- College rugby
-
Rugby is played throughout universities in the United States of America.
In the United States, college rugby is governed by (in descending order of authority): the International Rugby Board, USA Rugby, territorial unions and local area unions (e.g., NERFU). At present, the NCAA has no authority over college rugby. Often called a club sport, each individual team is administered by either the athletic department or the student club department.
The sport includes a national championship competition (since 1980) as well as other hotly contested trophies such as the World Cup between the University of California, Berkeley and the University of British Columbia (Canada),[1] the Wasatch Cup between BYU and Utah,[2] the University Cup between Texas A&M and Texas,[3] and the Common Wealth Shield between Virginia and Virginia Tech.[4]With the addition of Rugby 7s to the 2016 Olympic games, the collegiate ranks expanded into the 7s game. The premiere collegiate 7s competition is the Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC). The CRC was first held in Columbus, OH in June 2010 at the Columbus Crew Stadium. That inaugural event was also televised by NBC and NBC Universal. The result was high ratings leading to a second tournament in 2011 to also be covered by NBC. However, the attendance figures were low in Columbus and the venue was moved to Philadelphia to be hosted at PPL Park.
2011 saw the largest change to the collegiate rugby structure since the 1980 inception of the national championship. The College Premier Division (CPD) was created with the intention of refining topflight collegiate rugby. To do so 31 schools joined together to form a new division of American rugby.[5]
In 2011, USA Rugby continued to urge college rugby programs to adopt new conference structures similar to the conferences used by their other athletic programs. The highest profile example was the formation of the Ivy League Rugby Conference in 2010. This effort has trickled down to Division II, and is expected to impact Division III in 2012. This move signals a shift away from the LAUs and TUs as the governing bodies for regional college rugby.
Contents
Organization
American college rugby is governed by the International Rugby Board, USA Rugby, and the respective territorial and local area unions.
Local area unions usually set up "league" matches in the primary season, while the teams set up their own "friendly" matches in the secondary season. In the northeast, midatlantic and midwest, the league season is played in the fall; while in the south, northwest and pacific regions, the spring is the primary season.
USA Rugby maintains strict eligibility guidelines, which are administered at the local level by the local area unions. College players generally have 5 years of rugby eligibility from the time they first enter college, but exceptions can be made for military service, or pregnancy.
On-field disciplinary issues are generally handled by the local area unions, while off-field disciplinary issues are governed by the academic institution and the local area union.
Liability is mitigated by the CIPP insurance program. This program provides liability insurance to all rugby teams and players in exchange for an annual dues payment (currently $30/year). This policy provides the player, the team, its administrators and pitch hosts with liability coverage in the event of any injury. The program is administered by USA Rugby.
Promotion and Relegation
Division and conference placement is primarily based on a rugby club's success from the previous year. Each Local Area Union (LAU) has its own rules of governance, but in most cases, the team that wins its division or conference has the right to advance to the next highest division or conference. Conversely, the club with the least success that year might be relegated to competing in the next lowest division or conference. Because a move to a different division or conference would have an impact on travel arrangements, some college clubs might resist promotion or relegation for budgetary reasons.
Some winning clubs choose not to exercise this right to advance, instead preferring to stay in the lower club division, either because they are a very small college with a small rugby budget, or because they wish to remain competitive against lesser opponents. For example, Furman University (an NCAA Division I institution) is a perennial Division III rugby powerhouse, yet they have consistently declined promotion to Division II. Similarly, Plymouth State University declined promotion to D2 despite winning the 2008 D3 NSCRO National championship.
Other clubs are offered promotion, despite not winning their conference, based upon their strength of play. For example, Iowa State Men's Club was allowed to move up to D1 from D2 because they had performed so well in the 2006 Big 12 tournament, losing to fifth ranked Texas A&M in overtime after winning the competition 2 previously (while being the only D2 team competing). Southern Connecticut State University was moved from D3 to D2 despite losing to Salve Regina University 21-20 in the 2008 NERFU College Men's Division III Rugby Tournament. See also Promotion and relegation.
