College Rugby - Women's Rugby: An Emerging Sport

Women's Rugby: An Emerging Sport

The National Collegiate Athletic Association identified women's rugby as an "Emerging Sport" in 2002. An "Emerging Sport" must gain championship status (minimum 28 varsity programs for team sports) within 10 years, or show steady progress toward that goal to remain on the list. Until then, it is under the auspices of the NCAA and its respective institutions. With only 5 teams, Emerging Sport status allows for competition to include club teams to satisfy the minimum number of competitions bylaw established by the NCAA.

Current and planned varsity women's rugby programs include the following:

  1. Quinnipiac University
  2. Eastern Illinois University (Division 1)
  3. West Chester University (Division 1)
  4. Bowdoin College
  5. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Division 1)
  6. Norwich University (Division 1)
  7. Harvard University (will offer varsity women's rugby beginning fall 2013)
  8. Davenport University (will offer varsity women's rugby beginning fall 2013)

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