Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Tech, St. Ed’s and Sam Houston are forging their own path in college rugby with the formation of the Allied Rugby Conference.
Allied Rugby Conference Announcement
As is typical in rugby (or just about any competitive human activity from politics to church committees), there are disagreements. Some are large, some are small. What this newspaper believes is that USA Rugby has not shown the proper leadership in the college game. We are no USA Rugby bashers, either.
The formation of a College Premier League seemed like a good idea, but the structure did not allow for clear direction. In the olden days, the divisions were clear – D1, D2, D3. The movement of teams up to or out of the Premier League was not clearly set. So the D1 and D1A guidelines were drawn to mirror college football – to set up more of a conference system.
If that is what USA Rugby wants, then so be it. Conferences (as SWCRC and now ARC have done) can be set up and run as the members see fit. Quit your bitching and live in the system, schools (rugby clubs, really) can move as they see fit and do whatever they feel is best for them. If ARC makes a ton of money, great. If the SWCRC says “Hell no” to a school – that’s the conference’s right.
Several years ago, Temple University was kicked out of the Big East Conference for suckage. The Owls joined the MAC, and raised their game enough to get an invite back to the Big East. Rice, SMU and TCU and UH did not get invited to the original Big 12 – oh well. UTSA just reneged on its commitment to the WAC and joined Conference USA.
What the issue is, as we see it, is that there is no clear direction from the top – USA Rugby. Either put forth the mandate of: form conferences. Or, put forth the mandate of: we’ll administer a league of some sort.
In short, what is college rugby in Texas? Is it a business? Is it a loose confederation of like-minded clubs? Should their be conferences? Should there be a league with divisions administered from a central authority (a rugby union)?
So if I understand this correctly Texas would be home to two D1-AA conferences? How will that work when it comes playoff time? Will they still funnel through the West that exists but doesn’t really exist anymore? Is this a way to get more Texas clubs into the playoffs or will we have the same amount of seeds and they end up cancelling each other out in the end?
The competition structure is a mess, not just in Texas. Geographical Union much? Yeah that seems to not be happening anymore. Maybe it’s time to gather the mob and seek out Nigel Melville and light a fire under the USA Rugby HQ.
I doubt Craig & Johnny are in this to make a bundle of money off of ARC. Their goal is for the conference to be profitable for the teams that join it. Their business model seeks to provide the services to conference teams that they thought (or were promised/told) that the previous conferences they coached in should have been providing (read the mission statement). The ARC needs 7 teams to AQ to the USAR Collegiate Championships, Otherwise, the top team from the ARC will need to win a “wildcard” against an AQ conference to make it. That is probably something that A&M & Oklahoma have the current ability to do.
This is a good idea and model. Run by people with adequate motivation – which these two seem to have plenty of – this conference model will likely work, and expand.
The Southwest Conference is pleased to announce the addition of St. Edward’s University to the SWC. SEU’s official statement to their supporters announcing their admission into the SWC stated, “St. Edwards University Rugby Football Club is proud and honored to compete against the best College rugby teams in Texas. SEURFC has rapidly ascended the Texas College rugby divisions and we are excited to be the first sport from SEU to compete Nationally in Division 1.” SWC is pleased that SEU has made a commitment to seeking a higher level of competition in the SWC. SWC Board of Members voted to accepted the resignation of Sam Houston State University just last week. SHSU informed SWC that they were leaving the SWC, contrary to their three (3) year commitment. All SWC Charter Members, including SHSU agreed to a 3-year commitment when forming the SWC just over a year ago. USA Rugby has been notified of their departure, as well as SWC’s decision to admit SEU.
To better understand the competitive structure as it stands presently, one must understand the requirements from USA Rugby. USA Rugby dictated that by 2012-13, all clubs from Div I Universities must play in Div I rugby in order to play for a National Championship. With the exception of Sam Houston, the Charter Members of SWC are all Div I Universities and collectively formed the SWC. Sam Houston wanted to remain in Div I rugby and therefore joined to help form and be a part of the SWC. USA Rugby has stated that Conferences with at least 7 clubs receive a bid into the National Championship Bracket. I agree that USA Rugby has not given Clubs a clear vision of the structure they intend to see, but the SWC Clubs sought to form a conference that would secure for them a competitive structure in which to compete. St. Edward’s has applied to join the SWC, and the SWC Member Clubs, not a separate administration, voted to approve their application for admission.
Rugby mag says St. Ed’s just joined the SWC…that leaves 4 charter clubs in the ARC. Unless they’re dead wrong on that report wonder why St. Ed’s jumped Ship(ARC)??
St Eds originally informed the ARC that they wanted to join and have since decided that the SWC is a better fit for them.
We wish them the best of luck.
Craig Coates
T5 1/2 RDG
St. Edwards and the ARC did verbally agree to a partnership. However, after the press release, St. Edwards informed the ARC they were withdrawing from the conference. The ARC is fully supportive of St. Edwards and glad they have a new home in the SWC. It is our belief they know what is best for their club. The ARC wishes St. Edwards the best of luck in the future.