FALL 2021 Revised Schedule & Covid Regulations
For Immediate Release
Collegiate Rugby
Saturday September 4, 2021
Poughkeepsie, NY
TRI-STATE CONFERENCE FALL 2021 UPDATES
Schedule changes and Covid regulations
The Tri-State Collegiate Rugby Conference has announced a revised Fall 2021 Schedule and released details for teams regarding Covid-19.
Following a Zoom Meeting on September 2nd, 2021 with team representatives of all divisions and both genders, it was determined that some changes would be in the best interests of students, referees and administrators.
Covid-19
Teams need to inform opponents and the assigned referee of the Covid regulations on their campus and full compliance is expected of the visiting team. This information must include vaccination policy, testing policy, masking policy, and spectator policy for visitors and participants. The Conference has adopted as a minimum the NCAA Covid guidelines and this was distributed to all teams last week.
Fall 2021 Schedule
A very productive discussion took place regarding the Fall Schedule and thanks is due to the Club Sports Directors on the call who made valuable contributions. It should be noted that in future years every effort will be made to have the Conference Schedule start on the third week of September as this will help allow time for recruitment of players and team preparation.
Women Division II (ACRA & USA Rugby)
The games originally scheduled for September 12th, 2021 have been moved to October 17th, 2021. As a consequence the playoff structure has been modified and thus the top 4 teams in each division will qualify for the Conference quarterfinals.
Women Division III (ACRA & USA Rugby)
The games scheduled for September 19th, 2021 have been moved to October 24th, 2021. The games scheduled for September 26th, 2021 have been moved to October 31st, 2021. The playoff opportunity will be Bowl Games in the Northeast with neighboring Conferences. Bard College Women are prepared to travel and play B-side games (7s or perhaps 10s) and have all dates open at present. Please contact the coach Garrett Montgomery.
Men Division II (NCR)
The fact that Monroe College Men is not fielding a team this Fall means a bye weekend. Therefore the playoff structure has been modified but all teams will be seeded and have a playoff opportunity.
Men Division III (NSCRO)
The fact that Molloy College Men and WCSU are not fielding a team this Fall means bye weekends. SUNY-Oneonta are not allowed to host teams so their schedule is all away games. The Conference will assist the Oneonta men with travel costs. Consequently some changes have been made to the venues on the schedule however, all teams have 4 home games and 3 away games.
Please click on the link below to see the Fall Schedule with all the changes and feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Tony Brown
(845) 380-9052
Tri-State Rugby Conference, Inc.
Director
http://www.tristaterugby.com
TS Fall 2021 M&W Schedules 9-4-21
FALL 2021 Club Sport Directors & Coaches Contact List
For Immediate Release
September 1st, 2021
College Rugby
In the effort to have teams play safely this fall with Covid-19 still a factor in the general public, the Tri-State Conference is publishing a list of university and college administrators who oversee the Rugby teams at their respective schools. Together with a list of the head coaches it is hoped that quick and efficient communication can take place so that teams may compete.
A number of scenarios could emerge that need the leaders and decision makers to act swiftly.
At one end of the scale it may be that a game time or location has to be switched; in the event of a cancellation by an opponent it may be possible to have another fill in; the referees may need confirmation at late notice of the game being on; or at the other end of the spectrum it could be a Covid-19 issue that requires all participants being informed of a possible exposure.
Please click on the links below to access the contact information:
TS Men Club Sport Directors & Coaches Fall 2021
TS Women Club Sport Directors & Coaches Fall 2021
The student leadership of each team, in conjunction with the school administrator and head coach, is expected to be very proactive and make the effort to physically talk with their competition to confirm details and resolve issues. Despite the convenience of email often it is not retrieved in a timely manner whereas a conversation solves that problem.
Please feel free to contact the Tri-State Director, Tony Brown, if you are unable to get in contact with another team when it is a time sensitive matter. (Tony Brown 845-380-9052).
Men’s NCR Playoff Information 2021-22
Nov. 13 Qualifier
NEWCRC #1 at TriState CRC #1
Nov. 20-21 – Region Championship
NERFU #1, Colonial Coast #1, UpSCRC #1 and Qualifier Winner at Siena College, Loudonville, NY
National Championship – venue TBD
Challenge Cup
Nov. 20-21 – Region Championship
NERFU, Colonial Coast, TriState and UpSCRC at Siena College, Loudonville, NY
NOTE: NEWCRC has elected not to participate the Challenge Cup this season.
Tri-State Teams Scheduling of Games
For Immediate Release
July 26, 2021
Poughkeepsie, NY
Be Sure to Comply
Commissioners, Coaches, Administrators & Players,
Please note that the Women’s Teams in the Tri-State Conference are members of USA Rugby and the American Collegiate Rugby Association.
