51����

Now there’s no doubt.

A third-place finish at the Frostbite 7s in early March put St. Bonaventure in a solid position to make a case for an at-large bid to the men’s 2025 Collegiate Rugby Championship National 7s.

But winning the Old Blue 7s tournament at Mt. Vernon on Saturday guaranteed that bid. The Bonnies went 5-0 at the 16-team tournament, defeating Siena, 21-14, in the all-Franciscan title game.

“The lads played some really nice rugby,” said Danny Neighbour, SBU’s head coach. “It’s great to be getting hot just as we enter April. Great defense was really the key, and all 15 guys contributed in the path to the finals.”

The Bonnies’ Troy Heroldt was named player of the tournament.

SBU went 3-0 in pool play, manhandling Marist (45-0), Nazareth (33-12) and Iona (42-0) to reach the semifinal round, where they edged Fordham, 14-5.

The Bonnies have one more 7s tournament, at Fairfield on April 12, to get ready for the CRC National 7s April 25-27 at Boyds, Maryland.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure is a community committed to transforming the lives of its students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a commitment to academic excellence and lifelong civic engagement. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #6 for value and #14 for innovation by U.S. News and World Report (2024).