MARFU
Encyclopedia
The Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union (MARFU) is an association
of youth, high school, collegiate, and adult men's and women's rugby teams in the Mid-Atlantic United States.
The Mid Atlantic Rugby Football Union was incorporated on August 10, 1994 in the State of Delaware and comprises three of the Local Area Unions who were formerly members of USA Rugby East (a/k/a the Eastern Rugby Union); Eastern Pennsylvania (EPRU), Potomac (PRU) and Virginia (VRU). The states which comprise MARFU are: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Membership figures are the highest in the nation in terms of the number of players in a Territorial Union. Approx 6,800 players belong to approximately 180 rugby clubs.
Depending on age bracket, division and gender, MARFU holds playoffs and leagues leading to USA Rugby National Championships.
Currently collegiate men and women's teams participate in DI and DII playoff competitions to choose representatives the National Collegiate Championships during the spring season. The number of seeds from each LAU varies from year to year, as does the number of seeds MARFU receives at the National Collegiate Championships. Though the spring season determines placement for NCC playoffs, most DI and DII collegiate teams, both men and women, play fall seasons as well. As they are not matrix matches towards playoff qualification, many collegiate clubs choose to play their out-of-league matches (mainly between VRU and PRU clubs) during the fall season.
DIII and DIV teams have recently played "national championships" against the LAU winners from Northeast Rugby Union
, USA Rugby South
and Midwest Rugby Union. However, these contests are endorsed by the National Small College Rugby Organization
and not endorsed as national championship events by USA Rugby.
Senior women's DI and DII both play league matches during the fall season, leading up to the official DI national championship and current unofficial DII national championship. Currently DI teams play a matrix season to determine national playoff seedings but do not hold a separate playoff weekend. DII teams play a regional, non LAU based, matrix season before holding MARFU DII playoffs.
Voluntary association
A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...
of youth, high school, collegiate, and adult men's and women's rugby teams in the Mid-Atlantic United States.
The Mid Atlantic Rugby Football Union was incorporated on August 10, 1994 in the State of Delaware and comprises three of the Local Area Unions who were formerly members of USA Rugby East (a/k/a the Eastern Rugby Union); Eastern Pennsylvania (EPRU), Potomac (PRU) and Virginia (VRU). The states which comprise MARFU are: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Membership figures are the highest in the nation in terms of the number of players in a Territorial Union. Approx 6,800 players belong to approximately 180 rugby clubs.
Depending on age bracket, division and gender, MARFU holds playoffs and leagues leading to USA Rugby National Championships.
Currently collegiate men and women's teams participate in DI and DII playoff competitions to choose representatives the National Collegiate Championships during the spring season. The number of seeds from each LAU varies from year to year, as does the number of seeds MARFU receives at the National Collegiate Championships. Though the spring season determines placement for NCC playoffs, most DI and DII collegiate teams, both men and women, play fall seasons as well. As they are not matrix matches towards playoff qualification, many collegiate clubs choose to play their out-of-league matches (mainly between VRU and PRU clubs) during the fall season.
DIII and DIV teams have recently played "national championships" against the LAU winners from Northeast Rugby Union
Northeast Rugby Union
The Northeast Rugby Union is the Territorial Area Union for rugby union teams playing in the Northeastern United States . It is one of seven TAU's that govern specific regions of USA Rugby.-LAU's:...
, USA Rugby South
USA Rugby South
The USA Rugby South is the Territorial Union for rugby union teams playing in the Southern United States. It is one of seven TU's that govern specific regions of USA Rugby.-LAU's:...
and Midwest Rugby Union. However, these contests are endorsed by the National Small College Rugby Organization
National Small College Rugby Organization
The National Small College Rugby Organization was created in 2006 by Chip Auscavitch and Steve Cohen to support and encourage the development and organization of Division III and IV college rugby across the country....
and not endorsed as national championship events by USA Rugby.
Senior women's DI and DII both play league matches during the fall season, leading up to the official DI national championship and current unofficial DII national championship. Currently DI teams play a matrix season to determine national playoff seedings but do not hold a separate playoff weekend. DII teams play a regional, non LAU based, matrix season before holding MARFU DII playoffs.
Division I
- Maryland ExilesMaryland ExilesThe Maryland Exiles is an American rugby union team in Bethesda, Maryland that competes as a member of Division I, Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union under the USA Rugby governing body. The team fields both a standard 15-man squad and seven-a-side squad. The team has competed abroad in England,...
(Bethesda, MD) - Washington Rugby Football Club (Washington, DC)
- Baltimore-Chesapeake (Baltimore, MD)
- NOVA (Washington, DC)
- Potomac Athletic Club RFC (Washington, DC)
- Media (Media, PA)
- Schuylkill River (Philadelphia, PA)
- Pittsburgh HarlequinsPittsburgh HarlequinsThe Pittsburgh Harlequins are an American rugby union founded in 1973. The team is a member of the USA Rugby Football Union, the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union, and the Potomac Rugby Union....
(Pittsburgh, PA) - Raleigh Vipers (Raleigh, NC)
- Norfolk BluesNorfolk BluesThe Norfolk Blues are a Mid-Atlantic Rugby Footbal Union Division I/Championship Division Club in Norfolk, Virginia. Founded in the Spring of 1978 as a result of a merger between the Norfolk Rugby and Norfolk Irish Rugby Clubs. Through the Spring of 2010, the Blues have accumulated a first side...
(Norfolk, VA)
Division II - North
- Brandywine (Philadelphia, PA)
- Lancaster (Lancaster County, PA)
- Doylestown (Doylestown, PA)
- Reading (Reading, PA)
- Wilmington (Wilmington, DE)
- Blackthorn (Philadelphia, PA)
- Jersey Shore (Galloway, NJ)
Division II - South
- Severn River (Annapolis, MD)
- Frederick (Frederick, MD)
- Rocky Gorge (Laurel, MD)
- Washington Irish (Washington, DC)
- Richmond Lions (Richmond, VA)
- Western Suburbs Rugby Football ClubWestern Suburbs Rugby Football ClubWestern Suburbs Rugby Football Club was formed in 1976 by a group of ruggers who broke off from Sud Americano Rugby Football Club. These ruggers desired to practice and play rugby closer to their homes in the western portion of Fairfax County....
(Fairfax, VA)