June 12, 2009
Midwest Rugby Union Website
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - USA Rugby and the Midwest Rugby Union have voted unanimously to accept Davenport University into their National and Midwest leagues. The Panthers, under direction of Head Coach Isaac Herrick, will begin competition for the first time in the fall of 2009 against teams from all across the Midwest.
The Midwest Rugby Union is the Regional League within USA Rugby and is comprised of teams from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, West Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Western New York. Within the league, Davenport will compete in the Michigan Union with the goal of advancing onto the Midwest Regional Playoffs, and into the USA Rugby National Championship Playoffs.
Upon receiving the news of the acceptance into the league, DU Head Coach Isaac Herrick stated "I am very excited that Davenport University Rugby has been accepted into the Midwest Rugby Football Union. This is the first step to the goal of establishing DU rugby as a premier program in the mid-west."
Varsity Rugby joined a growing list of athletic teams offered by Davenport and it became the 24th sport added since 2002-2003. Davenport University Director of Athletics Paul Lowden added "The University is committed to growth and expansion of our traditional age student body. Athletics have been a key component to this expansion in the classroom, residence hall and student life. Rugby is the latest of many new athletic programs we currently sponsor at Davenport University. "
Locally, Grand Rapids is becoming a hub for not only high school rugby but also club rugby and Justin Hickey of West Michigan Rugby said "The timing couldn't be better for Davenport to make this step. Rugby has been very active in West Michigan through High School, College, and Men's Programs, seeing many State Championship, Midwest Championship, and National Championship events being hosted here in West Michigan. It is a goal of the West Michigan Rugby Association to continue the growth of the sport in the area, and bring an element of legitimacy and professionalism to the game. Davenport's contribution will only help this further. "
Davenport will begin their inaugural season in USA Rugby Division 2, in the Michigan Union Division 2, Tier 2. League games will include matches against Saginaw Valley State University, Oakland University, UM Dearborn, Wayne State University, Hillsdale College, and Calvin College. The schedule will be released in late July with the games starting in September.
