The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) governs women’s varsity collegiate rugby in the United States under the NCAA emerging sport framework. NIRA organizes competition across Division I, a combined Division II/III, and a Developmental Division that supports new or growing varsity programs. Division I features established powerhouses such as Dartmouth, Harvard, and Army, while the combined DII/III tier brings together competitive mid-sized and small colleges for meaningful postseason play. The Developmental Division provides a pathway for schools transitioning to varsity status, helping expand and strengthen women’s collegiate rugby nationwide.
Army Shuts Out Quinnipiac in NIRA DI Action
WEST POINT, NY — Army West Point women shut out Quinnipiac 39-0 on Friday night to improve to 1-1-1 in NIRA DI.
Women NIRA and D1 College Games This Weekend
Among Women's DI and NIRA games the Big Ten ramps up with three games, all worth a look.
Gamebreakers, Women's College Rugby Sept. 17-19
We’re here with a look at the players in women’s DI college rugby who stood out.
Here are our Gamebreakers for the weekend of September 18:
Maddie Hughes, Queens University Charlotte
A freshman out of Myers Park HS in North Carolina, Hughes scored four tries as Queens shut out Navy.
Momentum Shifts in Dartmouth vs Army See Big Green Go 3-0 in NIRA
Dartmouth moved to 3-0 in the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association DI with a 34-28 defeat of Army at West Point on Sunday.
NIRA Latest: Brown, AIC, Bowdoin Roll
Brown rolled to a 46-3 defeat of Sacred Heart to move to 1-0-1 in NIRA's DI.
Zy Thomas, Mahdia Parker, and Lexi Nelson all scored tries that, with Nelson's two conversions, staked Brown to an early first-half lead. By halftime it was 36-0 thanks to tries from Elizabeth Mahoney, Akilah Cathy, and Claudia Dyer. Things slowed down a little in the second half but Brown were in control.
