Do College Rugby Rankings Really Matter?
Updated: 10 minutes ago
Do College Rugby Rankings Really Matter?
“I want to play for a Top 10 school.”
“I want to study at a Top 25 business school.”
“I want to attend the best school in the country.”
I hear these statements frequently when students and I begin building their college lists. But they raise an important question: How much do rankings really matter when choosing a college?
When it comes to college rugby, I place relatively little emphasis on rankings. In fact, I often encourage students to look beyond them when deciding where to play. Rankings can be useful starting points, but they are largely subjective and often based on criteria that may not be universally applied—or particularly meaningful to an individual player or family.
Here are a few things worth considering.
Limited Sources, Different Perspectives
As many of you have probably realized, college rugby media coverage simply isn't extensive enough to provide a wide range of independent perspectives on how programs should be ranked. I appreciate the work of Goff Rugby Report and The Rugby Breakdown, both of which regularly publish rankings. However, these rankings, while often informed by research, statistics, wins and losses, point differentials, and other performance indicators, ultimately reflect someone's interpretation of the data.
As in any other sport, different people can evaluate the same information and reach very different conclusions. Conferences and organizations, like the College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) and National Collegiate Rugby (NCR), may also publish their own power rankings, which can differ from other sources.
So, which ranking is correct? The answer may depend entirely on whom you ask—and what criteria they value most.
The Many Definitions of “Best”
This subjectivity extends well beyond college rugby. Consider college rankings in general, where even something as seemingly straightforward as the most beautiful college campus can produce very different results.
For example, here are three publications that have each named a different institution as their "MOST BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS":
Stanford University — Travel + Leisure
University of San Diego — The Princeton Review
Berry College — Travelers Worldwide
Each publication has its own methodology and perspective, and each arrives at a different conclusion. Countless other examples appear across college rankings, from academics and campus life to career outcomes and student satisfaction.
The point is simple: “Best” is often a matter of perspective. What one publication considers the best may not align with what matters most to you.
Look Beyond Rankings: What Should You Evaluate Instead?
Rather than focusing exclusively on where a program falls in a ranking, I encourage students and families to dig deeper into the factors that can have a more direct impact on their college rugby experience.
Consider asking questions such as:
Coaching stability: How long has the head coach and coaching staff been with the program? Has the program demonstrated consistency in its leadership and direction?
Post-collegiate opportunities: How many players continue competing after graduation, whether through national team representation, professional contracts, or senior club rugby?
Academic outcomes: What percentage of players graduate in four years? Five years? Six years?
Alumni engagement: Does the program have an active alumni network that supports current players and remains connected to the team?
Player development: How does the program help athletes develop their skills, leadership, and understanding of the game?
These questions can reveal far more about a program's culture, priorities, and long-term value than a ranking alone.
Finding the Right Fit
Ultimately, choosing a college is about much more than identifying a highly ranked rugby program. It's about finding an institution where you can thrive academically, athletically, and personally.
Look closely at the academic programs offered, the campus environment, the overall student experience, and the resources available to student-athletes. Consider the coaching philosophy, team culture, competitive opportunities, and how well the program aligns with your goals. Think about what you want your college experience to look like—not just on the rugby field, but in the classroom and beyond.
College rugby will continue to evolve, and rankings will change along with it. Programs rise, programs fall, and today's top-ranked team may look very different a few years from now.
Don't let a ranking dictate your college choices or limit your options before you've had a chance to explore them.
Use rankings as one piece of information, not the deciding factor. The goal isn't simply to find a school someone else considers the best. It's to find the school that is best for you.
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