On a sunny day at Randalls Island 20 college and U19 rugby teams gathered for the 2007 annual Big Apple Classic rugby tournament. The winners were as follows: Mens Championship: Albright College, Mens Plate: SUNY Buffalo, Mens Bowl: Fordham University, Womens Championship: Fordham, U19 boys: Long Island. Thank you to everyone who came out to play, run and ref the tournament.

Last years Big Apple Classic was hampered by severe weather, this year the Nor'easter spared the rugby and hit New York a day later. With the weather forecast looking good for the day nearly all the teams slated to show turned up, ensuring re-affirmation of the BAC as one of the biggest and most competitive college tournments in the region. Former winners, Bignhamton men and Fordham women, mixed it with exciting newcomers such as East Stroudsburg men and U Conn women. In the end it was a mens newcomer and the reigning womens champions who triumphed.

Up and coming Division 2 Albright were a model of consistency all day and went into the final favorites against NYS D1 Binghamton. They had already dispatched with two other D1 competitors in SUNY Buffalo (NYS) and East Stroudsburg (MARFU, now D2 with the creation of the MARFU premier league). Unfortunately the match didn't go ahead as Binghamton suffered several debilitating injuries in narrowly beating Iona in the other semi final. This forced Binghamton to forfeit the final as they felt they could not raise a team. In the womens division Fordham women continued their dominance by beating all-comers, including edging U Conn in a tense, nail-biting match that ended 5-3 to Fordham. Buffalo picked up the mens plate, beating Seton Hall 26 - 10, while Fordham picked up the mens bowl, beating Maritime 20 - 7.

This year the BAC also included U-19 teams for the first time. We are looking forward to expanding this division in next years tournament. Long Island proved too good for New York in this division.

Thanks to all the participants and congratulations to the winners. Full results can be found HERE.