Salt Lake City, Utah -  The University of Utah has announced it is pulling out of the Varsity Cup.

The team's statement, signed by the coaching staff said: "After a careful and thorough evaluation, the University of Utah Men’s Rugby Club has determined that participation in the Varsity Cup postseason tournament is no longer a viable option for the program."  

Director of Rugby Haloti Liava’a added: “The universities in the Varsity Cup represent excellence on and off the field.  To be numbered among them has been an honor.  However, the present condition of collegiate rugby in the United States, including distribution of programs, competitive balance, and proximity to teams in our geographic region make pursuing other postseason options in the future congruent with our program’s direction.”

Utah Rugby said it understood that the timing of this announcement was "suboptimal", but expects this move to improve its financial position and reduce conflicts from heavy travel during final exam taking and preparation.