The Empire Rugby Conference returns with no changes in the teams involved or the format.

All seven 2014 participants - Binghamton, Brockport, Colgate, Fordham, Stony Brook, Syracuse, and the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point - return. Stony Brook ran the table in the regular season 6-0, and while normally there would be a playoff between #1 and #2, USMMA is hampered by the fact that they lose about half of their roster in the late fall for a trimester at sea. 

Kings Point, however, got some players back for the spring, and since Stony Brook concentrated on 7s in the spring, it was Kings Point that took a spot in the DIAA playoffs, ultimately losing to Central Florida in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Stony Brook looks in good shape for 2015. 

"We feel pretty good," said Head Coach Jerry Mirro. "We are playing some tough teams early on, like Kutztown, because we know it's going to be a tough season. The guys are really dedicated and a lot of them stayed in the area for the summer and played 7s with the Long Island club."

Last year's top scorer in the conference, PJ Abelein, has graduated, but overall the core of the SeaWolves team returns, including all-conference selections Joseph Farrell, Phily Salter, Bryen Michel, and Shane Wend.

"I think we'll be good but I am worried about all of these teams," said Mirro. "I expect Colgate to be good, and Syracuse always worries me because of their size. Binghamton has some athletes, Fordham is full of smart players, Brockport is tough, and Kings Point is Kings Point. We've got some good recruits, but it won't be easy."

The Empire seaosn culminates in the ACRC Bowl Series in Charlotte, NC in November.