MARSHFIELD, Mass. – The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) coaches released their fourth public coaches poll of the 2017 season and Quinnipiac University climbed to number one, receiving eight of a possible 12 first-place votes. The Bobcats defeated Central Washington University, 29-24 in a rematch from earlier this season, which marked the first regular-season, win against the Wildcats in program history for QU.
Dartmouth College ranked second and collected the other four first-place votes after sitting idle this past weekend. Central Washington dropped one spot to number three after splitting with Quinnipiac and Army at West Point on their east-coast road trip. Harvard University remained at number four overall.
American International College (AIC) continued their upward climb in the poll, moving up to number five overall. Norwich University also ascended in the poll, moving up one spot from last week to number six overall. Army fell to seventh after falling to CWU, 51-13. Notre Dame College stood pat at eighth overall.
Other significant movement in the poll saw University of New England climb to ninth overall after a 63-10 victory over Castleton University. In other NIRA action this weekend, #14 Molloy College defeated #16 Mount St. Mary’s University 71-34.
The NIRA poll will be used in conjunction with administrative oversight and additional criteria to seed teams for the NIRA postseason. Postseason play begins on Saturday, November 11.
Full NIRA Coaches Poll for games through 10/22/17
First Place Votes in Parentheses
- Quinnipiac University (8)
- Dartmouth College (4)
- Central Washington University
- Harvard University
- American International College
- Norwich University
- Army at West Point
- Notre Dame College
- University of New England
- West Chester University
- Brown University
- Bowdoin College
- Sacred Heart University
- Molloy College
- LIU, Post
- Mount St. Mary’s University
- Castleton University
For more information on the NIRA Championship and for weekly results of the Coaches Polls visit www.ncaacollegerugby.com or follow NIRA on Twitter @NIRArugby.
About the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association
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The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association is comprised of 17 member institutions. Each of these institutions sponsor NCAA rugby at their respective divisional levels and are committed to the expansion of women’s rugby at the highest level with eventual full sponsorship by the NCAA as a championship sport.
For more information on NIRA please visit ncaacollegerugby.org.