Eight colleges with varsity rugby programs have banded together to form the National Collegiate Varsity Women’s Rugby Association.

The NCVWRA consists of Army, Bowdoin, Brown, Central Washington, Harvard, Norwich, Quinnipiac, and West Chester. It is the first collegiate organization focused on the promotion and development of varsity women’s rugby. Membership is open to NCAA schools in all divisions who commit to sponsor women’s rugby at the varsity level.

The NCVWRA looks to serve as the primary point of contact with the NCAA on issues related to intercollegiate women’s rugby. In addition, it will be a resource for athletic administrators considering elevating their current women’s rugby clubs or creating new varsity programs. The Association is not expected to play in a single NCVWRA competition, but instead will work to increase communication between athletic directors, and could make it easier for other schools to explore making women's rugby a varsity sport.

The NCAA currently classifies women’s rugby as an Emerging Sport. For institutions looking to increase the participation of women in their varsity programs, said NCVWRA Executive Director Jeff Ward, rugby is an excellent option because large squad sizes increase participation, but equipment costs are very low. And, as any rugby fan knows, the sport requires the contribution of a wide variety of athletes.

For more information, Executive Director Jeff Ward can be reached at jeff.ward.207@gmail.com