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The Big Ten Rugby Conference (B1G Rugby) is a collegiate rugby league composed primarily of universities that are members of the Big Ten academic and athletic institutions, but it operates independently from the official Big Ten athletic conference. The league was formed to build on the traditional rivalries among these universities, but because of travel challenges, not every original Big 10 is in the rugby conference. Only seven of the teams that made up the Big 10 NCAA conference starting in the 1950s are in the Big Ten Rugby Conference. To even things out, the rugby conference added Notre Dame, which is a University with similar history and background to the Big Ten Universities.

This conference is split into West and East, with teams playing three conference games each. The top two from each side then play in semifinals, and the bottom two from each side play in 5th-place semifinals. Then all of the teams meet for a day of championship rugby in which all eight are placed 1st through 8th.

Of the eight teams in B1G Rugby, five play in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) postseason, while the other three play toward a College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) postseason.

Men's D1A

Updated: October 28, 2025
Mary Washington vs Ohio State Nov 15, 2025. Photo David Hughes.
College Men

Mary Washington Edges Ohio State in Solid Outing for Two Changed Teams

Mary Washington defeated Ohio State 25-17 over the weekend in a cross-conference meeting of two teams that, last year, were in CRAA's new Challenge Cup postseason.

OSU and UMW, in fact, met in the 2024-25 Challenge Cup semifinals, which Mary Washington winning and going on to defeat Grand Canyon in the Challenge Cup final.

Notre Dame wins snowy 2025 Big 10 final.
College Men

Snowy Big 10 Finals Crown Champions

South Ben, Ind.– The 2025 Big Ten Universities Rugby Championship wrapped up Sunday in a snowstorm.

After the first two of the four matches on the day were done we had seen two entertaining matches in chilly but clear weather.

Indiana has found the right feel in their attack pattern.
College Men

Intriguing Big Ten Championship Day Set for South Bend

The final matchups are confirmed for the 2025 Big Ten Universities Rugby Conference Championship, with some familiar rivalries rounding out the fall. The Championship Day will be hosted by the University of Notre Dame, with four matches deciding 7th/8th, 5th/6th, 3rd/4th, and the conference champs.
AIC vs Brown from fall of 2025. Photo Leon Nguyen.
College Men

Playoff Picture for NCR D1 Might be Clearing

NCR has indeed changed its playoff setup.

Teams line up at a previous Big 10 Championship weekend.
College Men

Big 10 Playoff Schedule, Seedings Set

The Big Ten Universities Rugby Conference has finalized its seeding and schedule for the 2025 Championship Playoffs, set to kick off on Saturday, November 1. 

This year’s tournament will feature semifinal matchups in both the Championship Cup and Bowl brackets, with higher-seeded teams hosting each contest.

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