The Big Rivers Rugby Conference (BRRC) is men’s collegiate rugby competition competing under National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) in Division 1.
The conference is largely consistent in that it features school-supported programs at schools that don't have particularly large enrollments, all in the greater Midwest (Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, and Indiana).
Marian and Thomas More move on to the Big Rivers final after both won semifinals this weekend.
Thomas More, the #1 seed from the East defeated Iowa Central 53-7 in fairly dominant fashion. For the Saints this was an indication of their improvement after they started the season with a loss to Kutztown.
One of the things that is rare to nail down is how some conferences match up with others.
This can be especially true within NCR, where the short runway of the fall means that inter-conference games mid-season are a luxury.
The Big Rivers are cutting a new course after some team changes from last season.
After reflecting on the past weekend in college rugby, we at GRR World Headquarters got down to looking at college conferences.
After Principia was rolling through the competition in the Big Rivers and earning the bye week before the playoffs, you'd have been forgiven for thinking the conference final was a foregone conclusion.
De La Salle HS
Saint Mary's (Rudy Scholz Finalist)
USA U20s (Captain)
USA Men's National 15s Team (Debut vs Georgia 2023 at age 20)
As a 17-year-old 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. He led the San Diego Mustangs to a national HS Club championship in 2024.
He also played in the SoCal single-school league for Cathedral Catholic.
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. Rogers was also an impressive discus player during her senior year in high school where she broke a school record and won Gold at Districts for the sport.
Mike played for Life College, Philly-Whitemarsh and played for the USA National 7s and 15s teams in the 1980s and 1990s.
He was also part of the Atlantis touring side, playing 7s for the team in several around the world.
