Eight collegiate teams, two beat-up playing fields and one championship trophy, and this year, that trophy went to the Virginia men's rugby team.
This past weekend at the annual "Brawl on the Mall" rugby tournament in Washington D.C., the men's club rugby team walked away with three victories and outscored their opponents by a combined score of 94-3.
On their path to victory, the team defeated California University of Pennsylvania by a score of 47-0 in the first round of play.
In the second round, Virginia defeated Columbia University, last year's defending champions, 19-0.
In the tournament's championship match, the team prevailed over Johns Hopkins University by a score of 28-3, earning revenge on the team that defeated them in last year's tournament.
Not only did Virginia's rugby team rise above its tournament competition, but it did so without a true coach.
"We were the only team there without an official coach," fourth-year College student Bill Whitlock said. "The more experienced and knowledgeable players on our team run the practices and coach the newer players. Fortunately, we've got some really good players on our team so our coaching needs tend to take care of themselves."
One of those players is fourth-year College student George Delacherois-Day.
"We have five fourth years graduating this year, one of whom is without question the best collegiate player in Virginia," Whitlock said. "Delacherois-Day has received the team's MVP award every year that he's been here and is responsible for probably 50 percent of our offensive production. We'll have our work cut out for us trying to fill his shoes next year."
Although Delacherois-Day is leaving, along with one third of the team's starting roster, the team fortunately has picked up several talented first years who appear more than ready to step up and fill the shoes of the graduating fourth years, Whitlock said.
Despite their victory in D.C., Virginia can't begin celebrating just yet.
"The week after spring break, we have the most important playoff game our team has ever played since its inception three years ago," Whitlock said. "If we win that game, we have two more playoff games the next weekend."
Victories in all three playoff matches would secure a spot for the team in the national tournament, better known as the Elite Eight.
Virginia's opponents better come ready to play because the men's rugby team is ready to brawl.
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