A 2008 Penn State Lady Ruggers match vs the West Chester University of Pennsylvania Rams. Nichole Lopes '07 '09 with the ball for Penn StateWomen's College Rugby: The NCAA Emerging Sport
The National Collegiate Athletic Association identified women's rugby as an "Emerging Sport" in 2002. An "Emerging Sport", a category that includes sand volleyball and equestrian, must gain championship status (minimum 40 varsity NCAA programs for individual sports and 28 Division III varsity programs for team sports) within 10 years or show steady progress toward that goal to remain on the list.[6] Until then, it is under the auspices of the NCAA and its respective institutions. With only 5 teams, Emerging Sport status in any sport allows for competition to include club teams to satisfy the minimum number of competitions bylaw established by the NCAA.
There are currently 5 varsity women's rugby programs: Quinnipiac University, Eastern Illinois University: (Division 1); West Chester University (Division 1); and Bowdoin College, and Norwich University (Division 3).[7]
Collegiate Rugby Championship Invitational Sevens
Men's
- YEAR; CHAMPION; RUNNER-UP
- 2010 - Utah 31, runner-up California 26 (a.e.t);[8] Bowl Champion - Bowling Green[9]
- 2011 - Dartmouth 32, runner-up Army 10; Bronze Medal Utah;[10] Challenger Champion - LSU[11]
Women's
- 2011 - Army 14, Penn State 5[12]
U.S. National Collegiate Club Rugby championships
College Premier Division
- 2011 - California 21, BYU 14[13]
Division 1
Men's
- See footnote[14]
- National Championship as named by Sports Illustrated:
- YEAR; CHAMPION; RUNNER-UP
- 1966 - Notre Dame[15]
- 1967 - California 37, Notre Dame 3[16]
- Official Championship:
- YEAR; CHAMPION; RUNNER-UP
- 1980 – California 15, Air Force 9
- 1981 – California 6, Harvard 3 (a.e.t.)
- 1982 – California 15, Life College 14
- 1983 – California 13, Air Force 3
- 1984 – Harvard 12, Colorado 4
- 1985 – California 31, Maryland 6
- 1986 – California 6, Dartmouth 4
- 1987 – San Diego State 10, Air Force 9
- 1988 – California 9, Dartmouth 3
- 1989 – Air Force 25, Penn State 7
- 1990 – Air Force 18, Army 12
- 1991 – California 20, Army 14
- 1992 – California 27, Army 17
- 1993 – California 36, Air Force 6
- 1994 – California 27, Navy 13
- 1995 – California 48, Air Force 16
- 1996 – California 47, Penn State 6
- YEAR; CHAMPION; RUNNER-UP
- 1997 – California 41, Penn State 15
- 1998 – California 34 Stanford 15
- 1999 – California 36 Penn State 5
- 2000 – California 62 Wyoming 16
- 2001 – California 86 Penn State 11
- 2002 – California 43 Utah 22
- 2003 – Air Force 45 Harvard 37
- 2004 – California 46 Cal Poly 24
- 2005 – California 44, Utah 7
- 2006 – California 29, BYU 26
- 2007 – California 37, BYU 7
- 2008 – California 59, BYU 7
- 2009 – BYU 25, California 22
- 2010 – California 19, BYU 7
- 2011 – Davenport 38, UCSB 19
Women's
See footnote[17]
- 1991 – Air Force, runner-up Boston College
- 1992 – Boston College, runner-up Connecticut
- 1993 – Connecticut, runner-up Air Force
- 1994 – Air Force, runner-up Boston College
- 1995 – Princeton, runner-up Penn State
- 1996 – Princeton, runner-up Penn State
- 1997 – Penn State, runner-up Radcliffe
- 1998 – Radcliffe, runner-up Penn State
- 1999 – Stanford, runner-up Princeton
- 2000 – Penn State, runner-up Princeton
- 2001 – Chico State, runner-up Penn State
- 2002 – Air Force, runner-up Penn State
- 2003 – Air Force, runner-up Illinois
- 2004 – Penn State, runner-up Princeton
- 2005 – Stanford 53, Penn State 6
- 2006 – Stanford 15, Penn State 12
- 2007 – Penn State 22, Stanford 21
- 2008 – Stanford 15, Penn State 10
- 2009 – Penn State 46, Stanford 7
- 2010 – Penn State 24, Stanford 7
- 2011 – Army 33, Penn State 29[18]
Division 2
Men's
