The Patriot League, an NCAA Division I conference, announced the cancelation of its varsity fall sports’ seasons, excepting the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy. Presuming schools that cancel their fall varsity sports will also cancel their fall club sports, then at least six women’s rugby programs will be affected in 2020.
RELATED: On-going spreadsheet of fall sports cancelations
Of the Patriot League’s 10 full members, the College of Holy Cross (New England Wide), Boston University (Northeast), American University (Capital), Colgate University (Upstate New York), Lafayette College (EPRU) and Lehigh University (EPRU) all field women’s rugby club teams.
In fall 2019, full-member Loyola University of Maryland announced the creation of a 7s program that was meant to debut in spring 2020. If Loyola remains a spring 7s-centri program, then its primary season might still be intact.
Army and Navy are also full members with women’s rugby teams, but the Patriot League Council of Presidents agreed that the service academies can make their own decisions regarding sports this fall. Army competes in DI NIRA, and Navy is an independent program in CRAA.
Bucknell University is also a full member but, to TRB’s knowledge, does not field women’s rugby team.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.–– Recognizing the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to present significant challenges to our campuses and communities, the Patriot League Council of Presidents announces the following decisions regarding Patriot League competition:
- Patriot League teams will not engage in competition in the fall season (championship and non-championship);
- Decisions surrounding winter and spring sport competition will be made at a later date; and,
- The opportunity for conditioning, strength training and other practice opportunities in all sports will be permitted provided health and safety conditions support such activities.
Because the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy are unique in their environments and their missions within higher education, the Council of Presidents agree that the academies may continue to engage in competitive opportunities as considered appropriate by their respective Superintendents.
The collegiate athletics experience at all Patriot League institutions is valuable to fulfilling our educational and developmental missions, and the League recognizes that any degree of non-competition this fall is deeply disappointing to our student-athletes, coaches, and fans. However, the health and safety of our campuses and communities must be our highest priority.
The League is committed to exploring creative approaches and alternatives to providing future competitive experiences to our fall sport student-athletes, including the possibility of conducting fall sport competition and championships in the second semester.
Patriot League Council of Presidents
Sylvia Mathews Burwell, American University
Robert A. Brown, Boston University
John Bravman, Bucknell University
Philip Boroughs, S.J., College of the Holy Cross
Brian W. Casey, Colgate University
Alison R. Byerly, Lafayette College
John D. Simon, Lehigh University
Brian Linnane, S.J., Loyola University Maryland
Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, United States Military Academy
Vice Adm. Sean Buck, United States Naval Academy