Each week the Tri State Conference will honor a men’s and women’s standout performer with the Rugby Imports Players of the Week. Rugby Imports is the number one sponsor of the Tri State Conference and is the one stop shop for all authentic rugby gear, apparel and teamwear.

Men’s Rugby Imports Player of the Week

Player: Connor Cadrin
School: Seton Hall University
Position: Wing
Class: Sophomore

Connor scored four tries against Montclair State in a 38-14 victory. The winger was able to center all four of his scores for easy conversions and displayed some skill scoring one of his tries on a kick and chase. Not only did Connor score four tries, but he made a number of open field tackles. Wingers are often known for finishing but this wing had an all around solid performance.

Women’s Rugby Imports Player of the Week

Player: Barb Padilla
School: RPI
Position: scrumhalf
Class: Senior

Although she suffered a wrist injury during the week, Padilla battled through, scoring three tries and recording 13 tackles on the afternoon.The offensive outburst and solid defense led RPI to a 34-0 shutout victory over Binghamton.

If you would like to nominate someone for his or her play on the field please email tristaterugbyinfo@gmail.com after the completion of your match. Each week one men’s and one women’s player will be selected for Rugby Imports Player of the Week.

Each week the Tri State Conference will honor a men’s and women’s standout performer with the Rugby Imports Players of the Week. Rugby Imports is the number one sponsor of the Tri State Conference and is the one stop shop for all authentic rugby gear, apparel and teamwear.

Men’s Rugby Imports Player of the Week

Player: Bob Gallipoli
School: SUNY-Oneonta
Position: Flyhalf
Class: Senior

Bob is the captain and player coach of the SUNY-Oneonta Red Dragons. In a 102-7 victory over Bard, the senior flyhalf spearheaded the attack and earned four tries for his efforts.

Women’s Rugby Imports Player of the Week

Player: Nathalie Freeman
School: Vassar College
Position: Number 8
Class: Senior

The Senior captain of the Vassar College team scored five tries in Vassar’s week one win over Siena College.

If you would like to nominate someone for his or her play on the field please email tristaterugbyinfo@gmail.com after the completion of your match. Each week one men’s and one women’s player will be selected for Rugby Imports Player of the Week.

With the season set to get under way in less than a week, here are a few eligibility reminders.

In order to participate in any USA Rugby sanctioned post-season, every club must fill out a player eligibility form. Below is the PDF version of the player eligibility form with instructions from USA Rugby.

College Player Eligibility Form_2016-17

In addition to the Player Eligibility Form, USA Rugby provides a Waiver Request Form. Should a player not be eligible to compete in USA Rugby competition, a waiver request can be placed with USA Rugby to try and have the player made eligible.

collegiate-waiver-request-form_2016-17

These forms can also be found in the About section of the website under Rules and Regulations.

