GRR: NCR
Adrian, Mich.—Adrian College director of athletics Michael Duffy on Monday has named former Michigan State University club coach Benny Mateialona as the first head coach of the Bulldogs new men's rugby varsity program that is scheduled to debut in Fall 2021.
While the COVID shutdowns and delays mean very, very few college rugby teams and conferences are in action, many are still working on decisions regarding what competition oversight group they want to join.
The addition of men’s and women’s rugby at Adrian College has an interesting twist or two.
First off, there’s the fact that the school decided to add the sport despite the COVID-19 shutdowns and the question-marks regarding whether colleges can even afford to have as many sports teams as they have. Adrian, instead of paring back, added a sport, and they chose rugby.
Talk has been drifting around the college rugby arena about a make-up year of eligibility because of COVID-19; we’re here to tell you that it’s not going to happen.
OK, maybe not completely “no.” The NCAA is giving an extra season to athletes, and that will apply to student-athletes in NIRA, as well. But elsewhere? Probably not.
ADRIAN, Mich.(Adrian College Announcement) —Adrian College director of athletics Michael Duffy has announced that women’s rugby will be a varsity program that will be added next fall to the Bulldogs intercollegiate sports lineup, which is nearing the 50 mark.