According to reports from Goff Rugby Report and This Is American Rugby, officials with the Varsity Cup have stripped BYU rugby of its 2015 National Championship.
The organization is vacating BYU’s 30-27 victory over the University of California Berkeley, allegedly over the use of an ineligible player.
The Cougars have played in every Varsity Cup since the tournament began in 2013. The victory over Cal was the fourth-straight National Championship for head coach David Smyth and the Cougars.
BYU rugby will not be participating in the 2017 Varsity Cup and has instead joined USA Rugby D1-A competition.
“We feel that USA Rugby’s D1-A competition in the best fit for BYU as a program, and it’s a good fit for our student athletes,” Smyth said. “USA Rugby’s D1-A competition has welcomed us with open arms and will help our program achieve its goals on and off the field.”
D1-A Commissioner Kevin Battle called the Cougars “one of the most storied programs in the nation” and added the organization is “thrilled” to welcome BYU.
BYU rugby began its season in January with wins over Cal Poly and San Diego State. The team will compete in the USA Rugby playoffs in April.