NATIONAL SMALL COLLEGE RUGBY ORGANIZATION
The Home of Small College Rugby in America
www.nscro.org
2016-17 PLAYER ELIGIBILITY POLICY – EFFECTIVE SEPT. 1, 2016
Rev. 0 – Issued August 2016
Revisions to the 2015-16 Policy are highlighted in yellow
Introduction
In keeping with its goal to raise the profile of small college rugby as well as helping its growth and development, the NSCRO has prepared its Player Eligibility Policy to insure fairness in competitive league and playoff matches and to allow flexible participation of student-athletes (also referred to as players), including non-traditional students. NSCRO recognizes the presence of non-traditional students attending small colleges and the need for their inclusion. Traditional students are those who typically graduate high school who then start college and attend for four to five years full-time earning a bachelor’s degree. Non-traditional students include those who start college right after high school and may have to stop attending or who start years after finishing high school. Generally this happens due to military service, meeting family needs, etc. and such students attend college often part-time, may hold a job and also may commute to school daily from home. NSCRO believes that the inclusion of non-traditional full-time students reflects the realities of college life. Therefore, NSCRO provides each student-athlete with five (5) years to compete in collegiate rugby within a seven (7) year eligibility period from the date the student-athlete first enrolled in a university or college.
Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the governing Conference/Union to insure student-athlete compliance of this Policy for matches directly under their control. Compliance verification should be performed in both semesters and before the spring quarter and after the winter quarter, as applicable, of the school year (starting in August or September).
Eligibility at all NSCRO Playoff Matches will be verified for compliance by an appointed Representative and shall be done in accordance with NSCRO’s “Regulations for Playoff Matches”.
Each Conference/Union and member club is deemed to have full knowledge of the content of this Policy.
Each Conference/Union and member club must ensure that it complies with this Policy and must further ensure that it takes appropriate action to inform each and every one of its members of the terms of this Policy and the obligation to comply with the same.
A Conference/Union may not impose any more stringent regulations than identified by this Policy, unless it can demonstrate such changes are in the best interests of their members, who concur with the changes, and such changes will not adversely affect NSCRO’s goals for the growth and development of small college rugby. Documentation must be submitted to NSCRO accordingly for review and approval in a timely manner.
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Definitions
Academic Year – An annual period during which a student attends a college or university beginning with the first day of the fall semester or quarter and ending at the conclusion of the summer semester or quarter.
Academic Term – An academic session that is a division of the Academic Year. This includes a quarter (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) and a semester (Fall, Spring, Summer).
Qualifying Match – any match in which the result is used to determine official competition standings and/or to determine qualification for the NSCRO playoffs leading to the national championship.
Policy Regulations – Players
In order to participate in any Qualifying Match and the NSCRO Playoffs, the student-athlete must meet all of the following eligibility regulations at the time of the qualifying match:
1. The student-athlete must be a CIPP-registered member of USA Rugby.
2. The student-athlete must be within seven (7) years from the date the student-athlete first enrolled in a university or college. Any college courses that are taken during high school do not start the eligibility clock. Student-athletes may only compete for a college or university for a maximum of five (5) years of rugby based on USA Rugby CIPP enrollment history. Playing rugby one semester or term during an academic year counts as an entire year. Exceptions will be considered as part of this Policy’s appeals process.
3. The student-athlete must be enrolled as an undergraduate student seeking his/her first undergraduate degree or certificate seeking program and meet all requirements set by their school for participation. The student-athlete must be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credits to maintain NSCRO eligibility.
Exceptions:
a. A student-athlete within his/her final Academic Term who requires less than six (6) credits to graduate can still maintain NSCRO eligibility. A letter from an authorized school official confirming such status with permission to participate on the rugby club must be provided.
b. A student-athlete enrolled in post-graduate studies (graduate school or pursuance of an additional bachelor’s degree) and is within seven (7) years from the date the student-athlete first enrolled in a university or college may maintain eligibility if they have yet to compete in five (5) years of rugby and received his or her baccalaureate degree from an institution in the United States.
c. A student-athlete competing for a university or college during the Fall semester in league matches is eligible through the National Championships of that Academic Year if he/she graduated no earlier than the end of the Fall semester. This is only permitted if a letter from an authorized school official is provided giving permission for this person to participate with their rugby club and that the school accepts liability for this person.
4. The student-athlete must play on the team representing the school in which he/she is enrolled.
Exception:
a. Student-athletes attending a “nearby” college or university that does not have a rugby club may be eligible to participate if both schools provide written documentation providing permission to play rugby for the school with the rugby club.