- 2000 – Sacramento State, Claremont College 3
- 2001 – Baylor 29, Arkansas State 16
- 2002 – Stanford 26, Northern Iowa 15
- 2003 – Radford 32, Northern Colorado 22
- 2004 – Salisbury 43, Arkansas State 24
- 2005 – Northern Colorado 24, Humboldt State 22
- 2006 – Coast Guard 17, Northern Colorado 12
- 2007 – Middlebury 38, Arkansas State 22
- 2008 – Radford 25, Utah Valley State 14
- 2009 – Middlebury 27, Wisconsin 11
- 2010 – Claremont 25, Temple 19
- 2011 – UW-Whitewater 7, Middlebury 3[19]
Women's
- 2000 - Plymouth State, runner-up East Stroudsburg
- 2001 - Northern Iowa, runner-up Nevada-Reno
- 2002 - Northern Iowa, runner-up Minnesota
- 2003 - Dayton, runner-up Northern Iowa
- 2004 - Temple, runner-up Providence
- 2005 - Providence, runner-up Temple
- 2006 - UC Santa Cruz 22, Plymouth State 10
- 2007 - Iowa State 26, UC Santa Cruz 19
- 2008 - Shippensburg 47, Minnesota-Duluth 0
- 2009 - Shippensburg 29, Stonehill 5
- 2010 - Washington State 37, Temple 0
- 2011 - Radcliffe 22, Notre Dame 10[20]
Division III - Governed by the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO)
The National Small College Rugby Organization was created to give a competitive outlet to small colleges which would not otherwise have an opportunity to compete on a national stage. Each year, the NSCRO hosts rugby tournaments for Division III Men's and Women's college teams, and for Division IV Women's college teams.
Men's
- 2002 - Western Carolina University, runner-up Stonehill College
- 2003 - Furman University, runner-up Stonehill College
- 2004 - Furman University, runner-up Central Connecticut State University
- 2005 - Furman University, runner-up Duke University
- 2006 - Bentley University, runner-up The Citadel
- 2007 - Bentley University 11, runner-up Furman University 10
- 2008 - Plymouth State University 22, Furman 15
- 2009 - Coastal Carolina 36, SUNY Oswego 15
- 2010 - Penn State Berks 11, Keene State 6[21]
- 2011 - Longwood University 36, Occidental College 27 [22]
Women's
2002-3 - Champion: College of New Jersey
Runner Up: University of Maine2003-4 - Champion: Fordham University
Runner Up: Susquehanna University2004-5 - Champion: Castleton State College
Runner Up: Susquehanna University2005-6 - Champion: Babson University
Runner Up: Ursinus College2006-7 (Last year the event was held in the Spring) - Champion: Stonehill College
Runner Up: Pennsylvania University2007 (Fall) - Champion: Stonehill College
Runner Up: Marist College2008 - Champion: Bryant University
Runner-Up: Gettysburg College2009 - Champion: MIT
Runner-Up: East Stroudsburg University2010 - Champion: Bentley University [23]
Runner-Up: Drexel UniversityDivision IV - Governed by National Small College Rugby Organization
Women's Only
2006 - Champion: University of Rhode Island
Runner Up: Ursinus College2007 - Champion: Roger Williams University
Runner Up: Gettysburg College2008 - Champion: Holy Cross College
Runner Up: Albright College2009 - Champion: Drexel University
Runner-Up: Wentworth Institute of Technology2010 - Champion: Lock Haven University [23]
Runner-Up: Mount Holyoke CollegeSee also
- Intercollegiate sports team champions#Rugby
- USA Rugby
- College athletics
References
- ^ http://www.wearerugby.com/news/articles/cal-retains-world-cup
- ^ http://www.wasatchcup.com/home.html
- ^ http://rugbyintexas.com/?p=900
- ^ http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1337:virginia-virginia-tech-introduce-rivalry-trophy&catid=48:mens-di-college&Itemid=208
- ^ http://www.royallrugby.com/rugby-news/college-premier-division-set-to-launch/
- ^ "Emerging Sports for Women". www.ncaa.org. NCAA. http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/ncaa/NCAA/About+The+NCAA/Diversity+and+Inclusion/Gender+Equity+and+Title+IX/New+Emerging+Sports+for+Women?pageDesign=Printer+Friendly+General+Content+Layout. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ name='usarugby' usarugby.org
