Navigating the Landscape of NCAA Rugby Rankings

College rugby in the United States has a rich history and a dynamic present, with various organizations and ranking systems shaping the competitive landscape. Understanding these rankings requires a look at the structure of college rugby, the organizations involved, and the criteria used to evaluate teams.

A Brief History of Collegiate Rugby in the US

The roots of American football can be traced back to rugby. In 1874, McGill organized two games of football against Harvard; one was played under Harvard's rules, the other under "McGill" rugby rules. Harvard traveled to Montreal to play McGill in rugby, and won by three tries in front of 2,000 spectators. In 1875, Harvard athlete Nathaniel Curtis challenged Yale's captain, William Arnold, to a rugby-style game. Columbia, Princeton, and Yale were persuaded by Harvard to play football according to the Rugby School code in 1876.

However, by 1886, Yale coach Walter Camp had modified rugby's rules to solve the problem of tackled players lying on the ball by introducing a series of four downs to gain ten yards. Rugby made a brief but important reappearance in many colleges during a period when American football was being frowned upon for its violence. It was Stanford that supplied most of the players to the two US Olympic rugby teams (1920 and 1924), along with Santa Clara University and the University of California, who claimed fame by winning both gold medals.

It was not until the mid-1960s that rugby began to re-appear with regular fixtures and competitions. The game suited the mildly anarchistic temperament of American College students of the period. It required minimal costs for the individual, the style of the game provided constant action, and there was an emphasis on enjoyment rather than winning because rugby was not part of the now rigidly institutionalized athletic system that American Universities had developed.

The Structure of College Rugby

Rugby in the United States is divided into territorial unions. Each of these unions organized collegiate rugby into "Division One" and "Division Two" league competitions, generally with promotion and relegation between the divisions.

Division 1-A Rugby

Division 1-A Rugby (formerly known as the College Premier Division) is the highest level of men's college rugby within the United States and is administered by USA Rugby. The regular season sees all teams in the conference play one another, with the two top seeds qualifying for the playoffs. The competition's first season was played during 2011 and consisted of teams from 31 schools from across the United States.

Prior to the formation of Division 1-A, there had been some difficulty in determining how many teams each territory would send to the Sweet 16 tournament, as the relative strengths of the rugby teams in each territory fluctuated over time, and despite the disparity in the levels of rugby, it was politically difficult to deny a union any playoff bids, even though the team that came third or fourth in a more powerful territory might be a better side. Because of these issues, and to raise the level of rugby in the consciousness of the American public, USA Rugby restructured Division 1 college rugby.

In 2010, several of the top college teams agreed to form the College Premier League to begin play in spring 2011. USA Rugby and the top colleges believed that an elite level college rugby competition would make it easier to get college rugby onto TV and attract sponsors. D1-A Rugby secured sponsorships in 2012 with World Rugby Shop and Veloce.

National Collegiate Rugby (NCR)

The governance of collegiate rugby was split and diverged in 2021. National Collegiate Rugby (NCR), formerly NSCRO, emerged as a rival by expanding beyond small colleges to include the higher divisions.

College Rugby Association of America (CRAA)

The umbrella of the USA Rugby Collegiate Council includes College Rugby Association of America (CRAA), among several other organizations. In 2021, there were five men's DIA conferences plus independents under USA Rugby/CRAA.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Ranking Systems in NCAA Rugby

Several ranking systems are used to evaluate college rugby teams, each with its own methodology. These rankings play a crucial role in determining playoff seeding, matchups, and overall team recognition.

D1A Power Rankings

The D1A Power Rankings are released monthly and reflect more than just win-loss records. These rankings are powered by the D1A Power Rankings Algorithm, a system designed to reward teams that play competitive rugby against strong opponents.

The algorithm evaluates:

In-Conference Record: Success within a team’s own competitive environment.
Out-of-Conference Record: Performance against unfamiliar foes.
Strength of Schedule: Credit for facing tougher opponents.
Performance Characteristics: Margin of victory, home vs. away impact.
Coaches Poll: First-hand insight from those on the sidelines.
Media Poll: Analysis from rugby journalists and commentators.

This system ensures that teams are rewarded for playing quality rugby, not just racking up easy wins. Programs that challenge themselves rise faster, making every fixture a strategic opportunity.

Goff Rugby Report (GRR) Rankings

The Goff Rugby Report (GRR) also provides rankings for D1A rugby. These rankings are typically updated weekly and offer insights into the top teams in the nation. GRR's rankings are widely followed and respected within the college rugby community.

Other Ranking Systems

Other ranking systems may be used by various organizations and media outlets to evaluate college rugby teams. These rankings may consider different factors and have varying levels of influence.

Key Teams and Conferences

Several teams and conferences have consistently performed well in D1A rugby. These include:

California: California was dominant in Division One for the 31 years that the competition was run in this format, winning 25 titles.
Saint Mary's: Saint Mary's is another perennial powerhouse in D1A rugby.
Life University: Life University has also been a strong contender in recent years.
Army: Army beat Saint Mary's to Win D1A in 2022.
BYU: BYU consistently ranks among the top teams in the nation.
Arkansas State: Arkansas State is another team that has shown promise.

The conferences that typically feature the strongest teams include the California Conference, Rugby East, and the Mid-South Conference.

The Road to the Championship

The ultimate goal for every D1A rugby team is to win the National Championship. The playoffs typically involve the top teams from each conference, culminating in a final match to determine the national champion. The playoffs are scheduled as follows:

April 11: First Round
April 18: Quarterfinals
April 25: Semifinals
May 2: National Championship

Individual Standouts

The Rudy Scholz Award goes to the best male Division 1-A rugby player in the country. Oscar Treacy of Central Washington won the Rudy Scholz Award in 2025. Wyatt Parry won the 2024 Scholz Award.

Several individual players have made a significant impact on college rugby. For example, Spencer Huntley required a waiver to play for the USA U20s, an indication of how he was rated in the USA age-grade pathway. He got that waiver and impressed for the USA U20s, and then moved up to the USA U23s. Hope Rogers began playing rugby at age 16 in high school and continued to compete during her time at Penn State University. There, she won four National Championships, was crowned MVP on two occasions, was named to the USA Under-20s and earned Collegiate All-American honors for four years. Nathan Caruso is a steady, smart fly half who drives Villanova’s attack with calm decision-making and a reliable skill set. Tonga Kofe is one of the most promising young front-rowers to come out of the American rugby pathway.

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