The Tri-State Men’s Teams are members of National Collegiate Rugby (NCR).
What does this mean?
If your team elects to play an opponent that is not of the same affiliation then there are requirements in place with which you must adhere.
The USA Rugby affiliated teams will need verification from the NCR team that:
1. Your opponent is a full member of USAR, or
2. Your opponent is a temporary 3-day member of USAR for the specified date of your match, or
3. Your opponent has secured a game-specific sanctioning agreement from USA Rugby for your intended game.
NCR affiliated teams scheduling a USA Rugby opponent need to comply for the game to be scheduled, sanctioned and officiated.
Obviously, with the Conference Schedule there are no issues but any out of conference games and spring schedules need to be verified.
Thank you for your attention to these requirements.
Women’s Rugby Coaches & Referees Association (WRCRA) Conference Scheduled
Fall 2021 A Return to Play
For Immediate Release
College Rugby
July 8, 2021
Poughkeepsie, NY
Tri-State Conference and the Fall 2021 Season
Following a Zoom Meeting in late June there was a consensus that many teams would be very much in a rebuilding phase in the Fall following the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The hope is that Conference play resumes in the Fall of 2021 but a good number of teams have indicated that squad numbers could be very low. In addition since there been less physical activity and no rugby experienced gained over the last 16 months that teams will struggle to fulfill games.
It is imperative that teams COMMUNICATE in the first 3 days of the week prior to the scheduled game. Actually person to person phone calls should be made so that everyone is on the same page. (Send an e-mail and it might not be read in time or by the right person!) The Tri-State website has cell phone numbers for you to use.
Coaches and team leaders were all in agreement that if we do play in the Fall that the schedule should be followed and results counted toward divisional standings. But in the true spirit of the game it was felt that accommodation be made for those programs with low numbers. In the event of teams having fewer that 15 to play a game teams should opt for the highest number of participants available. 14 v 14, 13 v 13, 12 v 12 etc… in these situations a reduction in the number of forwards at set piece would be permissible but teams should match numbers in the scrum. If necessary substitutes may be used and then return to play if agreed upon prior to kick-off and the referee is informed.
Game examples: If Team A has only 10 players and Team B has 20 players a game of 10s, 12s 13s, 14s or 15s could be played. Teams should agree prior to kick-off the parameters. Team B could loan players to Team A.
It was further discussed that teams need to communicate details to their assigned referee each week with a view that the official is not blindsided by a 12 v 12 game for example.
If necessary when the Conference convenes in August, prior to the season, 3 or 4 teams may be scheduled at the same venue thus allowing full games. A big onus will be on the coaches of each team to reach a consensus as to the number of game participants. Our sport has always been a participatory sport and we need to do all we can to get players on the field playing.
Any questions should be directed to Tony Brown, 845-380-9052 or email tobrown@vassar.edu
HomeLight Becomes an Official Sponsor of Tri-State
For Immediate Release
College Rugby
Saturday May 8, 2021
The Tri-State Collegiate Rugby Conference is pleased to announce the addition of HomeLight as an official sponsor of the Conference.
HomeLight is a real estate referral company that utilizes the Internet as a marketing medium with the use of real estate technology.
Fall 2021 Schedules Published
Tri-State Collegiate Rugby Conference Defers to Member Schools
For Immediate Release
College Rugby
Poughkeepsie, NY
Monday March 1st, 2021
Tri-State Collegiate Rugby Conference Defers to Member Schools
Following a Zoom meeting last night, Sunday February 28th, 2021, of the Tri-State Rugby Conference membership the Conference decided not to sanction any championship events this spring on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Each school representative briefly outlined their situation with regard to participation and practicing and it was clear that any kind of competitive season was not viable.
The majority of the teams are practicing with varying conditions applied (masks, social distancing and sanitation of equipment) and in most instances the hope is that intra-squad games can be played.
Importantly, the Conference did state that it would review this decision at the end of the month and if the situation allows for games to be played, i.e. lower infection rates, more vaccination coverage and accepted protocols employed by member institutions, then member schools could work with their Club Sport Directors and school administrations and set up games.
It could be that an in-state schools with similar protocols might be willing to allow the students to play a game. The risk of infection seems to be more likely as a result of gatherings of people in confined spaces for periods of time and not through the playing of rugby itself.
A recent study, admittedly of Rugby League not Union, addresses this issue – see link
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2021/02/10/bjsports-2020-103714
The Tri-State Conference will publish the Fall 2021 Schedules in the next 10 days and is very optimistic that by September 2021 championship play will resume.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Tony Brown
(845) 380-9052
Tri-State Rugby Conference, Inc.
Director
http://www.tristaterugby.com


