Life University to Join Rugby East For Fall 2023
Life University to Join Rugby East For Fall 2023
Rugby East Conference Press Release—The Rugby East Conference is proud to announce the addition of the Life University Running Eagles to our competition, effective August 1, 2023.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Life University Running Eagles to the Rugby East Conference”, said Scott Zavrel, Rugby East Conference Commissioner. “This move enhances the prestige and the competitiveness of the league on a national scale as well as bringing another passionate fanbase into the Rugby East."
Life University will join Army West Point, Kutztown, Mary Washington, Mount St. Mary's, Navy, Notre Dame College, Penn State, Queens University of Charlotte, Southern Virginia, and St. Bonaventure, bringing the Rugby East Conference's membership to 11 schools. That's the same number the conference had in the fall of 2022, but Virginia Tech Hokies has announced their departure from our competition to pursue other opportunities for Fall 2023.
Asked about the addition of Life, Navy Director of Rugby Gavin Hickie said "Life has a history of producing top international players such as AJ McGinty, Cam Dolan, and Mitch Wilson. Their inclusion further strengthens the competition within Rugby East and makes our conference the toughest in collegiate rugby. We are excited to welcome Life University to Rugby East."
Since their first official year of varsity intercollegiate play in 2010-2011, the Life University Running Eagles have built one of the strongest programs in the country. They competed in USA Rugby's D1A National Championship game seven consecutive years and captured the title in 2018 and 2019. Life University has also been successful in rugby sevens. Life won both the 2011 and 2022 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships.
When discussing what was most appealing about joining the Rugby East Conference, the Running Eagles Head Coach, Colton Cariaga said, "To see how the Rugby East conference has been trending over the last few years, with strong administration and the addition of teams from our region of the country, it’s the right fit. It is immensely important to us that we will compete at the highest level possible against a number of the best teams in the country. [Rugby East] is comprised of teams representing quality institutions that we will be proud to visit as well as host."
