The Rugby East DIA conference has finalized its schedule, with two-time Keystone Conference champion West Virginia joining the now eight-team conference.

Army, the top team from the fall of 2014 returns with several challenges ahead - West Point is set to announce a new Head Coach, and in addition, the senior leaders on the squad have moved on. But wiht Wheeling Jesuit coming off a very strong spring, and Kutztown and Penn State very close in 2014 anyway, this promises to be a hugely competitive conference.

"The Rugby East is the most enjoyable collection of coaches I have had the opportunity to work with," said St. Bonavanture Head Coach Clarence Picard, who is also the league commissioner. "All of the programs take it seriously. And we all know we're going to have to play very well, every game, every week."

Several of the Rugby East teams have scheduled tough early games to get themselves ready. The Rugby East has no playoffs. Instead the teams end their season in the ACRC Bowl Series. In addition, Iona will play Delaware (widely considered to be the next program to join Rugby East - probably in the fall of 2016) in the Ice Bucket Challenge Bowl. Pat Quinn, who helped start the Ice Bucket Challenge as a way to fight ALS, is a graduate of Iona.

In the spring, Rugby East teams are eligible for the DIA playoffs. In 2014-15, Army participated, and so did Wheeling Jesuit. WJU made the playoffs despite a 3-3 record in the Rugby East in part by recording some impressive results in the spring. Penn State, 4-2 in 2014, also participated in the DIA playoffs, while Kutztown opted to concentrate on 7s.

The Rugby East teams went 1-3 in DIA playoff action. Penn State won 33-8 over Wisconsin in the first round, but then lost to Life 64-3. WJU lost 38-8 in the opening round, and while Army received a bye to the quarterfinals, the Black Knights were upended by Davenport 50-24.