- ^ http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/sevens/Utah_Wins_Sevens_Invitational.shtml
- ^ http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/mc/news/2010/news82425.html
- ^ http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1149:dartmouth-caps-special-performance&catid=73:collegiate-sevens&Itemid=91
- ^ http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1148:lsu-win-over-notre-dame-in-challenger-final&catid=73:collegiate-sevens&Itemid=91
- ^ http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1146:army-inaugural-women-7s-champions&catid=73:collegiate-sevens&Itemid=91
- ^ http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=946:cal-defeats-byu-for-cpd-title&catid=56:college-premier-&Itemid=224
- ^ Men's National Collegiate Champions: D I (1980-present). eRugbyNews. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
- ^ http://rugby.nd.edu/about/history/
- ^ http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-rugby/spec-rel/051710aaa.html
- ^ Women's National Collegiate Champions: D I (1991-present). eRugbyNews. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
- ^ http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=845:lee-sparks-army-women-victory&catid=49:womens-college&Itemid=210
- ^ http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=708:warhawks-edge-middlebury-win-dii-national-title&catid=51:mens-dii-college-&Itemid=214
- ^ http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=709:radcliffe-best-in-dii&catid=49:womens-college&Itemid=210
- ^ http://www.rugbymag.com/news/colleges/college-gen/penn-state-berks-wins-small-college-title-in-weekend-of-tight-games.aspx
- ^ http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=728:nscro-diii-ttile-report&catid=134:small-colleges&Itemid=85
- ^ a b "National Small College Rugby Organization: Brackets & Results". http://www.eteamz.com/NSCRO/handouts/#1972876. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
External links
- National Collegiate Club Rugby Club Championships (Men's club winners)
- Men's and Women's Division 1 Club and Men's Division 2 national collegiate club rankings
- "Women's National Collegiate Club Champions: D I" (retrieved Sept 6, 2009)
- "Women's National Collegiate Club Champions: D II" (retrieved Sept 6, 2009)
- News and Articles on current Collegiate Club Competitions
- "Champions 2000; From Sydney to the Bronx, the Winners". New York Times, 12-31-2000 (retrieved Sept 6, 2009)
- "The Year in Review; Winners of 1991 Individual and Team Championships". New York Times, 12-29-1991 (retrieved Sept 6, 2009)
- "The Year in Review -- 1993; The Year's Champions". New York Times, 12-16-1993 (retrieved Sept 6, 2009)
- EPRU Champions (retrieved Sept 6, 2009)
- "From Atlanta To Wembley, Winners All". New York Times, 12-29-1996 (retrieved Sept 6, 2009)
- The Rugby Rugby Guide (History of Rugby, Beginner's Rugby Guide, Coaching Rugby, Equipment Review, Rugby Fitness, How To Guide, Rugby Quotes, Rugby Songs and Anthems)
- RugbyMag.com. Rugby Magazine. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
Rugby union in the United States Governing body Territorial area unions National teams Related articles Rugby Super League · International players · Churchill Cup · Americas Rugby Championship · Comparison of American football and rugby union · Rugby union in American Samoa · Rugby union in Guam · Rugby union in Puerto Rico · Rugby union in the United States Virgin IslandsCategories:- College rugby union in the United States
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