Days after the 15s season came to a close, Michigan’s men’s rugby players gathered to begin plans for their annual intrasquad tournament to take place during the first three weeks of February. Every year, before game strategies and set piece plays are discussed, the new members of the program are drafted one by one onto their eternal Intrasquads teams: the Dudes, Bennies or Sues. Balancing the factors of skill, potential and youth, leaders of each team unselfishly debate in order to plan for years of success.
This year, the Sues look to defend their unlikely championship in 2022, which they only managed after overcoming several key injuries and a comeback semifinal win against the Dudes. But all three teams have reasons to believe they can come out on top this year, and only one team will hoist the plate that has been in the possession of the Sues for the last number of years. Let’s dive into the preseason rankings for the 2023 Intrasquads tournament.
#3 Sues:
The Sues are confident in their chances of reclaiming their title, and have no plans in giving up a trophy that has been in their possession for nearly a decade. George Janke, sole captain for the upcoming winter season, drafted this year’s team in order to maintain the Sues’ “dynasty”. Freshmen Ty West and Connor Gilfilan were the third and fourth overall picks of the draft with both having top side experience from the fall. In 2022, when the Sues were troubled with injuries, Tom Southam and Michael Ackerman stepped up to help win the tournament, and a similar narrative arises this year. Nursing inconvenient injuries, center Armen Vartanian and prop George Janke are questionable going into the first round of matches.
#2 Dudes:
After blowing a three try lead to the Sues in the semifinal in 2022, which left them with a third place finish, the Dudes are looking for revenge, and they have the firepower to do so. With two thirds of Michigan’s 15s front row–Matt Daines and Tommy Hendricks–on the Dudes roster, strength and experience are in their favor. Transfer student Jordan Bacharach, both one of the fastest and biggest players on the roster, has expectations to fill as the second overall pick in a draft overflowing with talent. The Dudes are pushing for a win in 2023, proved by their second pick Colin Sampic, a junior exchange student from Paris, France who will only be on the squad for one semester. Colin adds a rare decade of rugby experience to the squad.
#1 Bennies:
Coming off a second place finish after being placed third in the preseason rankings in 2022, the Bennies had a successful year. Their forward pack has some new faces as well as some very, very old ones. Quinn Mahoney and Brendan Willis joined the Bennies this season and are keen to make an instant impact, while Nathan Feldman, a graduate student, looks to claim the championship in his fourth year as a Bennie. In Luke Zana and Justin Ladd, the Bennies undeniably have the fastest backs in the tournament, which may make all the difference. The Bennies top this year’s pre-season rankings.
