UNE and Harvard: A historic matchup

The University of New England’s Women’s Rugby Team kicks off its first varsity season this year – and the team faces a formidable foe for its first home game.  The Nor'easters will host the Harvard Crimson on Saturday, September 17 at 12 p.m. at Barbara J. Hazard Field.

"No one ever imagined in 2014 when President Ripich announced the addition of varsity women's rugby that UNE would be playing its first home game versus the most famous institution in the world," said UNE Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Jack McDonald. "We are thrilled that the coaches and staff at Harvard have agreed to come celebrate our first varsity season, and I am sure that our head coach, Ashley Potvin, will have the team well-prepared for this historic event."

President Danielle Ripich said, “I am so excited that we have reached an agreement with Harvard to bring our institutions together. This game is an opportunity to show our support for our talented women’s rugby players and show Harvard what UNE spirit is all about!”

The Nor'easters, who have competed as a club team since 2012, will be a member of the National Collegiate Women's Varsity Rugby Association, the governing body of collegiate varsity women’s rugby with 20 competing members (American International, Army, Bowdoin, Brown, Central Washington, Dartmouth, Davenport, Dowling, Eastern Illinois, Harvard, Life, Long Island University, Post, Molloy, University of New England, Norwich, Notre Dame College, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, West Chester and Wheeling Jesuit).

In 2015, the Nor'easters captured the New England Football Rugby Union (NERFU) championship and participated in the National Small College Rugby Organization National Championship, winning the third-place game in the Northeast Region bracket and finishing the season ranked 16th in the nation.