National Intercollegiate Rugby Association

The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) is a governing body of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) collegiate women's rugby programs in the United States founded in 2015.

National Intercollegiate Rugby Association
AbbreviationNIRA
Formation2015
Legal statusAssociation
Region served
United States
Official language
English
Commissioner
Amy Rusert
Main organ
Board of Directors
Websitewebsite

History

The NIRA traces roots back to 2015 when eight NCAA member institutions formed the National Collegiate Varsity Women’s Rugby Association (NCVWRA) to organize collegiate competition and aid in the promotion of rugby at the varsity level in the NCAA after rugby was promoted to Emerging Sport status.[1][2]

Inaugural members of the association included Army, Bowdoin, Brown, Central Washington, Harvard, Norwich, Quinnipiac, and West Chester. Membership in the organization was limited to NCAA institutions who sponsor women’s rugby at the varsity level.[2] The foundation of the NCVWRA was in contrast to USA Rugby who sponsors collegiate competition for men’s and women’s rugby teams in a mix format of club, quasi varsity, and full-varsity programs.[2][3] In 2016 the association became known as the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA).[4]

Members
Tier Club Location Nickname Type Joined Coach
Division 1Army West PointWest Point, New YorkBlack KnightsFederal Service Academy2018Bill LeClerc
Brown UniversityProvidence, Rhode IslandBearsPrivate2018Kathy Flores
Dartmouth CollegeHanover, New HampshireBig GreenPrivate2018Katie Dowty
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MassachusettsCrimsonPrivate2018Mel Denham
Long Island UniversityBrooklyn, New York
Brookville, New York		SharksPrivate2018Colleen Doherty
Mount St. Mary's UniversityEmmitsburg, MarylandMountaineersPrivate2018Farrah Douglas
Quinnipiac UniversityHamden, ConnecticutBobcatsPrivate2018Becky Carlson
Sacred Heart UniversityFairfield, ConnecticutPioneersPrivate2018Michelle Reed
Division 2Alderson Broaddus UniversityPhilippi, West VirginiaBattlersPrivate2020Laura Miller
American International CollegeSpringfield, MassachusettsYellow JacketsPrivate2018Tara Roberts
Molloy CollegeRockville Centre, New YorkLionsPrivate2018Melissa Olman
Notre Dame CollegeSouth Euclid, OhioFalconsPrivate2018Luke Markovich
Post UniversityWaterbury, ConnecticutEaglesPrivate, for-profit2020Jacob Dilts
Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte, North CarolinaRoyalsPrivate2019Katie Wurst
West Chester UniversityChester County, PennsylvaniaGolden RamsPublic2018Tony Deremer
Division 3Bowdoin CollegeBrunswick, MainePolar BearsPrivate2018MaryBeth Mathews
Castleton UniversityCastleton, VermontSpartansPublic2018Frank Graziano
Colby–Sawyer CollegeNew London, New HampshireChargersPrivate2018Ken Pape
Guilford CollegeGreensboro, North CarolinaQuakersPrivate2020Emily Record
Manhattanville CollegePurchase, New YorkValiantsPrivate2020TBD
New England CollegeHenniker, New HampshirePilgrimsPrivate2019Tom Campbell
Norwich UniversityNorthfield, VermontCadetsPrivate2018Austin Hall
University of New EnglandBiddeford, MaineNor'eastersPrivate2018Ashley Potvin-Fulford

[5] [6]

Championship finals

Division 1

Division 2

Division 3
  • 2019 - Bowdoin College 27-5 University of New England [12]

References
  1. "Emerging Sports for Women". www.ncaa.org. NCAA. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  2. Young, Wendy (September 11, 2014). "National Collegiate Varsity Women's Rugby Association (NCVWRA) Formed". Your Scrumhalf Connection. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  3. Clifton, Pat (December 13, 2017). "Cliff Notes: Varsity Schmarsity, Just Play". Rugby Today. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  4. "Women's Intercollegiate Season Starts with 2015 Final Rematch". Goff Rugby Report. Aug 31, 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-02. What was the NCWVRA [National Collegiate Women’s Varsity Rugby Association] is now the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association.
  5. https://nira.prestosports.com/sports/wrugby/2018-19/standings-tier1
  6. https://nira.prestosports.com/sports/wrugby/2018-19/standings-tier2
  7. "Women's Rugby Crowned NIRA National Champions After Victory Over Army West Point, 18-7". Harvard Athletics.
  8. "Dartmouth Claims Program's First NIRA Championship". USA Rugby.
  9. Finlan, Jackie (November 22, 2015). "Quinnipiac, First Varsity Champion". The Goff Rugby Report. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  10. @NIRArugby (17 November 2019). "Brown in possession but it's not enough. Final WCU 15 Brown 14" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. http://www.mountathletics.com/sports/wrugby/2018-19/releases/20181110r9xz23
  12. "Women's Rugby Runs Away From UNE to Claim NIRA Division III Title". Bowdoin Athletics.
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