Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Women's Rugby Elevated To Varsity Sport Beginning In 2022-23
May 03, 2021 | General, Women's Rugby
Princeton University is proud to announce its intention to add women's rugby as a varsity sport beginning during the 2022-23 academic year. Princeton has sponsored a highly-successful women's club rugby program since 1979, twice winning the national championship.
"This is an exciting day for Princeton women's rugby and Princeton Athletics," said Ford Family Director of Athletics Mollie Marcoux Samaan '91. "The women's rugby team has been a transformative experience for generations of Princetonians, providing valuable educational opportunities and offering a strong, vibrant, empowering and diverse community. A tremendous amount of effort has gone into this process, and I am thankful for the passionate work of the club's student officers and members of the Princeton University Rugby Endowment board. We look forward to working together on a smooth transition from club to varsity status. We are proudly celebrating the 50th anniversary of women's athletics at Princeton this year, and I can think of no better way to continue that celebration than by making this announcement which will provide even more opportunities for female student-athletes to enjoy the enormous benefits of varsity athletics participation."
Princeton's women's rugby team has competed as a club program dating back to its first season in 1979. The club was started by a passionate group of female students with the encouragement and coaching support of the men's club team. Princeton won back-to-back club national championships in 1995 and 1996, also reaching the national final in 1999, 2000 and 2004. In addition, the program advanced to the national semifinals in 1991, 1997, 2001 and 2005 while also playing in the Round of Sixteen in 2006, 2012 and 2013. In 2011, 2012, and 2018, the women placed third in the USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships. At an individual level, more than 35 Princeton women have earned All-America honors in rugby.
As a varsity program, the women's rugby team will continue its tradition of welcoming "walk-on" students from highly diverse backgrounds with varying levels of rugby experience. If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved in women's or men's rugby, please fill out the interest form on http://www.princetonrugby.com/.
"This is yet another great moment in the storied history of Princeton Rugby," added Alex Howson '95, Chair of the Princeton University Rugby Endowment Board. "It is an exciting new chapter for women's rugby at Princeton, one that will bring further exposure to our great sport and build on Princeton's strong tradition of competition and success. We look forward to seeing Princeton Rugby continue to thrive at all levels and contribute to the vision of education through athletics."
When the Tigers take to Rickerson Field for varsity competition, they will do so as members of the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA). Princeton's elevation to varsity status will make the Tigers the 27th program to join the NIRA, including Brown, Dartmouth and Harvard who also sponsor Division I women's rugby. Women's rugby is one of five sports currently on the NCAA's "Emerging Sports For Women" list which is charged with identifying and managing progress of developing sports for women, and will be 19th varsity women's team fielded by Princeton.
"Princeton has been a storied and prolific program in the women's collegiate rugby space for decades," said Amy Rusert, Commissioner of the NIRA. "On behalf of NIRA, we are excited beyond measure to continue to work with everyone involved with Princeton Athletics as women's rugby transitions its tradition of excellence and achievement into its next historic chapter as a varsity program."
Princeton students have been playing intercollegiate rugby since at least 1876-77, when a delegation met with students from three other Ivy League colleges and agreed to adopt Rugby Union rules for football games between the schools. The men's club program has also enjoyed tremendous competitive success and will remain an elite club program participating in the Ivy Rugby Conference. Click here to read more about Princeton University Rugby.
As a direct consequence of the women's seven trips to the national semifinals and finals in the 1990's, the initial funding of the Princeton University Rugby Endowment was received. This generous endowment, as well as other key endowments subsequently established, support the rugby program at Princeton with facilities, fields, coaching, equipment, travel and other expenses needed by both the women and the men to compete at a high intercollegiate level.
About The NIRA
"This is an exciting day for Princeton women's rugby and Princeton Athletics," said Ford Family Director of Athletics Mollie Marcoux Samaan '91. "The women's rugby team has been a transformative experience for generations of Princetonians, providing valuable educational opportunities and offering a strong, vibrant, empowering and diverse community. A tremendous amount of effort has gone into this process, and I am thankful for the passionate work of the club's student officers and members of the Princeton University Rugby Endowment board. We look forward to working together on a smooth transition from club to varsity status. We are proudly celebrating the 50th anniversary of women's athletics at Princeton this year, and I can think of no better way to continue that celebration than by making this announcement which will provide even more opportunities for female student-athletes to enjoy the enormous benefits of varsity athletics participation."
Princeton's women's rugby team has competed as a club program dating back to its first season in 1979. The club was started by a passionate group of female students with the encouragement and coaching support of the men's club team. Princeton won back-to-back club national championships in 1995 and 1996, also reaching the national final in 1999, 2000 and 2004. In addition, the program advanced to the national semifinals in 1991, 1997, 2001 and 2005 while also playing in the Round of Sixteen in 2006, 2012 and 2013. In 2011, 2012, and 2018, the women placed third in the USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships. At an individual level, more than 35 Princeton women have earned All-America honors in rugby.
As a varsity program, the women's rugby team will continue its tradition of welcoming "walk-on" students from highly diverse backgrounds with varying levels of rugby experience. If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved in women's or men's rugby, please fill out the interest form on http://www.princetonrugby.com/.
"This is yet another great moment in the storied history of Princeton Rugby," added Alex Howson '95, Chair of the Princeton University Rugby Endowment Board. "It is an exciting new chapter for women's rugby at Princeton, one that will bring further exposure to our great sport and build on Princeton's strong tradition of competition and success. We look forward to seeing Princeton Rugby continue to thrive at all levels and contribute to the vision of education through athletics."
When the Tigers take to Rickerson Field for varsity competition, they will do so as members of the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA). Princeton's elevation to varsity status will make the Tigers the 27th program to join the NIRA, including Brown, Dartmouth and Harvard who also sponsor Division I women's rugby. Women's rugby is one of five sports currently on the NCAA's "Emerging Sports For Women" list which is charged with identifying and managing progress of developing sports for women, and will be 19th varsity women's team fielded by Princeton.
"Princeton has been a storied and prolific program in the women's collegiate rugby space for decades," said Amy Rusert, Commissioner of the NIRA. "On behalf of NIRA, we are excited beyond measure to continue to work with everyone involved with Princeton Athletics as women's rugby transitions its tradition of excellence and achievement into its next historic chapter as a varsity program."
Princeton students have been playing intercollegiate rugby since at least 1876-77, when a delegation met with students from three other Ivy League colleges and agreed to adopt Rugby Union rules for football games between the schools. The men's club program has also enjoyed tremendous competitive success and will remain an elite club program participating in the Ivy Rugby Conference. Click here to read more about Princeton University Rugby.
As a direct consequence of the women's seven trips to the national semifinals and finals in the 1990's, the initial funding of the Princeton University Rugby Endowment was received. This generous endowment, as well as other key endowments subsequently established, support the rugby program at Princeton with facilities, fields, coaching, equipment, travel and other expenses needed by both the women and the men to compete at a high intercollegiate level.
About The NIRA