RESOURCES & PARTNERS
NCAA EMERGING SPORT INITIATIVE
DEFINITION
Rugby is the only full contact sport for women in the NCAA and is currently classified as an Emerging Sport.
What does it mean to be an NCAA Emerging Sport?
NCAA Emerging Sports Status is a ‘placeholder’ the NCAA grants new sports that are seeking full NCAA status. The Emerging Sport designation allows the sport to grow its membership to at least 40 varsity programs prior to being granted full NCAA championship status.
What other sports have Emerging Status?
Other current Emerging Sports on the NCAA list include: Equestrian (18 years on the list), Sand Volleyball (4 years) and Triathlon (2 years).
What is NCAA Women’s Rugby membership currently at now and how is it growing?
Since 2002, the expansion for women’s rugby as an Emerging Sport has grown to 23 member institutions. Member schools span all three divisions and represent diverse geographical areas of the United States – although 73% of the membership hailing from the East Coast.
Full championship status occurs when an Emerging Sport, supported and overseen by the Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) achieves 40 member institutions - each school must agree to treat rugby in a fully compliant manner as a varsity sport.
The progress and successful integration of Rugby into the NCAA as an Emerging Sport is paramount to the growth of women’s rugby in the United States.
RESOURCES
TIMELINE
2020
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Added: Alderson Broaddus University D-2, Post University D-2, Manhattanville College D-3
Origin: Elevation of club programs
2019
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Dropped: Central Washington University
Origin: Joined D-1 Elite
2018
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Added: Queens College of North Carolina D-II, Colby Sawyer D-III
Origin: Elevation of club programs
2017
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Added: LIU-Post D-II, Mount St. Mary’s D-I
Origin: Elevation of club programs
2016
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Added: Notre Dame College D-II, Molloy College D-II, Castleton College D-III Origin: Elevation of club programs
2015
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Added: Dartmouth D-I, Sacred Heart D-I, University of New England D-III, Central Washington University D-II
Origin: Elevation of club programs -
Dropped: Eastern Illinois University
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First National Tournament hosting all NCAA teams is played at Brown University
2014
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Added: Army DI, Brown University D-I, American International College D-II
Origin: Elevation of club programs
2013
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Added: Harvard D-I
Origin: Elevation of club program
2010
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Added: Quinnipiac University D-I
Origin: No club team previously, development through new on-campus SA recruitment
2006
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Dropped: Southern Vermont University
2004
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Added: West Chester University D-II
Origin: Elevation of club program
2003
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Added: Bowdoin College D-III, Norwich University D-III, Southern Vermont D-III
Origin: Elevation of club program
2002
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Added: Eastern Illinois University D-I
Origin: Elevation of the club program -
Rugby is added to the NCAA ES list