b. The total enrollment of the “combined” colleges must not exceed the enrollment limit set forth in the applicable NSCRO Team Eligibility Policy. Requests for a waiver to this requirement may be submitted to NSCRO Eligibility Director at eligibility@nscro.org for consideration.
Documentation Required: Each school shall submit a letter signed by the authorized official giving permission (typically it is provided by the Club/Recreation Sports Department) as well the school’s Risk Management office or appropriate administrator. This requirement is to insure that each school has properly reviewed this matter. Letters shall be submitted to the governing Conference/Union who shall submit to NSCRO for review and acceptance on an annual basis.
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Policy Regulations – Players (cont’d)
5. A student-athlete must not have played in a Qualifying Match for any other collegiate team or senior club at any level during the current Academic Year. Transfer students may appeal for a waiver.
6. Players who are 25 years of age or older as of September 1 of the start of the competition cycle, who otherwise meet these Regulations, may participate in any Qualifying Match and the NSCRO Playoffs subject to the following:
a. A club may have an unlimited number of such players on their team roster.
b. No more than five (5) such players are permitted on a match roster up to the 23 players allowed by The Laws of the Game.
Student-Athlete Under the Age of 19
Any student-athlete under the age of nineteen (Under 19) should not play in any college rugby match unless they are in compliance with USA Rugby’s “Policy for Under 18s and Under 19s Playing Community (Adult or College) Rugby”.
Amateurism Student-athletes must meet and remain in compliance with all applicable amateur standards as set forth by USA Rugby.
Policy Compliance – Enforcement
Compliance with this Policy at all Qualifying Matches played under the jurisdiction of the Conference/Union shall be enforced by said Conference/Union with the use of the NSCRO “Player Eligibility Verification (PEV) Form” and any other related Conference/Union documents. The Conference/Union must establish a “Game Day Protocol” to insure compliance accordingly. The PEV Form must be completed by the school which the player is attending. If the player is attending a “nearby” school in accordance with Regulation 4 and that school is unable to complete the PEV Form, please contact the NSCRO Eligibility Director at eligibility@nscro.org for direction.
For players who are eligible under any of the Exceptions identified in this Policy, additional documentation (dated letter signed by an authorized school official) from their school is required to verify compliance as follows:
If an undergraduate student is in their final term taking less than 6 credits, compliance with NSCRO Regulation 3, Exception a.
If student has graduated, compliance with NSCRO Regulation 3, Exception c.
If the student is not enrolled in the school for which they are playing for, compliance with the Exceptions to NSCRO Regulation 4. .
For Conference/Union league play, the above verification documentation shall be submitted to the Conference/Union as instructed by them, such as via email with a scan of the original letter.
The original signed PEV Form(s) and letter(s) shall be maintained by the club and be available for review at Conference/Union league and playoffs matches prior to the start of the match as instructed by the Conference/Union. For leagues with playoffs to determine who will qualify for the NSCRO playoffs, the Conference/Union must submit the qualifying club’s PEV Form to NSCRO within a day of qualification along with normal club contact information. Therefore teams are encouraged to complete a PEV prior to their League/Conference playoffs, whether or not it is required.
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Policy Compliance – Enforcement (cont’d) For leagues without playoffs, the Conference/Union shall submit the PEV Form for the league leading clubs that can potentially win the league title no less than 2 weeks prior to the NSCRO playoff match. NSCRO shall review and approve the participation of all players shown on the PEV Form in the NSCRO playoffs. The original signed PEV Form(s) shall be presented to the NSCRO Representative during the Eligibility Check-In at all NSCRO playoff matches in accordance with the NSCRO “Regulations for Playoff Matches”. PEV Forms are to be submitted to eligibility@nscro.org.
After the Fall season, once the school’s new semester (or Spring quarter) begins this verification process will need to start over as students may no longer be enrolled or their enrollment status may have changed impacting their eligibility.
Appeals
The aforementioned Policy Compliance process is solely for student-athletes who are in compliance with this Policy included stated Exceptions.
For players who are not in compliance with this Policy that a Club feels there is a basis for their eligibility may submit an appeal to NSCRO. In such cases, the Club Coach or President shall first contact the NSCRO Eligibility Director to determine if the case is appealable. If the case is determined to have merit, NSCRO will advise what specific information and documentation is required to be submitted to NSCRO with a copy sent to the club’s Conference/Union. NSCRO will advise if the appeal is accepted or not and if it is accepted, a Waiver shall be granted allowing the player’s participation in matches governed by this Policy. The Waiver must be presented as part of the governing Conference/Union Game Day Protocol as well as during Check-In at an NSCRO playoff match.
Failure to Comply
NSCRO reserves the right to take disciplinary action, as it deems appropriate, which may include penalties against the student-athlete, his/her club and the governing Conference/Union for any violation of this Policy.

