Photo: Amy Nicholson
USA Rugby is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the country is dividing into new organizations or making new partnerships. There are several options for women’s college rugby, and leagues are realigning, but there are many more still that have yet to announce (publicly) their future competition plans.
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National College Rugby (NCR) is the rebranded version of NSCRO and now includes a new Open Division for larger schools. Bryn Chivers runs the small schools, which will enjoy all of the same services as before, and Angela Smarto is the Open commissioner. The deadline for commitments has just elapsed, so expect an update on the final membership and Open Division committee members to lead next steps.
NCR operates outside of USA Rugby and offers additional benefits like all-star tournaments, select sides, and 7s and 15s national championships. It is currently the largest of the women’s college entities.
The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) is home to men’s DIA and expanded to include women’s DI Elite, DI and DII. Of the DI conferences, only the Midwest (which is down to four teams) abstained from the move. Conferences are both fall- and spring-based and thus seasonal 15s championships will continue. CRAA has partnered with USA Rugby for membership and insurance services going forward.
The American Collegiate Rugby Association (ACRA) has roots that date back to 2013, and it disbanded once USA Rugby embraced and administered the seasonal championships. It’s now back and currently serves more than 60 teams in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. It, too, has partnered with USA Rugby and its committee members indicated that insurance and a Sportlomo membership portal will be available. New website in the works.
The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association has been unfazed by USA Rugby’s implosion, since the varsity league has operated on its own for years now. The 2020 championship season is set to welcome three new programs – Alderson Broaddus, Guilford, Post – marking 23 members en route to the 40 needed for NCAA championship status.
There are still many teams and a handful of conferences – namely those that have competed toward spring 15s championships in the past – that have not yet committed to the aforementioned organizations, and TRB is tracking them here.
And there are plenty of independent teams as well as teams that were omitted from their conference’s announcement to join a new organization that need tracking. Also, there’s a “MISC” tab of teams, or former teams, that have an unknown status and require more follow-up.
Check back often, as updates will be made constantly.