Collegiate Rugby Changes, Trickle Down Coming?

Those of us new to rugby or immersed in the local high school leagues don't often see what is developing at the collegiate and national levels. Some recent changes, though, may prove to be relevant to high school leagues and our alumni who move on to play while at college.

An excerpt from a recent collegiate program's update, puts some perspective on the restructuring going on:
New Rugby Association
"The new rugby season is about to begin and there are many changes. In response to a push from USA Rugby to make the Spring the official 15s season and the Fall the official 7s season, four collegiate rugby associations have formed to do the opposite. As you all know, the 15s season cannot be played in spring, in northern climates. The four to five weeks of frost-free ground is not enough time to play a league schedule and have national playoffs. However, it fits perfectly to have a Fall 15s seasons with a national championship and the Spring 7s season with a national championship. Therefore, a number of women’s coaching colleagues have formed ACRA, the American Collegiate Rugby Association which will play a Fall 15s season and a Spring 7s season both with National Championships at the end of each semester for Division I and II collegiate women’s teams. We have 150 teams on board with more to come."

Those who played WGR last spring can attest to the frost, rain, and field condition that make any spring season incredibly difficult. It's important to note that ACRA is not breaking away from USA Rugby. They plan to follow all their directives but will merely stage the national championships. It's also important to note because USA Rugby does not always get things right, and this large group of coaches have stepped up to solve the seasonality issue.

Those of us at WGR have been discussing the parallels with girls rugby. The girls rugby coaches get together, like ACRA, and manage their own national championship, under USA eligibility guidelines, and in essence have been doing for years what ACRA was just formed to do. The only difference is that girls coaches in warmer parts of the country haven't jumped on board yet with a complete shift to a Fall 15's season. Perhaps this will be a catalyst for change at the high school level as well.

Our collegiate sources go on to explain further that "this is already being done through NSCRO, the Division III national organization for men and women; through a newly formed Division II men’s association that encompasses all DII teams in the country; and most recently a Division I men’s collegiate association on the east coast. Clearly, USA Rugby has it wrong."