Great Midwest Rugby Conference

In Spring 2012, the Great Midwest Rugby Conference (originally named the WIIL Rugby Conference) was formed by joining D2 collegiate men's teams from the Wisconsin RFU, Illinois RFU, and CARFU. This was done partially to comply with USA Rugby's directive on forming conferences as well as increasing competition and enhancing the reputation of rugby in the Midwest. Since then they have branched out into Iowa, as well.

The Great Midwest Conference Champion regularly has teams go far in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) national-level playoffs.

In recent years, the Great Midwest added a Small College competition, and now runs competitions in D2 and D3 (which is what Small College is now called).

Division: Men's D2
Division: Men's D3 (Small College)

Conference Website

U. Chicago vs Northwestern from October 18, 2025.

10.26.2025College Men

Top Seeds, Mostly, Advance in Great Midwest

The Great Midwest is down to four teams now and things worked out basically how we expected in last weekend’s quarterfinals.

The home teams, meaning the higher-seeded teams, won three of the four games. The #1 seeds Northern Iowa and University of Chicago won fairly comfortably.

Chicago beat Wisconsin-Whitewater 43-22.

10.22.2025College Men

U. Chicago Squeezes Success into Tight Window

It's always a short and intense season for the University of Chicago men's rugby team.

09.23.2025College Men

D2 Roundup. Who Has Started Strong?

It's early days in D2 but we're getting a sense of who might be some of the stronger teams.

D2 Preview: Big Games Headed by IUP v GVSU

10.23.2023College Men

Three Days, Two Massive Wins, and Northwestern Vaults to GMW Playoffs

Coming into this weekend Northwestern University had a huge mountain to climb.

With Loyola and Illinois State on the inside track to be the top two in the Great Midwest South, the Wildcats entered this weekend having to beat both of them to make the conference semifinals.

On Friday they took the first step, beating Illinois State in impressive fashion 44-17.

10.21.2023College Men

Around Men's D2 College Rugby: GMW, Northern Lights, NEWCRC, MARC

Scores are coming in this Men's DII College weekend and some major ramifications are underway.

Maine defeated Vermont 27-20 in the NEWCRC. Led by 22 points from Shea Wagner, who scored three tries and added two conversions and a penalty, the Black Bears put themselves in excellent position to win the conference.