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). 

College Men

Great Midwest Semifinals Close to Confirmed

In a way, the team that came out of this weekend in Great Midwest rugby action was a team that didn't play.

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College Men

Major Challenges for Leaders in DII College Rugby

It's weird times in the NEWCRC.

After being touted quite heavily in these pages for its competitiveness top to bottom, the league has in fact split rather dramatically. The bottom half of the standings is now struggling and it's really a case of some teams going through some rebuilding at the same time that others are returning the majority of really good units.

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College Men

Shock Result Shakes Up Great Midwest

The BIG GAME of the Great Midwest might not be quite as big as anticipated, but still carries some caché.

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College Men

Big Results for Loyola, UNI in Great Midwest

Loyola of Chicago improved to 2-0 with yet another fairly comfortable win, beating Illinois State 50-15.

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College Men

Around Top-of-Conference D2 College Games

Here's a quick look at where we are in Men's D2 College rugby.

Northern Iowa and Marquette will meet up in the Great Midwest Conference final after both won semifinals in convincing fashion Saturday.

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Photo Galleries

Zach Szepiela for Bowling Green with his OT try. Roger Mazzarella photo.
NCR D1AA Semis: Bowling Green Needs OT, Tennessee Rolls
Tennessee vs Sam Houston State. Photos Will Fagan.
Something New and Something Classic in NCR D1AA Semis
Mount St. Mary's maul. Photo Calder Cahill.
CRAA Classic Offers Impressive Showdowns in South Carolina
USA Military vs British Army, Nov 11, 2025. Photo Alex Goff.
RMA Podcast: Why Rugby Has Value for Veterans
Kentucky vs Texas A&M 2025 Playoffs Ph Will Fagan
D1AA Quarterfinals: Changing of the Guard
Villanova Flyhalf Nathan Caruso vs. UMBC
Nathan Caruso
Mary Washington vs Ohio State Nov 15, 2025. Photo David Hughes.
Mary Washington Edges Ohio State in Solid Outing for Two Changed Teams
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University of Maine - Orono Men
USA Military vs British Army, Nov 11, 2025. Photo Alex Goff.
A Heroic Battle in the Mud as USA Military Takes on British Army
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Gameday Is Here for Military Team, But There's More To It Than That
Tennessee vs LSU November 1, 2025. Photo Will Fagan.
Thriller Semi Helps Decide Who Makes the SCRC Final
25-21 win over Dartmouth
Brown University Men
Tonga Kofe for the Utah Warriors. Photo Utah Warriors.
Warriors, Eagles, and Now Tigers, Too. The Tonga Kofe Journey
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US Military Team Roster Announced for UK Tour
Rugby Ohio Boys 7s 2025. Photo Alex Goff.
Ignatius Saves Best for Last in Ohio 7s
2025 Rugby Ohio Girls Finals. Photo Alex Goff.
West Pitt Takes Rugby Ohio Girls 7s
Army vs Mount St. Mary's October 25, 2025. Photo David Hughes.
Gamboa Sparks Key Army Win in Rugby East
U. Chicago vs Northwestern from October 18, 2025.
U. Chicago Squeezes Success into Tight Window
UMass Men Fall 2025
University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) Men
Lindenwood vs Dartmouth. NIRA 2025.
Close Win for Lindenwood at NIRA Enters Crucial Weeks
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Eagle Women's Coaching Decision a Crucial Decision This Fall
Iona vs Siena 2025. Alex Goff photo.
Iona Shocks Siena in Liberty Nailbiter
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Great Northwest Challenge Returns for 2026
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November Looms, Now What?
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Who Is Making an Impact in Fall HS Sevens?
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Villanova Univ Men
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Villanova Shows its Class in Win over UMBC
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Thriller in the City of Brotherly Love
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Eager to Play, Air Force Women Start Strong
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D2 Roundup. Who Has Started Strong?
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PNC Wraps Up in Salt Lake with RWC Qualifier Chase
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UNC Charlotte Making Statements
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Solid Showing Once Again for Mount St. Mary's
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Canada Rides Massive First Half to Get to WRWC Final
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Utah State Takes Steps After a Taste of the Postseason
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Pacific Nations Cup Semis Set Up Massive Weekend in Utah
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Top Seeds Move to Semis in Women's Rugby World Cup
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Eagles Book Place in 2027 RWC With Win over Samoa
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What Ranked D1A Teams Did This Weekend
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D1A Rankings for 2025-26 Week 2
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ARP Teams Dodge Weather in Round 2
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Huge Next Two Weeks in International Rugby in the USA
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Krieger-Sparked Second Half Sees Navy Past Queens
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Japan Defeats USA, But Eagles Improve
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Tennessee Downs Ohio State in Early-Season Rivalry Match
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Big First Half Sees Mount Past Davenport
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When 60-0 Is Not Enough: Eagle Women Out of Quarterfinals
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Walsh Takes Hard-Hitting Affair Over Notre Dame
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West Coast 7s Brings Three Big Tournaments This Fall
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The Rugby Tens Champions Returns to SoCal in November

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