Skip to main content

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). 

uw whitewatersept2015 1
College Men

WIIL - Whitewater Wins Rankings Clash, L-B, UNI Win

In a clash of two highly-ranked teams, #2 Wisconsin-Whitewater defeated #4 Wisconsin-Lacrosse 36-15.

Lacrosse came out firing and in fact led 8-0 early on. But Whitewater rebounded with two tries to tai the lead.

uw whitewatervvermont 2014 deborah grinnell 1 0
College Men

Whitewater, Belleville Win in WIIL

It was all about the new and the old Saturday in the Wisconsin-Illinois-Iowa League (WIIL) men’s DII college conference as defending champs the UW-Whitewater Warhawks, and newcomers Lindenwood-Belleville Lynx both won.

lindenwoodbelleville v lindenwood sept2015
College Men

WILL Kicks Off Amid Shakeup

The new-look WIIL Men’s DII conference gets underway this weekend with 2014 national finalists the UW-Whitewater Warhawks heading up a strong lineup of teams.

uw whitewatervvermont 2014 deborah grinnell 1
College Men

WIIL Looks to Big 2015 Fall

The WIIL Men's DII collegiate rugby conference has settled its schedule for the fall of 2015.

The conference now covers teams in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa, with the addition in the South Division of Northern Iowa - switching over from the Northern Lights - and Lindenwood-Belleville, a brand-new program starting this season.

uw whitewater 2013
College Men

Two 2-0 in Wisconsin - One Scary

Two winners in Wisconsin, and two teams now 2-0 in the WIIL Conference, but also two teams with very different stories.

Photo Galleries