Reigning DI fall champion Air Force
SANTA CLARA, CA – The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) have announced dates and location for 2021 Fall College Championships along with a newly featured Men’s D1A Bowl Series. The event will take place on December 4-5 at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Charlotte, N.C., and will mark the first championship competition for Women’s D1 and D2, and Men’s D1AA since 2019. Adding to the excitement is the announcement of the Men’s D1A Bowl Series, new for 2021, which will match schools with cross-conference competitors to create new and unique postseason clashes.
CRAA President Paul Keeler noted, “CRAA has been looking for opportunities to create competitive experiences for our student athletes and expand postseason offerings for CRAA clubs beyond traditional playoffs. With the help of our sponsors and media partnerships, this fall’s event will do just that, as well as open the door to more collegiate divisions within USA Rugby to engage their alumni and supporters, in turn attracting more fans to grow the game.”
Having played host to numerous championship events over the years, Mecklenburg County Sportsplex will host Fall Championship matches for Women’s D1, D2 and Men’s D1AA teams. Teams in those brackets will qualify through traditional season and playoff structures. Expansion to include Men’s D2 and D3 competitions is also being discussed for fall playing clubs. The Men’s D1A Bowl Series matchups will be invitational and determined by the respective conferences. Team qualification and bowl selection processes are still in development and procedures will include valuable feedback from conference commissioners. All competing teams will be full members of USA Rugby.
USA Rugby CEO, Ross Young added, “It’s fulfilling to see collegiate competition come together with an enhanced championship event to aim for in the fall. Following a successful Women’s D1 Elite Championship last week, we’re excited to see high-level competitive rugby and trophies lifted by student-athletes once again.”
Event details and arrangements are still in development and will be communicated to conference commissioners and club administrators when available. With COVID-19 still having an impact on team travel and tournament gatherings, USA Rugby, CRAA and Mecklenburg County will continue to verify that operations and directive adhere to state guidelines and ensure participant safety during tournament time.