The USA Rugby College Eligibility Committee recently finalized the certification of 10 men’s Division I conferences, one women’s Division I conference, two Division II men’s and one women’s Division III conference.

The USA Rugby College Eligibility Committee recently finalized the certification of 10 men’s Division I conferences, one women’s Division I conference, two Division II men’s and one women’s Division III conference.

The two new women’s conferences will join one other women’s rugby conference that was formed earlier this year, Rugby Northeast, which competes in Division II.

Playoff pathways for the new conferences for the 2011-2012 season will be determined by the Men’s and Women’s College Competition Committee.

Per USA Rugby rules, College Premier Division teams entering teams in Division I conference competition will not be eligible for the Division I playoffs. Canadian teams are also not eligible for the playoffs.

DIVISION I MEN’S CONFERENCES

The 10 certified conferences are: Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Conference, Heart of America Rugby Conference, Ivy Rugby Conference, Mideast Rugby Conference, Midwest Rugby Conference, New York State Rugby Conference, Northern California Rugby Conference, Northwest Collegiate Rugby Conference, Pacific Mountain West Rugby Conference and South Independent Rugby Conference.

Previously certified conferences: Atlantic Coast Rugby League, East Coast Rugby Conference, Southeastern Rugby Conference and Southwest Collegiate Rugby Conference

Members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Dan McHugh

Delaware
Kutztown
Millersville
Shippensburg
St. Joseph’s
Temple
West Chester

Members of the Heart of America Rugby Conference:
Interim Conference Commissioner: Miles Hunter (Oklahoma State)

Arkansas
Kansas
Kansas State
Missouri
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Truman State

Members of the Ivy Rugby Conference:
Conference President: Steve Siano

Brown
Columbia
Cornell
Dartmouth
Harvard
Penn
Princeton
Yale

Members of the Mideast Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Tom Rooney (Ohio State)

Bowling Green
Davenport
Indiana
Miami (Ohio)
Michigan State
Ohio State
Purdue

Members of the Midwest Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Tom Rooney (Ohio State)

Iowa
Iowa State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northern Iowa
Wisconsin
Wisconsin-Stout

Members of the New York State Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Andrew McDonnell

Binghamton
Brockport State
Buffalo
Fordham
Iona
Merchant Marine
St. Bonaventure
Stony Brook
Syracuse

Members of the Northern California Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Matt Sherman (Stanford)

Cal
Chico State
Sacramento State
St. Mary’s
San Jose State
Santa Clara
Stanford
UC Davis

Members of the Northwest Collegiate Rugby Conference:
Interim Conference Commissioner: Mark Webber (Oregon State)

British Columbia
Central Washington
Eastern Washington
Idaho
Oregon
Oregon State
Simon Fraser (B.C.)
Washington
Washington State
Western Washington

Members of the Pacific Mountain West Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: TBD

Claremont
Loyola Marymount
UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara
UC San Diego
USC

Members of the South Independent Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Jody Hensley (Middle Tennessee State)

Central Florida
Florida International
Florida State
Georgia Southern
Kennesaw State
Life
Middle Tennessee State
South Florida

DIVISION I WOMEN’S CONFERENCES

The Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference is the first Division I women’s rugby conference.

Members of the Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: TBD

Air Force
Arizona State
Cal
Chico State
Claremont
Colorado
Colorado State
Lady Cougars
New Mexico
Oregon
Oregon State
Stanford
UC Davis
UCLA
UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara

DIVISION II MEN’S CONFERENCES

The previously certified Men’s Division II conference is Rugby Northeast.

Members of the Dixie Rugby League:
Conference Commissioner: Eddie Roberts (North Alabama)

Belmont
Bryan
Freed-Hardeman
Harding
Lee
North Alabama
Sewanee
Tennessee Tech
Tennessee-Martin

Members of the Southern Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: John Roberts (Furman)

Appalachian State
Citadel
Coastal Carolina
College of Charleston
Elon
Furman
Guilford
Lander
UNC-Charlotte
UNC-Greensboro
UNC-Wilmington

DIVISION III WOMEN’S CONFERENCES

The New England Women’s Collegiate Rugby Conference (NEWCRC) is the first Division III women’s rugby conference.

Members of the NEWCRC:
Conference Commissioner: Ben Murray (Smith)

Babson
Holy Cross
MIT
Mount Holyoke
Smith
Wellesley
Wheaton (Mass.)
Worcester Tech