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University Men's Rugby Clubs Form New Atlantic Coast Rugby League

March 17, 2010 – Nine out of 12 men’s rugby teams from universities in the Atlantic Coast Conference will form a new league – The Atlantic Coast Rugby League – commencing with the spring 2011 season. For most teams, this change will mean fewer miles traveled during the season, but all teams will benefit from more competitive match-ups with traditional rivals. 

The idea for this league is not new, according to Andy Richards. Richards and colleague Pat Kane co-founded the Atlantic Coast Invitational Tournament in 2008 for the same teams. 

“We’ve been working on this new structure for some time. Each team had to decide what was best for them. Having nine of the 12 teams committed is a very exciting prospect,” Richards said. 

The rugby teams who will join the Atlantic Coast Rugby League will represent the following universities: 

• Clemson University

• Duke University

• Georgia Institute of Technology

• N.C. State University

• University of Maryland

• University of North Carolina

• University of Virginia

• Virginia Tech

• Wake Forest University 

“While it would be tough for Miami and Boston College to be involved at this point, again, the door remains open to them as well as Florida State,” Richards said. “If we can find a sponsor to help fund travel expenses for the teams, then perhaps at some point we can secure participation by all 12 teams.” 

The major driving force behind the formation of this league is the prospect of a new collegiate premier league for top teams looming large on the horizon. “I think the collegiate premier league is a great thing, not just for the teams who are in it, but it also represents a chance for collegiate teams from schools within traditionally high-profile conferences like ours to capitalize on that recognized affiliation and build our programs both on and off the field by combining into new competitive leagues,” according to Kane. 

“This is not a breakaway league. Teams will remain with their Local and Territorial Unions and USA Rugby, continuing to be full members. We are merely changing the competitive league in which we play,” continued Kane.  “The Ivy League took this big step last year and we are following in their footsteps.” 

A major difference for participating teams is moving to a spring league schedule with all games held in March and April. This season change will not allow teams the opportunity to advance the Territorial Union and USA Rugby playoffs as they are currently structured.  But Kane explained that such a situation is not unique in college athletics.  For example, the Ivy League does not send its football champion to the NCAA FCS playoffs.  The tradeoff of not being able to compete for a national championship is that student-athletes in this league get to play their traditional rivals, compete for an ACRL championship, and do all of it in March and April. 

While most teams understand that there is no pathway to a national championship in the short term, it is hoped that in the future, as the competitiveness of the league gets better, there may come the time that there is a pathway for the ACRL champion to re-enter the national rugby scene with promotion and relegation being a possible feature of the new premier league. 

The Virginia Tech Rugby Club has announced it will withdraw from the Marfu Premier league this fall. Club president Cory McGillivray said, “The team feels its best interests lie with the Atlantic Coast Rugby League. Now a spring league allows us to pick and choose our fall schedule. Football is king in the fall in Blacksburg; trying to manage a competitive league around it has always been a problem for us. This way, we can now work with it instead of against it.” 

The Atlantic Coast Invitational Tournament will move to the fall, scheduled for September 11-12, 2010 in North Carolina. The tournament will also move to a Rugby Sevens format. Richards cited the selection of Rugby Sevens as a new Olympic sport as a major reason for the change in addition to the new league spring schedule. 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

• Andy Richards

• Pat Kane