Post University in Waterbury Conn. has announced its women’s rugby team will be joining the NCAA and the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) beginning in the Fall of 2020.

This is the first season for the Post University program.

The Eagles will join the NIRA at the DII level. The DII programs include Alderson Broaddus, American International College, Molloy, Notre Dame College, Queens University of Charlotte and West Chester University.

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“Joining the NIRA shows how committed Post is to rugby,” women’s rugby Head Coach Jacob Dilts said. “This will also allow our athletes to compete at the high level of the sport, which is very exciting. There is no doubt that joining NIRA will be tough because there is a lot of good competition in the league. But, I’ve always been a competitor and I am excited for this opportunity to compete against some of the best teams and coaches out there.

“I think joining NIRA will grow the program because women want the opportunity to compete at the highest level. Six months ago not one girl woke up and said I want to play rugby at Post University because there wasn’t a team yet, but I can guarantee six months ago there were girls who woke up wanting to play in the NIRA. Now we can provide an opportunity to those girls to come here and prove why they deserve to compete against some of the best competition in the nation.”

Post University Athletic Director Ronnie Palmer echoed the sentiments of Dilts.

“With women’s rugby being recognized as an emerging sport with the NCAA and Post University being in the middle of the NIRA footprint, made this an ideal sport to add to our department,” Palmer said. “We are excited about developing under the NIRA umbrella and assisting with the vision that commissioner [Amy] Rusert and current NIRA members have to elevate the sport.”