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.
It remains tight in the Big Rivers as we saw three competitive games in this NCR D1 conference.
Marian were pipped 26-21 by Principia to move the Thunder Chickens to 2-0 in the conference and dropping the Knights to 1-1.
Wheeling defeated Thomas More 36-22 to open their conference account.
The Big Rivers Conference is decidedly underway with Thomas More, Marian, and, notably, Principia all winning.
Thomas More had started off with a couple of early-season, non-conference losses but won their opening conference game 52-21 over new member Rio Grande. The Saints were able to open up their attack a little bit more in this game.
It was an intriguing weekend in Men's D1 college rugby as we saw quite a few cross-divisional matchups and, perhaps, some harbingers of how things might shake out this season.
Here's a rundown of some of the DIA and DIAA games around the nation.
Two of the top teams in the Big 10 faced off with Indiana vs Ohio State.
This was a rematch of last fall’s conference final, which was won in a tight game by Ohio State. This time around Indiana took the matchup 30-17.
Actual rugby games in America may be few and far between but already Dakota Southworth made his presence known.
Iowa Central Community College’s metronomically active flanker was the player of the game in last week’s outing against Iowa State, and received kudos from both coaches.
“Their #7 just has an incredible work rate,” enthused Iowa State Head Coach Anthony Frein.
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.
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.
