The Notre Dame College men’s rugby program has left DII after finishing in the top four in the nation last season, and moved into DIAA, pursuing an independent schedule with the goal of earning an at-larger DIAA playoff spot.

While DIAA hasn’t given independent teams playoff spots before, they have in DII and DIA, so there’s precedence, and Notre Dame is in talks with USA Rugby to get just such consideration. The Falcons have a recruiting class of over 25 players, boosting their roster to about 60, with their first senior class - that is, the first time the now four-year-old program will have players who have been with the program throughout their college tenure.

The new recruits are coming from all over the country, but Head Coach Jason Fox said that the state of Ohio still provides the most players.

“RugbyOhio has been doing a great job in cultivating players at a young age with Rookie Rugby run at St. Ignatius High School, to the great high school rugby being played at over 60 teams, including St. Edward.”

St. Edward, runners up in Rugby Ohio to St. Ignatius this past season, was where Fox coached - he helped start the program in 1999.

“Just in my own back yard of Northeast Ohio, we have over 30 competitive boys high school teams,” said Fox, who has a direct connection to more than ten of them. “I, along with many of my NDC players, ref many of the high school games during the spring, which affords us the ability to see, first-hand, the quality players coming from this area.”

Notre Dame will fill their schedule with a series of DIA and DIAA opponents, starting with Rugby East team University of Buffalo on August 29, and following that up with a visit to the University of Notre Dame in a special new rivalry game in South Bend, Ind. Other opponents include 2014-15 Keystone Conference winners West Virginia, now in Rugby East, and James Madison, which has also moved up from DII to DIAA. In late October the Falcons host DIA semifinalists Davenport, and then Rugby East team St. Bonaventure, and they cap the season at the ACRC Bowl Series in Charlotte, NC.

“We are also excited for the upcoming season,” said Fox. “As always our goal is to give our student athletes the best competition possible, so we are hoping to find a home in a D1A conference next year. We are just happy to have the full support of Notre Dame College Administration, Faculty, and Athletic Dept. to be able to help with our mission.” 

Notre Dame College President Tom Kruczek will attend the game against University of Notre Dame and will participate in the coin toss.

Fox said October 10 is still open, and he is looking to fill that date with one more game.