Rugby America

On Tuesday, USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville laid out plans for the revamping of college rugby on his blog. Many of the concepts aren’t new to discussion and rumors, however they had never officially been put into place.

The major component of the announcement is that USA Rugby has officially began the search for a Director of College Rugby to lead the development of college rugby. The strongest sector of USA Rugby, the collegiate game has massive potential across the board.

“We recognize the need to create a college game that can support the increased numbers of players entering college and looking to play rugby. As a result we are now searching for a Director of College Rugby who will lead the development of the College game,” said Melville on his blog.

A few key areas of the objectives are items that I (and others) have discussed at length in regards to the collegiate game. Most notably, the creation of a new Division 1 competition to begin play in 2011, renaming the Territorial competitions in line with the American conference concept, and creating a uniform calendar. Further key objectives include another stab at the NCAA with women’s rugby and developing a strategy for Collegiate Sevens.

If you think you’ve got the chops to be USA Rugby’s Director of Collegiate Rugby, go here to apply.

Here are the objectives that the Director of College Rugby along with a newly formed College Committee are working towards:

Create a governance model to support and drive collegiate rugby initiatives.

• Create a full-time college rugby department to drive and govern all aspects of college rugby including (competitions, eligibility, and strategic planning).
• Introduce a College Coaches Association through which College coaches can share best practice, develop their coaching skills and have representation on the College Rugby Strategic Committee.

Create a College Rugby Strategic Committee of college coaches and administrators to advise and guide the Director of College Rugby and assist in formulation of College Rugby Coaches Association.

• New College Rugby Strategic Committee established.
• Terms of reference agreed.

Provide the necessary funds to support USA Rugby’s College program.

• Allocate funding to support the following initiatives:
  - The All-American program (Men and Women)
  - The Marketing of college rugby with support from USA Rugby’s Marketing and Events departments.
  - New competition costs for potential revenue generating competitions.
  - Support Women’s NCAA Emerging Sports Initiative.

Establish best practice templates that support the development of College programs.

• Create a College Varsity model blueprint that identifies a best practice model and guidebook for collegiate rugby programs. This will include Medical, Strength and Conditioning, Facilities, PR, Campus Relations, Fundraising, Alumni Relations etc.
• Carry out an audit of collegiate programs based on best practice model to be used in formation and growth of elite competitions.

Review the current college competition structure and implement recommended changes.Increase media and broadcast exposure.

• Explore the creation of a new Elite DI competition that will be attractive to sponsors/broadcast partners and delivers income that can be re-invested in college rugby programs nationally.
• Create a uniform calendar.
• Base the competition on American collegiate sporting model and terminology.
• Divide college rugby into groups: (D1-top group/best practice, D2: aspiring toward D1, D3: smaller school/less competitive/organized).
• Rename TU competitions to follow American sports model terminology.
• Develop a strategy for College sevens rugby.

• Continue to Market College Rugby and solicit future sponsorship through broadcast opportunities (e.g. National Guard Games of the Week/College Championships).
• Design a new Division I competition model to be implemented in 2011 that will be attractive to sponsors and broadcast partners.
• Produce a marketing presentation that specifically targets college sponsorship opportunities.
• Increase media exposure for the college game

Promote the Women’s NCAA Initiative.

• 2010: Pursue enough Women’s Varsity programs to ensure we remain on the Emerging Sports List.
• 2011: Build a new Division one women’s competition of 30-40 (NCAA policy of program numbers to become NCAA) or programs interested in pursuing Varsity model to begin a framework for the NCAA.

Increase numbers of participants.

• Improve the quality and reputation of rugby programs on College campuses.
• Encourage high school players to continue playing rugby when they move to college through recruitment and retention programs.
• Create and promote a Rugby Sevens Touch program as an intramural sport.

Support a High Performance program and pathway.

• Fully fund and support the All-American program through USA Rugby High Performance department.
• Use the All-American program to promote the All-American brand on college campuses, develop players and coaches.
• The elite referee department to recruit and develop college specific referees.
• The elite coach department to offer an annual Level 3 Course specifically for College coaches.