East Coast Rugby Conference


The East Coast Rugby Conference was founded in 2011 after USA Rugby decided that college rugby teams would leave their local area unions and form independent conferences. Seven teams participated in the inaugural season. In 2012, the league expanded and added an eighth team, with American International College joining the league as an associate member. They were voted into full membership for the Fall 2013 league season.

Members

Boston College
Fairfield University
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Connecticut
Middlebury College
University at Albany, SUNY
American International College

2011

Boston College played at the 2011 Collegiate Rugby Championship. The CRC, held every June at PPL Park in Philadelphia, is the highest profile college rugby tournament in the US, and is broadcast live on NBC. The opening round of fixtures took place on September 17, 2011. Northeastern won the conference's inaugural season, earning a bid to the round of 16 of the D1-AA tournament. The conference also hosted a 7's tournament on November 5, with the winner getting an automatic bid to the USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships. Boston College defeated the University of Albany 36–10 in the final, but declined the bid to the national championships.

Final Standings

PositionTeamGWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
1Northeastern University660022627+1995029
2Boston College642011287+252119
3Middlebury College6330135107+283217
4University of Massachusetts63309096−62115
5University of Albany6240120170−502212
6Southern Connecticut624055154−99008
7University of Connecticut615070167−97105

2012

The opening round of fixtures for the 2012 season will take place on September 15. The 2nd annual East Coast Rugby Conference 7's tournament was won by Northeastern University, who defeated Middlebury College 12-7 in the final. Northeastern accepted their bid to the 2012 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships, and were joined by Middlebury, who accepted an at-large bid. Both teams performed admirably, with Middlebury posting a 2-3 record for the tournament, losing 14-7 to defending Division 1-AA champion Davenport University in the Shield semi-final. Northeastern finished 2-1 in their group, losing only to defending 7's national champion Life University on the first day, followed by a second day loss to Cal Poly in the quarterfinals.

Final Standings

PositionTeamGWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
1Middlebury College761029595+2005130
2Boston College761019184+1072127
3Northeastern University7520211121+904125
4University of Albany7340191230−395320
5American International College7340163144193116
6Southern Connecticut7250156250−944214
7University of Massachusetts7250135175−403213
8University of Connecticut716079322−243116

2013

Southern Connecticut has dropped out of the ECRC, no replacement named.

Final Standings

PositionTeamGWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
1Middlebury College660030574+2316030
2American International College6510170110+604024
3Boston College6420147102+452018
4Northeastern University6330150142+82115
5University of Massachusetts6240106142-36109
6University of Albany6150131238−107105
7University of Connecticut606066267−201000