February 13 - The Rugby Northeast Division I teams will join National Collegiate Rugby starting with the Spring 2024 season. This latest shift brings six highly-competitive teams into the nation’s largest women’s rugby association while further unifying women’s rugby teams that play a Fall 15s season.
The Rugby Northeast Division I teams include:
The Rugby Northeast conference has a long tradition of rugby success and has consistently produced some of the top Division I teams in the country. Over the recent year, Northeastern and UConn have been the conference’s top 15s teams while UMass claimed 2nd place in the 2023 Collegiate Rugby Championship Division I bracket.
Rugby Northeast Commissioner, Devin DiGiovanni, stated “We’re excited for our six Division I teams to join NCR and showcase their talent at this year’s CRC. Our teams are looking forward to the great experiences and opportunities NCR provides to the athletes.”
National Collegiate Rugby serves over 250 women’s rugby teams around the country representing the largest and deepest competitive leagues in Division I, Division II and Small College. With 85% of women’s rugby competing for a Fall 15s Championship, NCR provides numerous postseason opportunities across its three divisions.
“The addition of Rugby Northeast creates the largest Division I collegiate competition in almost a decade at almost 40 teams. There will be no easy road to a national championship as the competition gets deeper in both 15s and 7s. We’re excited to bring all teams into the mix,” said Angela Smarto, Director of Women’s Rugby.
The women’s Collegiate Rugby Championship, scheduled for April 27-28 provides 66 slots for qualified teams to compete for a national championship in one of four competitive divisions. The Rugby Northeast Teams will compete for a bid to the CRC during the Conference 7s Championship scheduled for April 14 at Stonehill College.
