The Chesapeake Conference has made a few changes for the 2020-2021.

The conference has expanded to nine teams, which is the number the conference had when it started in 2016. The Chesapeake dropped down to seven teams in the fall of 2019 after Mary Washington moved up to D1A and Virginia moved to the Cardinals Conference in D2.

But Mary Washington is back. After a coaching change that didn't really take, the Mothers struggled in the Rugby East, and while the program is operated under the Athletics Department, it didn't quite have the depth to find success in D1A. Hennie van Zyl is now the head coach and UMW will be a big contender to win the conference this coming fall.

Also joining the Chesapeake is Queens University Charlotte, moving up from D2 after winning that division's national championship last fall. Another program run by the school's athletic department, Queen's will be an instant contender, especially when you consider most of this year's team is freshmen and sophomores.

And the third addition is another team run by its Athletic Department. Southern Virginia is a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) school, and as such is especially attractive to players who follow that faith. Coached by former BYU Head Coach David Smyth, SVU played in NSCRO this past season, but also logged a victory over Queens, so that should be a nice little rivalry.

That's four added, while there is also a team leaving, with Georgetown moving to another division.

The Chesapeake is probably the most competitive conference in DIAA rugby, with a very high percentage of results within a try (26.4%). Only Mary Washington was really able to dominate, and that was in the fall of 2018. This coming season promises to be very difficult, with four teams—UMW, SVU, Queens, and Mount St. Mary's—athletic department teams. Defending champion Virginia Tech will have its work cut out for it, while James Madison continues to show promise in the futures league (for younger players).

NC State, 2018 D2 champs, were 4-2 this past fall, while Salisbury (3-1-2) and Maryland (3-2-1) were also right there in the mix.

The 2020-2021 Chesapeake Conference lineup: JMU, MSM, NC State, Salisbury, SVU, Queens, Mary Washington, Maryland, and Virginia Tech.

Chesapeake Conference Past Seasons:

2016

Winner: James Madison
Futures Cup Winner: James Madison
Close Losses or Ties: 11 out of 36

2017

Winner: Mary Washington
Futures Cup Winner: James MAdison
Close Loss or Ties: 9 out of 36

2018 

Winner: Mary Washington
Futures Cup Winner: James Madison
Close Loss or Ties: 6 out of 28

2019

Winner: Virginia Tech
Futures Cup Winner: James Madison
Close Loss or Ties: 6 out of 21