The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) governs women’s varsity collegiate rugby in the United States under the NCAA emerging sport framework. NIRA organizes competition across Division I, a combined Division II/III, and a Developmental Division that supports new or growing varsity programs. Division I features established powerhouses such as Dartmouth, Harvard, and Army, while the combined DII/III tier brings together competitive mid-sized and small colleges for meaningful postseason play. The Developmental Division provides a pathway for schools transitioning to varsity status, helping expand and strengthen women’s collegiate rugby nationwide.
Some Surprises as NIRA Finalizes Championship Pairings
The finals matchups for the NIRA championship weekend are set after a couple of surprises Saturday.
Dartmouth beat Brown as expected, winning 56-5. Lilly Durbin paced the Big Green with four tries while Kristin Bitter added two.
NIRA Semifinal Weekend Is Here
The NIRA playoffs are upon us, with Finals Weekend at West Point set for November 20-21.
Here’s how it’s all looking:
Kearney Leads Harvard Past West Point in NIRA
Harvard clinched 2nd in the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association league with a strong defensive performance and a 21-7 victory over West Point Saturday.
NIRA Showdown at West Point as Harvard takes on Army
In what is almost certainly a playoff preview, Harvard and Army clash at the Anderson Rugby Complex in West Point in NIRA action this weekend.
This is the final league game for both teams, and a chance to set the tone for what promises to be a hugely competitive playoff for the women's NCAA varsity DI competition.
Dartmouth Wins NIRA Clash in Barnburner Over Harvard
It was a runaway and then it wasn’t, but Dartmouth held off Harvard 45-31 in the clash of two undefeated NIRA teams, setting up a potentially thrillling clash in the final in a few weeks’ time.
