A new campaign is underway to change USA Rugby's eligibility rules related to college students with military service.

 

A few years ago USA Rugby changed the eligibility rules for players in an attempt to simplify things. The current rules say that a player has seven years beginning on the date of his or her high school graduation, to play five years of college rugby. Players have to apply for a waiver to play in the 6th or 7th year of that seven-year window, but no player can play more than five years of college rugby.

 

For military veterans, that can mean that most of their college rugby eligibility is lost. A player who graduates from high school, and goes into the military for five years, can only play two years in college, even if he or she attends school for five.

 

A recent poll taken by Goff Rugby Report asked readers whether there should be an exemption for military students, and 53.76% said yes.

 

According to sources, there are an increasing number of stories of military veterans entering college and wanting to play rugby, but finding that they lose their eligibility after their freshman or sophomore year.

 

A Facebook page has been set up to promote the idea of changing the rules, and essentially putting a military pause on a rugby player's college eligibility clock.

 

That page is here.