It’s official. Marywood University will introduce a competitive rugby program starting in the 2018 to 2019 academic year.

According to an article on marywoodpacers.com, a “nationwide search to hire a full-time rugby coach will commence immediately.”

The hope is that a coach will be hired by mid-2017 so that he or she will have a full year to recruit student-athletes to the teams. The eventual hire will also serve the department as an Assistant Sports Information Director to help the Sports Information office.

The addition of the teams would expand Marywood’s offered varsity sports to 22 in total. However, the NCAA has not yet sponsored rugby as a sport.

Both the men’s and women’s programs will be members of both USA Rugby and the Small College Division of the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference (MARC).

Students interested in playing are asked to fill out the Men’s Rugby prospective athlete form or the Women’s Rugby prospective athlete form.

Check back with The Wood Word for updates about the program, information about the coaching search and more.

Contact the writer: [email protected]
Twitter: @JohnFerraro21