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The National Collegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) kicked off its 2026 season in a big way, putting all of its Division I NCAA varsity programs into motion last weekend, as well as several DII and DIII members. The regular season will continue through October, with semifinals scheduled for Nov. 7 and finals for Nov. 14. [lead photo: Jackie Finlan/TRB]
RELATED: Sept. 5-6 Rugby Scores
There are nine teams eligible for the Division I post-season, which includes DII American International College (AIC). There are also four DI teams that are playing this fall but declared themselves playoff ineligible from the outset of the season: La Salle, Long Island, Princeton and Mount St. Mary’s. This quartet will play each other and sub-varsity (or “B”) sides of playoff-eligible teams.
Three-time reigning champion Harvard (1-0) traveled to Sacred Heart (0-1) for the teams’ season openers, and the teams played to a 14-12 halftime score in favor of the Crimson. USA U20 players Gemma Ogoke and Maddie Hubbell scored for Harvard and Evie Eyers added the conversion. Sacred Heart earned a penalty try and another five points from Carrie Coyer-Westerberg.
The visitors put up back-to-back tries from Maya Hilger and USA U20 Sana’a Lunon, and fellow junior Eagle Jojo Mignone kicked the conversion to give the Crimson a 26-12 lead with more than 20 minutes to play. The Pioneers kept plugging aways in the waning minutes put Coyer-Westerberg away for her second try and Maria-Jean Paulino for the team’s fourth score. Reese Torticill hit one conversion, and Harvard held onto the 26-24 win. Both teams earn a bonus point for tries and Sacred Heart gets a second for the fewer-than-seven-point loss. Harvard hosts Brown this weekend, and Sacred Heart travels to Army.
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Brown (1-0) set the tone early against Navy (0-1), building a 19-5 lead through Charlotte Davies, Maggie Hoffman-Long and Priscilla Maalouf tries, and two Davies conversions. The Midshipmen then surged in the middle of the match, closing to 19-17 after tries from Arica Spencer and Meagan Alvarez (2), and a Mia Young conversion. The Bears rallied in the final quarter, getting five points apiece from Valentine Detheux and Jiya Sandhu, and conversions from Genie Dickens and Annie Hall, securing a 33-17 win.
“It was a great first hit out for the team. We saw some first-years step up with their first start – Zion Lavoe, Maggie Hoffman-Long, and Angie Bazzoni,” Brown coach Rosalind Chou told BrownBears.com. “Scrumhalf Yona Allouche and flyhalf Lily McGettigan really set the tone on attack. We look forward to our next challenge at Harvard.”
Brown heads to Harvard this Saturday, and Navy gets the week off before heading to AIC on Sept. 19.
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Dartmouth (1-0) built a 12-3 halftime lead against the visiting Army Black Knights (0-1) and then opened up in the second stanza for a 41-8 win. Lauren Cheng (2), Marley Larkin (2), Katija Crawford, Jordynn LeBeau and Vasiti Turagavou scored the Big Green tries, while Annie Henrich, Hehea Pulotu and Morgan Whelan kicked a conversion apiece. Dartmouth hosts Life University, an NAIA institution and CRAA team, this Saturday, and Army will host La Salle.
All four DI teams that are not vying for post-season consideration were active on the weekend. Princeton took down La Salle 52-17, scoring eight tries through Charlie Wolfe (3), Ava Gregory (2), Myah Natorp, Malinka Kwemo and Sara Zavieh. Kwemo also kicked five conversions. The win marks Karameli Fa’ae’e’s first as Princeton head coach.
“I’m proud of the effort and commitment the whole squad showed yesterday,” Fa’ae’e told GoPrincetonTigers.com. “With no preseason match, this was our first real test of the new systems. We saw debut appearances, players returning from injury, and others stepping into new positions for the first time. There’s a lot of room to grow, and that’s what makes this exciting. I’m grateful to the whole staff, to the community and family who came out, and most of all, to our team captains for the leadership that made this platform possible.”
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La Salle got its points through USA U20 Kaylie Castro and Bailey Borum-Gray, both of whom scored a try, and freshman Jocelyn Terry, who kicked for seven points on two conversions and a penalty kick. The Explorers will play Army B on Friday, and Princeton hosts Long Island on Sunday.
Long Island and Mount St. Mary’s played to one point of each other, and the Sharks prevailed in a 29-28 decision. Kori fields (2), Mani Boyd (2) and Anaise Novembre scored for Long Island, and Eve Ursell added two conversions in the win. Long Island will look to build on that momentum this Sunday against Princeton in New Jersey.
Last Saturday was the home opener for the Mountaineers, and the Emmitsburg, Md., fans cheered on Sydney Sibilia, Brie Kindig and Neely Denlinger as they scored tries, and Shaniah Mayers kicked three conversions. The Mount also recorded a penalty try. The team returns to the pitch on Sept. 19 against La Salle.
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AIC and Queens University of Charlotte were meant to meet in Annapolis, Md., for their first game of the season, but that match did not occur. The Yellow Jackets will have to wait until Sept. 19 to host Navy. Queens will travel to Tennessee this Saturday to play Lindenwood on neutral ground.
2025 runner-up Lindenwood University contested a non-conference match against NCR DI Southern Nazarene and triumphed 51-0. Quinnipiac transfers Jennie Weiner (3) and Anna Wright, USA U20 Jasmine Fehoko (2), U23 all-star MVP Ava Reuter (2) and freshman Kanani Watts scored the tries. Joselin Roque Lopez and Gianna Diaz added conversions. Lindenwood is scheduled to see Queens in Henderson, Tenn., on Saturday.
In Division II, Frostburg State hosted Emory & Henry College in a 75-0 win. The Wildcats, under the direction of interim head coach John Baker, are off this weekend before resuming against Davenport in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The Panthers warmed up with a non-conference match against fellow Michigan squad Aquinas, which competes in NCR. Davenport built a 41-0 halftime lead before swapping out the starters for newcomers, at which point Aquinas rallied for 22 points. The Panthers put some veteran experience back on the pitch — the roster has some solid numbers and depth this year — to steady the rookies and close out a 51-22 win. USA Falcon Alopa Nau led with four tries, Leilani Lepe scored two, and Ava Perez and Trinity Ruatti scored their first tries for the Panthers this year. Davenport heads to West Chester on Saturday.