In a major development for collegiate rugby, top Division I programs from Rugby East are joining forces with Wheeling University to establish the Atlantic Coast Rugby Conference (ACRC), launching in Fall 2025.
The ACRC will be home to six highly competitive, school-supported programs, including five teams from Rugby East and Wheeling University, which transitions from the Big Rivers Conference as the eastern-most member. It’s anticipated that additional teams will be added to the conference in the coming weeks.
The founding members of the Atlantic Coast Rugby Conference include:
The ACRC will align with National Collegiate Rugby with the teams continuing to play a Fall regular season and post-season schedule. The new conference will not require dual association fees, however some ACRC players and coaches who would like to maintain their USA Rugby membership will do so at their convenience.
The ACRC will be one of the most competitive conferences in all of collegiate rugby, featuring National Champion caliber programs. Queens University reached the national finals in 2022 and 2024, while St. Bonaventure claimed its first national title in 2021 and returned to the championship match in 2023. Most of the Walsh University players and coaches won the 2023 national championship with Notre Dame College, which closed its doors later that same school year.
The new teams have also achieved strong outcomes in 7s, with Kutztown winning the 2022 premier cup national championship and Wheeling University taking home the trophy in 2024.
“We are pleased that we could offer a new and competitive structure to these teams,” commented Brad Dufek, NCR Men’s Director. “The ACRC is poised to be one of the top conferences in the country, and we are excited to support its inception.”
With opportunities for expansion ahead, ACRC teams will play a full regular season schedule leading to the conference championship match on November 8. NCR will offer five automatic bids to ACRC teams for the 2025 national playoffs.
In the coming weeks, ACRC will unveil its official branding, including a conference logo, website, and social media presence. Fans can also look forward to marquee matchups, with two ACRC clashes already scheduled for NCR’s highly anticipated Friday Night Rugby series in Fall 2025.
