Wayne State College's men's rugby team will elevate its competitive standing by joining the Heart of America D1AA conference, part of the College Rugby Association of America (CRAA), starting in the fall 2025 season. The conference includes state universities such as Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Arkansas.

This move marks a significant leap for the Wildcats, who are advancing two divisions after securing the NCR DIII National Championship in 2024. The team will transition from National Collegiate Rugby (NCR), which governed their previous DIII division, to the CRAA.

Head Coach Bryn Chivers explained the decision: "It was clear that we needed to move up to a higher division, and we had explored staying in NCR but their D1AA teams were all on the eastern half of the country, or in Texas, with the closest being over 680 miles away, so it wasn't a viable option for the program." The Heart of America conference regionalizes the field of play. 

Chivers also highlighted the program's growth as a key factor. "Our squad continues to expand, and the Heart of America conference offers the opportunity to play against schools that field both A and B sides. This ensures more game time for our developing players."

In addition to the conference schedule, Wayne State plans to compete in non-conference matches to round out the fall season.

For more information about the Wayne State College rugby program, contact rugby@wsc.edu.