National Intercollegiate Rugby Association
 | |
| Abbreviation | NIRA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2015 |
| Legal status | Association |
Region served | United States |
Official language | English |
Commissioner | Amy Rusert |
Main organ | Board of Directors |
| Website | nira.rugby |
The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) is a governing body of
collegiate women's rugby programs in the United States
founded in 2015.
History
The NIRA traces roots back to 2015 when eight NCAA member institutions formed the National Collegiate Varsity Women’s Rugby Association (NCVWRA) to organize collegiate competition and aid in the promotion of rugby at the varsity level in the
Inaugural members of the association included Army, Bowdoin, Brown, Central Washington, Harvard, Norwich, Quinnipiac, and West Chester. Membership in the organization is limited to NCAA institutions who sponsor women’s rugby at the varsity level.[2] In 2016 the association became known as the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA).[3]
Members
As of April, 2025:[4]
Division I
Division II
| Club | Location | Nickname | Type | Joined | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American International College | Springfield, Massachusetts | Yellow Jackets | Private | 2018 | Tara Roberts |
| Davenport University | Michigan | Panthers | Private | 2022 | Greg Teliczan |
| Emory and Henry University | Emory, Virginia | Wasps | Private | 2023 | Tom O'Neill |
| Frostburg State University | Frostburg, Maryland | Bobcats | Public | 2023 | Jeff Horton |
| Newberry College | Newberry, South Carolina | Wolves | Private | 2022 | Eric Enright |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, Connecticut | Chargers | Private | 2021 | Emily Record |
| West Chester University | Chester County, Pennsylvania | Golden Rams | Public | 2018 | Tony Deremer |
Division III
| Club | Location | Nickname | Type | Joined | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowdoin College | Brunswick, Maine | Polar Bears | Private | 2018 | Laura Miller |
| Guilford College | Greensboro, North Carolina | Quakers | Private | 2020 | Christine Newcomb |
| University of New England | Biddeford, Maine | Nor'easters | Private | 2018 | Ashley Potvin-Fulford |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa, NC | Owls | Private | 2023 | Angelica Rodriguez |
Championship finals
Division I
| Ed. | Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
2015 | Quinnipiac (1) | 24–19 |
Army | [6] |
2 |
2016 | Quinnipiac (2) | 46–24 |
Central Washington | [7] |
3 |
2017 | Quinnipiac (3) | 29–20 |
Dartmouth | [8] |
4 |
2018 | Dartmouth (1) | 19–14 |
Harvard | [9] |
5 |
2019 | Harvard (1) | 18–7 |
Army | [10] |
6 |
2020 | (not held due to
covid-19 pandemic ) | |||
7 |
2021 | Dartmouth (2) | 28–18 |
Army | [11][12] |
8 |
2022 | Dartmouth (3) | 15–10 |
Harvard | [12][13] |
9 |
2023 | Harvard (2) | 20–12 |
Dartmouth | [14] |
10 |
2024 | Harvard (3) | 19–12 |
Dartmouth | [15] |
Division II
- 2024 – American International 20–15 Davenport[16]
- 2023 – Davenport 91–5 Lander[17]
- 2022 – Queens 34–27 Davenport[18]
- 2021 – American International 29–17 West Chester[19]
- 2019 – West Chester 15–14 Brown[20]
- 2018 – Mount St. Mary's 22–15 Sacred Heart[21]
- 2017 – University of New England 57–14 Bowdoin[22]
- 2016 – Bowdoin College 32–22 University of New England[23]
Division III
- 2023 – Bowdoin 51–17 Adrian[24]
- 2022 – Bowdoin 29–0 University of New England[25]
- 2021 – Bowdoin 31–12 University of New England[26]
- 2019 – Bowdoin College 27–5 University of New England [27]
References
- ^ "Emerging Sports for Women". www.ncaa.org. NCAA. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ a b Young, Wendy (September 11, 2014). "National Collegiate Varsity Women's Rugby Association (NCVWRA) Formed". Your Scrumhalf Connection. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Women's Intercollegiate Season Starts with 2015 Final Rematch". Goff Rugby Report. Aug 31, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
What was the NCWVRA [National Collegiate Women's Varsity Rugby Association] is now the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association.
- ^ Teams at NIRA website, April 3, 2025
- ^ "Women's Rugby". Princeton Tigers. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ^ Finlan, Jackie (November 22, 2015). "Quinnipiac, First Varsity Champion". The Goff Rugby Report. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "Back-to-Back! QU Women's Rugby Defeats CWU To Repeat As National Champions". Quinnipiac University Athletics. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "QU Women's Rugby Captures Third Straight National Title, Downs Dartmouth 29-20". Quinnipiac University Athletics. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Dartmouth Claims Program's First NIRA Championship". USA Rugby. Archived from the original on 2019-02-09. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
- ^ "Women's Rugby Crowned NIRA National Champions After Victory Over Army West Point, 18–7". Harvard Athletics. Archived from the original on 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ Hanover for Second Time By: Charlotte Brackett, 20 Nov 2021
- ^ a b Women's Rugby to Host Two-Time Defending NIRA Champion Dartmouth at Goprincetontigers, 23 Sep 2023
- ^ Big Green Repeat as Division I NIRA Champions at darthmouthsports.com, 19 Nov 2022
- ^ Champions! #1 Women's Rugby Captures 2023 NCAA DI Championship With 20-12 Win Against #2 Dartmouth at Gocrimson.com
- ^ "Champions Once Again! Harvard Secures Back-to-Back NIRA DI Championships with 19-12 Victory Over Dartmouth". Harvard University. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AGAIN! Women's Rugby overpowers Davenport for second NIRA crown in four years". 23 November 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Panthers crowned as NIRA National Champions". Davenport University Athletics. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Queens Women's Rugby Claims First NIRA Championship". Queens University of Charlotte Athletics. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! Women's rugby dethrones West Chester to earn NIRA Title". 21 November 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ @NIRArugby (17 November 2019). "Brown in possession but it's not enough. Final WCU 15 Brown 14" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "CHAMPIONS! Mount Women's Rugby Holds off Sacred Heart, 22-15, for the NIRA Tier II Championship - Mount St. Mary's". Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- ^ "Nor'easters handle Bowdoin, 57-14, in NIRA Cup Championship". University of New England Athletics. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Women's Rugby Mounts Huge Rally To Tip UNE In Season Finale". Bowdoin College. 12 November 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Women's Rugby Wins Fourth Straight NIRA Division III Championship". Bowdoin College. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "THREE-PEAT! Women's Rugby Wins Third-Straight NIRA Division III Crown". Bowdoin College. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Women's Rugby Completes Perfect Season With Second Straight NIRA Championship". Bowdoin College. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Women's Rugby Runs Away From UNE to Claim NIRA Division III Title". Bowdoin Athletics. Archived from the original on 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
External links
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