The Tri State Rugby Conference is pleased to announce that the conference is now on social media. Please be sure to follow us for updates on all relevant news, scores and standings.

The handle for the new conference Twitter is @TriState_Rugby

Be sure to Like us on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/tristaterugbyconference/

NSCRO announces 2016-17 Playoff Dates

Mr. Bill Krecker is the NSCRO Northeast Region Commissioner. He will be leading the effort and coordinating playoff planning and other activities relating to this Region for the Men’s NSCRO schools.

NSCRO Playoff Plans

Champions Cup
Qualifier – single match
Nov. 12 – Northeast : Upstate 2 vs NERFU 2 – Location TBD, likely Saratoga Springs, NY

Regional Championship
Nov. 19-20 – NERFU 1, Tri-State 1, Upstate 1, Northeast Qualifier – Location TBD

National Championship – 4 Regional Champs
April 29-30 – Infinity Park, Glendale, CO (under contract)

The Tri-State Conference Fall 2016 Schedules have been announced and there has been something of a reshuffle with some new teams forming and the exit of Rutgers University Women. The realignment of teams has less bearing on geography, despite the fact that the divisions are labeled North and South, and more emphasis on teams competing so that they get good games each weekend. The North Division is comprised of the top 6 finishers from Fall 2015 and the South Division the next 6 teams. This allows for competitive games and the playoff structure seeds the teams with all making the playoffs so having a shot at winning the Conference Championship. Thus the Conference is both developmental and competitive.

Tri-State Conference – Collegiate Women
Regular Season

Sun 9/11/2016
Fairfield University Women at SUNY-Binghamton Women
Siena College Women at Vassar College Women
U. at Albany Women at Stony Brook University Women
Hofstra University Women at Marist College Women
Montclair State Uni. Women at SUNY-New Paltz Women
Rensselear Polytechnic Women at Fordham University Women

Sat 9/17/2016
Vassar College Women at U. at Albany Women
Marist College Women at Siena College Women
SUNY-Binghamton Women at Rensselear Polytechnic Women
Sun 9/18/2016
Stony Brook University Women at Hofstra University Women
SUNY-New Paltz Women at Fordham University Women
Fairfield University Women at Montclair State Uni. Women

Sat 9/24/2016
U. at Albany Women at Siena College Women
Vassar College Women at Hofstra University Women
Sun 9/25/2016
Marist College Women at Stony Brook University
SUNY-New Paltz Women at Fairfield University Women
Fordham University Women at SUNY-Binghamton Women
Montclair State Uni. Women at Rensselaer Polytechnic Women
Bard College Women at Drew University Women
LIU Women at Manhattanville College Women

Sat 10/1/2016
Stony Brook University Women at Siena College Women
Hofstra University Women at U. at Albany Women
Sun 10/2/2016
Marist College Women at Vassar College Women
SUNY-Binghamton Women at SUNY-New Paltz Women
Fordham University Women at Montclair State Uni. Women
Rensselaer Polytechnic Women at Fairfield University Women
Manhattanville College Women at Bard College Women
Drew University Women at LIU Women

Sat 10/8/2016
Siena College Women at Hofstra University Women
Sun 10/9/2016
U. at Albany Women at Marist College Women
Stony Brook University Women at Vassar College Women
Fairfield University Women at Fordham University Women
SUNY-New Paltz Women at Rensselaer Polytechnic Women
Montclair State Uni. Women at SUNY-Binghamton Women
LIU Women at Bard College Women
Manhattanville College Women at Drew University Women
Sun 10/16/2016
Conference Wildcard Playoff (higher seed is the home team)
WC1 South 2 v South 3 WC2 North 5 v South 6
WC3 South 1 v South 4 WC4 North 6 v South 5

Bard College Women at Manhattanville College Women
LIU Women at Drew University Women

Sun 10/23/2016
Conference Playoffs (higher seed is the home team)
WQ1 North 1 v Winner of WC1 WQ2 North 4 v Winner of WC2
WQ3 North 3 v Winner of WC3 WQ4 North 2 v Winner of WC4

Drew University Women at Bard College Women
Manhattanville College Women at LIU Women

Sun 10/30/2016
Conference Semifinals (higher seed is the home team)
WS1 Winner WQ1 v Winner WQ2
WS2 Winner WQ3 v Winner WQ4

Bard College Women at LIU Women
Drew University Women at Manhattanville Women

Sat 11/5/2016 Venue TBA
Conference Championship game
3rd/4th Place Playoff game

Conference Champion, Runner-up and Third placed team advances to Regional Playoffs

Sat 11/12/2016
ACRA/USA Rugby Round of 32

Sat 11/19 & Sun 11/20, 2016
ACRA/USA Rugby Regional Rounds of 16 & 8

Sat 12/3 & Sun 12/4, 2016
ACRA/USA Rugby Fall Final 4