USA Rugby’s reorganization has thrust the domestic game into disarray, and colleges are particularly vulnerable. Conferences are evaluating organizing bodies, competition options and COVID-19 implications for next season, and stress is high.
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But there is also opportunity during these uncertain times. Hybrid conferences that were previously dealing with two organizations can now consolidate under one entity. Leagues operating in overlapping regions (like Ohio Valley) have merged to pool resources and foster a more consistent schedule. And in some cases, teams are considering their futures outside of their home conferences. Salisbury University, for example, has left Capital for the ACRA-aligned Mid-Atlantic and traded a split 15s season for a fall-based schedule. Similarly, the University of Iowa broke from the DI Midwest and made the careful decision to realign with a new conference and new competition.
Jim Estes coaches Iowa alongside faculty advisor Kathleen O’Neill, and he served as the DI Midwest conference commissioner during the previous two seasons.
“During this time of re-invention, [O’Neill] and I clarified our goals for Iowa,” Estes explained. “Our first goal is for UIOWA Women’s Rugby to continue to build on a varsity-minded foundation. Many aspects of this goal lie completely within our control: S&C, skills training, commitment, developing resilient, creative athletes, building a strong team culture, recruiting and strengthening our relationship with the university.”
And then there are the factors that lie outside of a team’s control, like consistency of competition, for example. But when USA Rugby’s collegiate oversight dissolved, the coaches saw opportunity in both National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) and College Rugby Association of America (CRAA). NCR evolved from the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) and now supports larger schools in its Open Division.
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“We respect Bryn Chivers and Angela Smarto,” Estes lauded the NCR Small College Division and Open Division commissioners, respectively. “NCR is well organized and offered us the chance to shine in their system. I’ve met Bryn and like him. [Iowa State coach and former Simpson College coach] Kelsie McDowell gave her experience with NCSRO rave reviews.
“We also considered the fact we’ll have a special team next year,” Estes added. “Our historically young squad is suddenly mature. Iowa 15s will be strong and our 7s team will give anyone in the nation a challenge. Great IQ and team speed. The idea of making a run in the NCR playoffs with this group was a big draw as we considered our players’ experience.”
The DI Midwest conference committed to NCR (and in the original press release, Iowa is included in the list of transfers). But Iowa hadn’t ruled out the CRAA, especially as its big, public university peers started committing to the league. The coaches looked to the Big 10 conference and joined a Zoom meeting with member coaches. It was a positive experience, and the idea that Iowa could help shape CRAA’s evolution into the women’s game appealed to both Estes and O’Neill. They reconvened with the team leadership and made the joint decision to join the CRAA.
“Our decision to join CRAA is based on our belief that UIOWA Women’s Rugby’s long-term goals are best served by aligning with the Big 10 conference,” Estes noted. “I had a great talk with [Penn State coach] Kate Daley. [Davenport coach] Greg Teliczan is a friend. [Notre Dame coach] Ricardo Ramirez has coached my daughter often through the years and has my respect. Strong, well run programs that will give our players the chance to test themselves against some of the best teams in the country. This is what we need to test our varsity-modeled athletic experiment. We’re focused on process, on growth more than on momentary achievement. Our team echoes our belief in this concept.”
The Big 10 conference is at its largest in years. Returners include Penn State, Notre Dame, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue. Iowa, Davenport and Ohio State are new or returning after an absence. All of the DI conferences, whether fall- or spring-based and including independents Navy and Princeton, joined CRAA. The lone exception is the DI Midwest. Read more.
“CRAA will give us the chance to play the largest assembly of strong DI programs and UIOWA is a Big 10 school,” Estes closed.
There are still many schools and leagues that have not declared their competitive paths going forward. Spring-based competitions don’t feel the pinch of an impending season just yet; others want to wait and see how USA Rugby emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy; and others are figuring out ways to protect their local competition from further fracturing. Colleges and conferences’ movements are being tracked in this document, so check back for updates.