Return to Play Status of Women’s Rugby – USA

We’re all wondering when rugby can safely return. We decided to check in with all the Women’s Premier League (WPL), GUs, Associate GU’s and colleges to see where they are in returning to play. Generally we’ll be updating around league or structured play. We’re aware that some areas are allowing socials or friendlies but that seems to be rare and only if local health guidelines allow.

We will update this post monthly or more frequently if necessary.

If you have any insight or questions, please send an email to wendy@scrumhalfconnection.com.

NOTE: Everything below is listed by division or region in alphabetical order. We recommend using CTRL-F (CMD-F for MAC) to quickly find the team you’re interested in.

Women's Premier League (WPL)

Updated March 30, 2021

On February 6, the Women’s Premier League announced that the 2021 spring season was postponed. As the WPL is composed of 10 teams across the country: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Portland (Ore.), San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area (2) and Twin Cities (Minn.). With a cross-country league like this, it poses unique challenges with government, local and county restrictions that will need to be navigated. 

On March 30, we received an update that the 2021 spring season had been cancelled. The next window to determine if a fall season would occur is June 15. 

Women's Club Rugby

Updated March 30, 2021

Capital

Play was suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic. On February 8, Capital announced that sanctioned rugby activities for all member jurisdictions where local health departments and governments permit sports activities is possible.

Carolinas

Play was suspended in August 2020 and they announced in August that their 2021 spring season was also cancelled. On March 16 they announced that they will be returning to Stage 5 play as of April 12 and teams can play friendlies against each other.

Eastern Pennsylvania

See Capital update above.

Empire

Play was suspended in August 2020 due to the pandemic. On February 11, Empire announced that they are hoping to resume Regional Cup Competition as of April 10. We’ve received confirmation that the men will participate in a Regional Cup Comp while some women will play in sanctioned friendlies.

Florida

Play was suspended in early 2020 but they are hosting “league like” matches starting February 6 between Tampa, Orlando, Ft Miami, Jacksonville and Indian River. 

On March 28, they announced the D2 Playoffs.

Mid-America

Play was suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic. They are now allowing sanctioned friendlies.

Midwest

Play was suspended in May 2020 and they’ve recently announced that their 2021 spring season is also cancelled. On March 25, Midwest announced that they are moving closer to holding “competition events”.

New England

Play was suspended in March 2020 and remains so.

Northern California

Play was suspended in March 2020 and remains so. All competitions are suspended and ALL impacted counties will need to be back to Orange tier in order to have competitions.

Pacific Northwest

Play was suspended in March 2020 and remains so.

Rocky Mountain

Play was suspended in March 2020 and remains so. They have released a page tracking RTP status for each state they oversee.

Southern California

Play was suspended in March 2020 and remains so. They are hosting monthly meetings to determine their return to play status. 

Southwest (AZ, Rio Grande)

Play was suspended in early March 2020. They are allowing some social matches where local government restrictions allow and the Union is planning a ‘Return to Rugby’ tournament in mid May.

Texas

Play was suspended in April 2020 due to the pandemic. As of March 1, the TRU has announced that their Union is in a Stage 4+ where clubs can follow a waiver process to play sanctioned social matches.

On March 29, the women’s teams agreed upon a seven week tournament schedule following a very flexible format of 7s, 10s or XVs matches. The actual format of each tournament will be decided by the tournament host the week of the event. 

True South

Play suspended in March 2020. League play has been cancelled for spring XVs but some teams are playing friendlies if local guidelines allow.

Alaska – Associate Union

No recent information on website, we have requested details from them.

Utah – Associate Union

No recent information on website, we have requested details from them.

Hawaii – Associate Union

No recent information on website, we have requested details from them.

Georgia – Associate Union

No recent information on website, we have requested details from them.

Women's College Rugby

Updated March 30, 2021

National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA)

Play suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic. A spring schedule has been put together and teams are currently playing matches.

National College Rugby (NCR)

Play was suspended in August 2020 due to the pandemic. On March 23, NCR announced that 2021 Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC 7s) will be played May 29-31.  They also announced that the Great Plains Women’s Regional 7s Championship will take place April 24.

USA Rugby

College Rugby Association of America (CRAA)

CRRA Championships were cancelled in October 2020 and all play was suspended due to the pandemic. 

As of February, D1 Elite teams Life, Penn State, BYU, Lindenwood, and Central Wasthingon are beginning to play intra-squad matches as they are able. They are hoping for a post-season starting April 10, semi-finals April 17 and ending with a National Championship May 1.

In late March, the DI Elite ended its regular season  with all four active teams in play. Playoffs are slated for 4/17.

Allegheny

Play suspended in August 2020 due to the pandemic. On March 1, Allegheny announced that some matches have been sanctioned.

Big 10

Play was suspended in the late fall and remains so.

Blue Ridge Rugby Conference

Play was suspended in early 2020 and remains so. They will review the situation with their team’s Universities in mid-March.

Capital Conference

Play was suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic. Sanctioned friendlies are allowed in some cases.

Carolinas Conference

Play was suspended in August 2020 and they announced in August that their 2021 spring season was also cancelled. On March 16 they announced that they will be returning to Stage 5 play as of April 12 and teams can play friendlies against each other.

Florida

Play was suspended in early 2020 and it was recently announced that 2021 spring competitive XVs is also cancelled.

Great Waters

Illinois Conference

Mid-America Conference

Play was suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic. In some cases, sanctioned friendlies are being allowed.

Midwest

Play was suspended in May 2020 and they’ve recently announced that their 2021 spring season is also cancelled. On March 25, Midwest announced that they are moving closer to holding “competition events”.

New England Wide Collegiate Rugby

Play suspended in July 2020 due to the pandemic. On February 25, NEWCRC announced that the 2021 Spring Season and 2021 Conference 7’s Championship will be delayed indefinitely.

Northeast

Play was suspended in late fall and remains so.

Ohio Valley Conference

Play was suspended in August 2020 due to the pandemic. On March 17, OVWCRC announced that some schools have been cleared to play and they have arranged a four weekend 7s round robin.  

Pacific Desert Conference

Play suspended in March 2020 and remains so.

Pacific Mountain Conference

Play suspended in March 2020 and remains so. No teams have permission from their Universities to play matches yet, so the PMRC will not be having a 15s season this spring.  We will not be hosting a 7s qualifier either.

Only 2 or 3 teams can even hold  no-contact, socially distanced, modified practices.

Rocky Mountain Conference

Play was suspended in March 2020 and remains so.

South Independence

These teams are in flux beyond the pandemic as there is a movement to join the CRAA but some teams have gravitated towards the newly formed South Atlantic Rugby Conference.

Texas

Play was suspended in April 2020 due to the pandemic. As of March 1, the TRU has announced that their Union is in a Stage 4+ where clubs can follow a waiver process to play sanctioned social matches.

Tri-State Rugby Conference
Play was suspended in early 2020. The Tri-State Collegiate Conference will make a decision on March 1st, 2021 regarding a return to play.

West Coast Conference
Play was suspended in March 2020 and remains so.

2 thoughts on “Return to Play Status of Women’s Rugby – USA”

  1. For empire, men’s teams are playing a regional cup format. They have added some friendlies too. Some of the women’s team depending on the region look to play a few friendlies in May.

    Reply

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