The Heart of America (HOA) is a Division I-AA men's college rugby conference that expanded to 12 teams for the 2025-2026 season. It operates under the College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) and is made up of schools from the middle part of the USA—Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri.
The conference plays its 15s season in the fall but enters its champion in the CRAA D1AA postseason in the spring.
In a thrilling in-state rivalry clash, the University of Iowa edged out Iowa State 24–22 in a back-and-forth contest marked by tough defense, heavy collisions, gusty winds, and multiple lead changes in the final minutes.
This was a Heart of America Conference game and with Iowa State being the defending champs, it was expected to be tough sledding for the Hawkeyes.
The Heart of America D1AA Conference has confirmed two new additions for the 2024-25 season.
In the middle of what has become an annual shift of conferences and shift between oversight organizations, the HOA already has added Oklahoma after the Lonestar Conference announced a move to NCR and OU decided not to follow.
Iowa State defeated Kansas 43-14 Sunday to win the Heart of America Conference 15s championship.
Coming off back to back seasons of putting teams in the ACR 15s final, the Heart of America has seen some turnover that has lead to a wide open competition so far.
Kansas State's shutout win over Arkansas put many in the Heart of America on notice but a week late KSU got a notice of their own after Kansas beat them 34-12.
For the Jayhawks, this was a fairly important showing because KSU had already shown themselves to be a force to be reckoned with.
De La Salle HS
Saint Mary's (Rudy Scholz Finalist)
USA U20s (Captain)
USA Men's National 15s Team (Debut vs Georgia 2023 at age 20)
As a 17-year-old Spencer Huntley required a waiver to play for the USA U20s, an indication of how he was rated in the USA age-grade pathway. He got that waiver and impressed for the USA U20s, and then moved up to the USA U23s. He led the San Diego Mustangs to a national HS Club championship in 2024.
He also played in the SoCal single-school league for Cathedral Catholic.
Hope Rogers began playing rugby at age 16 in high school and continued to compete during her time at Penn State University. There, she won four National Championships, was crowned MVP on two occasions, was named to the USA Under-20s and earned Collegiate All-American honors for four years. Rogers was also an impressive discus player during her senior year in high school where she broke a school record and won Gold at Districts for the sport.
Mike played for Life College, Philly-Whitemarsh and played for the USA National 7s and 15s teams in the 1980s and 1990s.
He was also part of the Atlantis touring side, playing 7s for the team in several around the world.
