams in these championships. Matches are slated to be webcast.

.

Never seen rugby? , featuring highlights from a match last spring against Whitefish Bay.