The Facts About College Rugby

National Collegiate Rugby’s mission is to promote the growth and development of collegiate rugby both on and off the field. We are proud to serve 20,000 student-athletes and 665 clubs across the country at every level - from individual student athletes to teams to coaches. Our organization operates as an independent, member-driven, not-for-profit Amateur Sports Organization under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, which grants us exclusive jurisdiction (See §220526 of the Act) over our collegiate competitions and programs. This means NCR is authorized to administer collegiate rugby independently of USA Rugby. Under the Ted Stevens Act, USA Rugby has no jurisdiction or authority over college rugby except as it intersects with the Olympics or other international competition.
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This website has been established to explain to our athletes and any interested parties why NCR has continued to push forward in its efforts to protect collegiate rugby across the country, and hold USA Rugby accountable for its detrimental actions.
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The College Rugby Landscape

What has USA Rugby Done That Specifically Impacts College Rugby?

NCR has taken legal action to protect our athletes and maintain the growth of collegiate rugby across the United States. We believe, the actions taken by USA Rugby are impeding the success of our collegiate athletes by:
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Interfering in NCR members' business dealings by discouraging referees from officiating in matches
Defaming NCR and its conferences by misrepresenting the safety, disciplinary structure, and legitimacy of its competitions
Engaging in deceptive trade practices by issuing misleading statements to referees and the wider rugby community
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What happens if NCR isn’t successful?

Simply put, our athletes – our core constituency – are who is hurt the most. Because of the unnecessary meddling of USA Rugby, it has become increasingly difficult to have the highest level referees available for top-tier competition. We firmly believe that referees, who work as independent contractors, should be free to officiate both NCR and USA Rugby-affiliated games with no ramification. In doing so, we enable the most experienced referees to oversee some of the most competitive games in the U.S.

Secondly, USA Rugby is currently turning a blind eye to some of the most talented athletes in the country and, in essence, severely limiting the pool of athletes being called up for national squads.

Lastly – and perhaps most importantly – our combined mission of growing the game of rugby across the United States is hampered. We love this sport. We know that the people of USA Rugby love this sport. Shouldn’t we be creating an environment where we work together to grow rugby?

The decision to file the prior lawsuit and the request for an USOPC investigation was not taken lightly and is the result of years of attempting to work with USA Rugby for the betterment of collegiate players and programs.

Unfortunately, USA Rugby's actions have left us with no other choice but to seek a resolution from the USOPC. This is not about a power struggle; it is about upholding the fundamental principle that college athletes should not be required to pay a "participation tax" to a national governing body (NGB) to play their sport. Furthermore, NCR has “exclusive jurisdiction” over collegiate matches.
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Our view on USA Rugby’s Defamatory and Illegal Actions

NCR has been forced to take action against USA Rugby in order to safeguard our athletes, their programs, and the growth of college rugby nationwide. Recently, NCR filed suit in federal court to seek relief in what we believe is USA Rugby’s meddling in the organization’s operations and NCR’s rightful administration of collegiate rugby. All of which is to the detriment of our student athletes.

As has been reported, that case was dismissed on a procedural basis and NCR was directed to file a claim with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). This is a complex journey, but one that NCR feels is imperative.
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We appreciate the court's affirmation that the Ted Stevens Act provides a clear pathway for resolving our dispute. The court’s ruling does not address the substance of our complaints, but directs us to a different venue to present our concerns. NCR will continue to pursue all available avenues to protect our athletes and college rugby.

Unfortunately, USA Rugby's actions, including impeding our business by misrepresenting NCR to referees and the wider community, have left us with no other choice but to seek a resolution from the USOPC. This is not about a power struggle; it is about upholding the fundamental principle that college athletes should not be required to pay a "participation tax" to a national governing body (NGB) to play their sport.
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We seek a mutually-beneficial relationship with USA Rugby that is consistent with other collegiate sports and their NGBs, while supporting grassroots participation, coaching, referee development, and national team success.
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Timeline of Events: A Long and Complicated History
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National Small College Rugby Organization (NCR’s predecessor entity) members paid fees to USA Rugby in exchange for basic membership services and insurance.

USA Rugby files for bankruptcy and encourages NSCRO Board to seek alternative insurance.

