Some things seem bound to change. And change again. Just when rugby fans were getting used to "College Premier Division" as the moniker for elite-level play, USA Rugby, the sport’s sanctioning organization, has re-branded the product "College Division 1A" for the upcoming 2012 season.
The top-tier collegiate men’s competition will kickoff in February with just 26 sides returning from last year’s line-up.
The competition's new name, says USA Rugby, is designed to more closely align it with the college sports model and better delineate rugby’s two Division 1 programs.
Division 1 men's college sides not in Division 1A will compete in Division 1AA. Division 1A and Division 1AA sides compete for their respective national championships.
Division 1A consists of four conferences: Rugby East, Mid-South, Western, and Pacific.
Collegiate
Pacific |
Western |
Mid-South |
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Cal Poly SLO |
Air Force |
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Army |
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Life |
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Notre Dame |
Kutztown |
St. Mary’s |
BYU |
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Navy |
UC Davis |
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UCLA |
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The division’s roster has been trimmed down since the 2011 inaugural season. Gone from the Pacific Conference are
Division 1A play season kicks off February 25 with two Mid-South clashes as
The following weekend -- March 3 -- all the conferences get into the action, though
Cal Rugby Division 1A 2012 Schedule
Date |
Opponent |
February 25 |
BYE |
March 3 |
BYE |
March 10 |
UCLA |
March 17 |
UC Davis |
March 27 |
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March 31 |
BYE |
April 7 |
BYE |
April 14 |
St. Mary’s |
April 21 |
BYE |
April 28 |
Cal Poly SLO |