Cultivating Experience & Perspective: Hawkeyes 7s Team Persist on the Road

April 17, 2026

“The team that showed up on Sunday was not the same team that showed up Saturday. We are happy with the teams response to their adversity. We could tell that no other team has IOWA playing in the finals on their bingo card.” - Iowa coaches Tyler Dailey and Alistair Miller

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Walking off the pitch on a hot Sunday afternoon after the final whistle of the championship match of the 2026 Big Ten 7s tournament in Indianapolis,on April 12, 2026, the University of Iowa men’s rugby players and coaches couldn’t help but feel the sting of missed opportunity. In the final seconds against a heavily favored Indiana, down 19–12, and despite possession and forward momentum, the Hawkeyes ultimately could not string together enough clean passes to score and tie the match. The tournament concluded with the team having to settle for second place. Disappointing, but…

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Some perspective. The Hoosiers are considered one of the top premier division 7s teams in the country, having qualified for the NCR 7s championship to be played later this month. (Iowa has qualified for this tournament, too, at the D1-AA level.) And they were playing close to home with a full squad. The Hawkeyes play one division below and were a long way from home, with a few key players not able to make the trip. Considering all this, and the fact that Iowa had lost big to Indiana 45–12 in pool play the day before, it was a superb effort and a well-earned result.

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In pool play on Saturday, April 11, Iowa’s first match was a blow-out loss to eventual champions Indiana. In the second pool match, the Hawkeyes regrouped, re-found their defensive identity, and comfortably beat the Wolverines of Michigan, 21–7, securing the 5th seed in the next day’s knockout quarterfinals round.

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On day two of the tournament, Iowa dispatched 4th seed Wisconsin 21–12 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, the Hawkeyes faced Michigan again, and again held the Wolverines to one try, winning 19–5 to advance to the finals, a rematch against the Hoosiers. In the championship match, the Hawkeyes found themselves down 19–5 late in the second half, but the team kept its composure, scored to pull within seven points, and regained one last possession, but time ran out.

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The weekend before, March 28–29, the Hawkeyes traveled to South Bend, Indiana, for the very competitive Fighting Irish 7s invitational tournament. Iowa beat Rio Grande, lost to Thomas More, and lost to one of the top premier 7s teams in the country, Wheeling. Again, a few key Iowa players could not make the trip, but younger players stepped up and gained valuable match experience.

Starting back at the City 7s tournament (where Iowa were champions) held March 21 in Kansas City, Missouri, the Hawkeyes have traveled nearly 2000 miles in three weeks. Along the way, the team has celebrated one tournament championship, picked up a BIG 10 second-place finish, played well against premier division opponents, and qualified for the CRC national 7s championship tournament. Several young players have received considerable game experience in high pressure situations. Team camaraderie is strong. Players are committed. Coaches are confident. Let’s keep it rolling.

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Next up:

Heart of America conference 7s tournament: April 19, Omaha, NE.
CRC national 7s tournament: April 24–25, Boyds, MD
CRAA national 7s tournament: May 16–17, Iowa City, IA

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Media notices:

The Hawkeyes' success has generated some online notice.

College Rugby Show interviews with Michael and Ren
CRC website write-up “The Iowa Hawkeyes qualified in Kansas City, going 5-0 to claim a Division I Club bid. Led by Kansas City native Michael Johnson and mercurial talent Ren Heimer, Iowa defeated Nebraska twice, including 28-17 in the final, to book a return trip to the Big Dance.”
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National tournament information: April 24-25, 2026, Boyds, MD