NSCRO is rebranded to National Collegiate Rugby, and becomes an independent collegiate athletic association serving all divisions of college rugby. Like other independent collegiate associations (i.e., NCAA), NCR establishes eligibility, insurance, and systems to independently support its membership.

USA Rugby and National Collegiate Rugby meet to discuss formal partnership. USA Rugby engages in defamation and deceptive practices by insisting that all collegiate players pay $18 with no tangible benefits.

To present, NCR alleges that USA Rugby engages in deceptive trade practices by discouraging referees from officiating NCR matches and disparaging NCR to universities and rugby organizations.

NCR Executive team meet with USA Rugby board members. NCR proposes a working group to build a partnership. USA Rugby insists that all college players pay the full registration fee with little in return.

In September, NCR Team presents a college rugby overview to World Rugby. No follow up action taken.

In September, Justin Hale (referee) files lawsuit against USA Rugby and Jamie McGregor for retaliation he alleges was enacted by USA Rugby and Jamie McGregor for his officiating of NCR championship events. Lawsuit is ongoing.

January: NCR files lawsuit.
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February: Chris Micheletti (referee) files lawsuit against USA Rugby and Jamie McGregor for retaliation he alleges was enacted by USA Rugby and Jamie McGregor for his officiating of NCR championship events.

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September: Michaletti’s lawsuit is dismissed without prejudice.
NCR’s lawsuit is dismissed without prejudice and NCR is directed to file the complaint to the USOPC.

October: NCR submits a request for relief to the USOPC to investigate USA Rugby’s violation of the Ted Stevens Act and USOPC bylaws.

Ted Stevens Act Explained

Myths & Facts
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Myth

Fact

MYTH 1: NCR-registered players are not eligible for national team selection.

NCR players and coaches are clearly eligible for national team selection as evidenced by the numerous player and coach selection in the national team programs. Selectors want the best players regardless of affiliation, and are not going to ignore the largest collegiate association.

Consistent with other sports, athletes and coaches who participate in national selection programs or player pools need to register with the governing body. Only a small percentage of players participate in national team programs, which makes USA Rugby registration unnecessary for the vast majority of collegiate rugby players.
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MYTH 2: College athletes pay national governing body fees in all sports.

More than 850,000 students participate in intercollegiate sports across the U.S., and virtually none of these student-athletes pay registration fees to their sports national governing body.

In a few exceptions (i.e., squash, ultimate), the association receives services from their governing bodies in exchange for the registration fees.
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MYTH 3: USA Rugby has authority over all rugby matches in the U.S., including collegiate games.

The Ted Stevens Act, which is federal law, grants independent amateur athletic organizations – including collegiate, armed services, and high schools – with exclusive jurisdiction over its constituent players, coaches, and teams.

This regulatory framework is visible across NCAA and NAIA collegiate sports; none of which are required to pay membership dues to national governing bodies. Many other collegiate club sports also operate as independent athletic associations with no participation “tax” being paid to the national governing body. The National Club Softball Association, National Club Baseball Association, and the National Club Basketball Association are just three examples.
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MYTH 4: NCR’s independent model undermines referee support and development.

NCR and its clubs invest over $1.3 million annually in referee development and support, directly funding national and local referee organizations and providing 5,000 matches per year including 400 high-performance opportunities.

NCR values USA Rugby’s important role as the referee certification body, and hopes to work with USA Rugby to recruit the next generation of referees.
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MYTH 5: Referees are only allowed to officiate USA Rugby-sanctioned matches.

Referees are independent contractors and are free to work with any rugby association that they choose.

USA Rugby’s heavy handedness in limiting opportunities for referees who participate in officiating NCR events only hampers the sport.

MYTH 6: Referees are unsafe when officiating an NCR match.

Nothing could be further from the truth. NCR has robust risk management procedures and provides full liability and accident insurance for referees. In addition, NCR carefully monitors disciplinary incidents and referee abuse.
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MYTH 7: NCR is in competition with USA Rugby to become the national governing body.

USA Rugby is the sole national governing body for our sport, and the conduit with World Rugby and the USOPC. NCR which is an amateur athletic association serving collegiate members (i.e. like U.S. Soccer and the NCAA). While the groups have different missions, they should be united in growing the sport in the US.
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