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.
NIRA Fires Up This Weekend
This week's NIRA and D1 women's collegiate action got underway early with Dartmouth handing Long Island a convincing loss.
Dartmouth Opens NIRA Account with Big Win
Dartmouth opened up their NIRA season with a comprehensive dismissal of Long Island University, beating the Sharks 92-5 Wednesday at Brophy Field in Hanover, NH.
Dartmouth Hosts Long Island in NIRA Opener
The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) league kicks off on Wednesday with 2018 champions Dartmouth hosting the Long Island University Sharks.
The game will kick off at 11am Eastern Time and will be shown live on ESPN+ (ESPN's streaming service).
Guildford College Hiring Women's Rugby Coach
Guilford College, which competes in Division III the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association, is looking for a new women's Head Coach.
The Varsity program's job description and application process can be found here>>
Who Plays Where and How? Our College Rugby Update
The College Rugby scene isn't getting any less convoluted now that we've had a year or so to pull out of 2020's turmoil, and the question remains exactly how each college rugby team will address competition in the future.
