Men’s NCR Division I (D1) is a top-tier collegiate rugby division organized by National Collegiate Rugby (NCR), featuring the most competitive and well-developed university programs across the country. Membership is based on rugby performance and program strength rather than school size, allowing both large public universities and smaller private institutions to compete at this level. Teams in D1 play regionally during the regular season and advance to national playoffs to determine the champion. The division represents the highest standard of competition within NCR’s collegiate structure, showcasing elite play and program excellence.
Big Rivers Shaken Up After Aquinas-Indiana Tech Match
After winning two conference games, Indiana Tech was barely pipped by Aquinas Saturday to shake up things in the Big Rivers.
IT almost executed a comeback, scoring a try to turned a 32-22 deficit to 32-29, but they couldn't get that last try.
Aquinas was coming off having lost to Davenport in a comeback and were determined to close out this game. They managed that.
Two More Razor-Thin Games in the ARC
It's all drama in the Atlantic Rugby Conference in NCR's D1, as both games went down to the wire and were decided by the smallest of margins.
Wheeling and Kutztown went back and forth Saturday with Wheeling going up by two tries, only to see the Bears storm back and take the lead.
NCR D1 Rankings Fall 2026 Week 4
We don't have a ton of changes this week but Belmont Abbey's close loss to St. Bonaventure moves them back up ahead of Wheeling (where they probably should have been anyway).
Southern Nazarene's 29-24 loss to Lindenwood should be put in perspective—this was not Lindenwood's most experienced lineup—but they get a small boost anyway.
Indiana Tech also moves up a bit.
Indiana Tech Nabs First Conference Win
Indiana Tech entered this season with a set of goals, and top of that list was: Win a conference game; they did that Saturday.
The Warriors defeated Thomas More 22-7 in Fort Wayne, Ind. to log that first-ever conference win in the Big Rivers.
Player Spotlight: Richard Wofford, Dartmouth
It's been a good start for Dartmouth and a nice follow-on from their run to the CRC final.
And one of the players who has been part of that wave is Richard Wofford. A smart rugby player with good experience, a talented ballcarrier, and tough defender, Wofford added another word to his resume at the CRC: clutch.
