Davenport University women's rugby announced that it will join the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) to align with other NCAA institutions.

The women's rugby program at Davenport has enjoyed plenty of success, with three USA Rugby championships from 2015016 to 2017-18 and several 7s titles as well. In addition, the Panthers faced Navy in the 2021-2022 CRAA Fall D1 championship, losing 20-12. 

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Head Coach Greg Teliczan, who has won over 150 games as the head of the Davenport program, will continue to head up the Panthers as they join NIRA.

"Coach Teliczan has done an amazing job with our women's rugby program," said Paul Lawden, Davenport's Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "He has put our program in a position to make a seamless and successful transition to the NCAA. We are very excited and look forward to competing at the NCAA level next year."

Davenport was 10-2 this past fall, losing only to Penn State and Navy. They beat Colorado and Utah State to make the CRAA D1 final. The Panthers will join the NCAA Division II conference in NIRA, along with Newberry, Alderson Broaddus, Lander, New Haven, Post, Queens, West Chester, and defending champions American International.

With Davenport's record and history, they will immediately become threats to win the NCAA DII title next fall.