September 21, 2022

NCR Launches Friday Night Rugby

21 September—National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) is bringing more rugby to fans across the country with the inaugural season of Friday Night Rugby. Running over six Friday nights, this new series features top men’s and women’s clubs and major rivalry matches.

Friday Night Rugby starts on September 30 with Philadelphia men’s rivals Temple v. St. Joseph’s. The following week includes a key Liberty Conference battle with Harvard taking on Yale in “The Game.”

In a highly anticipated game on October 14, Adrian and Thomas More face off in a rematch of the 2021 Division II National Championship. Both teams have since moved to the Division I Big Rivers Conference, but will remember the narrow Thomas More victory last December.

The end of October features two women’s matches. On October 23, the University of Chicago meet Illinois-Chicago for bragging rights in the Windy City. One of the toughest women’s conferences in Small College, Upstate New York CRC, will play their conference championship on October 28.

Notre Dame host Boston College in the final Friday Night Rugby match of the season. The “Holy War” features two proud men’s programs that regularly draw large crowds and viewership for their matches.

Jeremy Treece, NCR’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We’re building a new stage for our teams to shine. Friday Night Rugby joins other college sports that promote their teams through national primetime broadcasts. By featuring a rugby match on Friday Night we aim to grow the sport and reach new fans in the US.”

All matches start at 8:00pm Eastern time and will be shown live on NCR’s YouTube Channel. Many fans will recognize the experienced broadcast team of Jon Broker and Pat Clifton, who have become two of the primary on-air voices of college rugby matches.

Friday Night Rugby is the latest investment that NCR is making to expand the fanbase of collegiate rugby. The 2022 matches will serve as the pilot season, and it’s anticipated that additional matches will be added for the 2023 Fall season.

Friday Night Rugby Schedule
All matches start at 8:00pm EST

September 30
Temple at St. Joseph's
Men

October 7
Harvard at Yale
Men

October 14
Adrian at Thomas More
Men

October 21
Illinois-Chicago at University of Chicago
Women

October 28
Upstate New York Conference Championship
Women

November 18
Boston College at Notre Dame
Men

About National Collegiate Rugby

National Collegiate Rugby is the largest collegiate rugby organization with over 600 men's and women's teams. Evolving from the National Small College Rugby Organization, which was founded in 2007, NCR serves small colleges, Division II and Division I programs. NCR's sole focus is the growth and development of college rugby through a range of competitions and championship pathways, member services and governance.

Media Contact:

Wade Smith

wade@ncr.rugby

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