As back-to-back defending national champions, Michigan is the undisputed team to beat as the 2024 Women’s Division I season gets underway. The Wolverines, under head coach Jamie Frech, haven’t lost a match in two seasons. Frech spent the summer coaching the Men’s All-Americans in France, and should return even stronger, as should senior All-Americans Rebecca Dooley and Katie Gale.   

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Nipping at Michigan’s heels in the Big Ten is Indiana. Returning several starters with speed, size and valuable experience, the Hoosiers enter the season ranked sixth and looking to build on a Final Four run last fall. Adrian, a fourth-year program with a competitive history, joins the Big Ten this season. Ranked fourth, the Bulldogs are expected to be an immediate contender. They welcome the defending champ Wolverines to Adrian, MI October 18 for a huge Friday Night Rugby matchup. 

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Expected to take a leap forward is another fourth-year program, defending Lone Star champion Southern Nazarene. The Crimson Storm return junior All-American center Telesi Uhatafe, whose star is rising as fast as the program’s. They also welcome to the fold promising first-year prop Ann Tauliliili, a physically imposing and skilful Missouri All-State performer from the Independence Warriors. Talented sophomore flanker Allison Quinn is healthy and also looks ready to make an impact in her first XVs season. 

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Making up half of the preseason Top 10 are teams new to the competition, as Women’s Division I continues to grow. Alongside Adrian are newcomers No. 5 Northeastern, No. 8 Lander, No. 9 Colorado Mesa and 10th-ranked St. Bonaventure. 

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Northeastern, St. Bonaventure and Lander joined for 7s in the spring, competing in the Collegiate Rugby Championship in April. In the Premier Cup division, Lander went 1-3, beating Minnesota and losing to Michigan, Notre Dame College and Northeastern. The Huskies went 2-2. On top of beating Lander, Northeastern also scored a win over Virginia Tech, while falling to Army and Mount St. Mary’s. 

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The Bonnies won the XVs Small College national championship last fall before making the jump to Division I for 7s. At the CRC, they were competitive in their DI debut, nearly taking home hardware before falling to North Carolina in the Bowl final. With All-Americans Kayla Nentarz and Mackenna Ramsey returning, alongside an impressive recruiting haul, the Bonnies are looking to compete immediately. 

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Northeastern has long been one of the top teams in the East, and the Huskies again look like the team to beat in the Rugby Northeast conference under veteran head coach Keith Cattanach. The Bearcats enter the fall under first-year head coach Makayla Lowe, who succeeds Ken Pape upon his departure for Wheeling University. Lowe joins from Queens, where she served as an assistant coach after an All-American playing career at Life. 

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For Lander to make a splash in the postseason, the Bearcats will have to get past reigning South Atlantic Rugby Conference champion Virginia. The Cavaliers have a whole host of new teams to hold off in the SARC this fall, with the additions of Lander, Howard and several clubs from Florida.  

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The High Peaks Conference is brand new to Women’s Division I this fall. Their undefeated defending champion, Colorado Mesa, enters the season at No. 9. If the Mavericks repeat, they’ll get a chance to test their mettle against other conference champions in the opening rounds of the playoffs in Kansas City, MO. 

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