After eight years, the Panther women’s rugby team could play host to the first NCAA women’s rugby game in history this fall.

The game against West Chester University is tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday September 15 at Lakeside Field. Head Coach Frank Graziano said the game has been worked out with the West Chester, Pennsylvania coach, but contracts have yet to be signed.

Should both teams accept the terms of the negotiations, this will be the first time two NCAA women’s rugby squads will go head to head in an all NCAA sanctioned game. Currently, only four college varsity teams exist across the country.

The lack of NCAA programs and the distance between them, has kept most team schedules limited to club teams throughout the region. Eastern, after its inaugural season in 1999, has played club teams from several conferences across the country, including ACC, SEC, Big XII, and Big Ten schools. They have only played club teams however, and do not compete in club championships.

Becky Carlson, former assistant rugby coach and emerging sports program manager at USA Rugby was excited about the possibility of seeing two NCAA teams facing each other this season.

“It’s going to be a big deal for both Universities,” Carlson said. “It should translate into a positive recruiting tool.”

Carlson said a game with West Chester could mean a lot of positive exposure to aid both teams in recruiting. Most players come to the panther rugby squad from high school track, basketball, soccer and other athletic teams.

West Chester recruits from high school rugby clubs. NCAA competition could generate a lot of great exposure and interest from prospective athletes for both teams.

Eastern hopes to attract new talent interested in competing at a higher level than just club teams as a result of the West Chester game.

Carlson said convincing the club rugby community of the positive exposure of NCAA play has been difficult. She said holding NCAA women’s rugby games could greatly help the emerging sport.

“With the first women’s college rugby game being played, we will not only have more exposure for the sport at a level that is recognized in the United States just like softball and soccer, but also offer evidence to prospective athletic directors and institutions that this sport can be successful and marketable beyond the club capacity,” Carlson said.

She added, this will be considered the first college women’s rugby game in history, and the student-athlete’s names from both institutions will likely be entered into the NCAA hall of fame following the completion of the contest.

Eastern has been trying to schedule the game for the last few years but budget concerns have put it off until this upcoming season. Eastern has generally been the model for college rugby teams over the years and has developed its funding enough to compete nationally with other varsity teams for a few years.

However, a game between two varsity teams depends on the decisions and capacity of both schools. The other three varsity women’s rugby teams in the NCAA are still developing and transitioning its programs for NCAA competition.

Carlson said attempts have been made to establish an all-varsity schedule between the four teams, but it has been difficult for the other three schools to fund an emerging sport enough to cover travel expenses.

West Chester added a women’s rugby team in 2004, but with a limited development budget they have not had the resources to travel to Eastern.

“Eastern could very well travel to West Chester for the first game, but EIU started all of this and maintains the model for all of college rugby in the future, the game will be played in Charleston. Rightfully so, as EIU is the home of the pioneers for women’s college rugby,” Carlson said.

Returning rugby player Marlise Davidson was excited at the possibility of playing West Chester in the fall. “I’d be really happy. A lot of other schools don’t even know that we have collegiate rugby. It would be nice to get the recognition.” Davidson said.

She was also optimistic that the game would have a positive impact on Eastern’s rugby team and Women’s College rugby as a whole.

“It’s definitely a step in the right direction,” Davidson said.

With the first college women’s rugby game on the horizon, it could mean greater attention and participation for women’s rugby programs across the United States.

Eastern Women’s Rugby team in action at Lakeside Field in 2006. File Photo

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