July 16, 2025

Call to order – Michael – 8:00 PM CST

Roll Call – Michael

• Meeting Attendance – 25 07 16.pdf and Conflict of Interest statements 

Approval of past SCC minutes – Michael

• Last Meeting Minutes – SCC 25 6 18 Agenda and Minutes – USA Club Rugby 
  • Motion: Mid West. Second: MidAmerica. Approved

Chairs’/Officers’ Reports

USAR Liaison – Elaine

• June 2025 SCC Report.png
• New club creation process
  • Working with Scott Conway and Michael to streamline

Secretary – Michael

• Reminder on time management
• Tracking action Items 
• Club Competition Recaps
  • Club 7s – Season Preview 
  • Club 7s – June 2025 Recap – USA Club Rugby 
  • Renewal for Fall in New Business
• Documentation Hierarchy for 7s nationals staged
• Annual update of membership stats
  • Per Oct 2025 SCC call and vote amended to pull August 1 annually.
• TV commercials: Jeremy has in process and expects to have them ready by next week

Admin – Nick

• Refund processing
  • 4
• Web Contact form responses
  • 0
• Outstanding club pay invoices
  • Outstanding Club Pays Invoices – created by Scott Conway
  • Clubs with outstanding amounts are not in good standing. 

15’s Comp – David McPhail

• Action Item from SCC 24 02 19: 15s committee to create document with minimum Super Regional standards to go with budget increase.
  • In process 2026
• RFP Championship Host – Template
  • Will go out ASAP
• First MOU has been rec’d from Atlantic Region – committee is reviewing
• Discussion on Life Univ Women request for XVs competition inclusion
  • Appeal: 6.20.25 appeal.docx
  • Recommendation: SCC meeting regarding Life Univ WD1 request 071625
    • Motion: Mid West  Second:     RMR      Denied
      • Allow Life to join the Atlantic D1 competition 
      • Vote – Allow Life U W to join the Atlantic D1 competition .pdf

7’s Comp – David Fee

• 7s Structural Doc – USA Club Rugby 7s National Championship Structure & Scheduling Proposal (2026–2028) 
  • Action Item from last SCC call: SCC to review and vote on July call
  • Motion: MidAmerica Second: RMR Approved by acclimation 
    • Approval of document
• 7s off and running.
• NC is getting ready
  • Kat articles
  • NC Packet with hotels, restaurants, check-ins, etc. 
  • RUGBY RX HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE
• Notification went out that WER = NOT professional for 7s 
  • From Eligibility WER and 10s.png notice
• Recommendation to add Billboard Truck to 7s Nationals
  • Been working with Brad & Ginty to upgrade the 7s National Championship event, and one item we think would add a ton of value would be this video board/truck.
  • Mentioned it on the call Monday, but did not get the price from Ginty until yesterday.
    • Would provide additional footage for players and fans
    • Would provide additional replay experience for players and fans
    • Once players know it is there, it will make for some awesome try zone celebrations
    • Once fans know it is there, they will make some additional crowd shots
    • Player and Fan value added experience
    • I can try to offset with a sponsor

Eligibility – Tam

• Eligibility Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQ)
  • In process 
• Overview of Regs.docx
• SCC Action Item – Eligibility Standard.
  • Choice of two options for Regulation 3.5-(d): Player divisional eligibility guidelines on clubs fielding teams in more than one division are outlined with rationale, pros/cons for each.
  • The two options offer different criteria to establish lower division eligibility for the NCS.
  • SCC Action Item-Eligibility.pdf
• SCC Action Item – 2025-26 Regulations.
  • Two copies attached so you can read the options for Regulation 3.5-(d) as they would appear in the final document (outside of 3.5-(d), both documents are the same).
  • Version with 3.5-(d) option 1 (continued use of two criteria for player division eligibility).
  • 16.June.2025-26 Regs-DRAFT.3.5. Option 1. 2 criteria.pdf
  • Version with 3.5-(d) option 2 (single criteria used for player divisional eligibility).
  • 16.June.2025-26 Regs-DRAFT.Option 2. 1 criteria.pdf
• Informational: Key Changes for 2025-26 (outside of Regulation 3.5-(d)).
  • The document summarizes just the key changes.
  • Full changes noted in GREEN in the 2025-26 draft Regulations.
  • 2025-26 Key Changes (other than 3.5-(d)).pdf
• Motion: Florida Second: Capital Choice of Option 1 or 2. Option 1 chosen
  • Choice of option 1 (2 rules) or option 2 (one rule)
  • Vote – Option 1 (2 criteria) or 2 (1 criteria).pdf
• Motion:  MidAmerica   Second:   SouthWest   Approved 
  • Approval of regs including option chosen above
  • Vote – Approval of 15s Regulations update.pdf

Treasurer – Tim

• June USA Club Rugby Assoc Statement of Activity
• June USA Club Rugby Assoc Statement of Financial Position
• Proposed 2025-26 Budget

Discipline – Megan

• Regulation 18 investigations currently are being worked on – information on these and the GU(s) they are stemming from is confidential – no information can be provided. (Final decisions are presented to the GU president.)
• Elaine has been working on a spreadsheet to capture all GU disciplinary officers. This will be utilized to provide upcoming training opportunities to them and to confirm that all GUs are capturing all sanctions in Rugby XP.
  • Meeting with MLR on 7/17/2025 to discuss having all of their sanctions put into Rugby XP to capture all sanctions in one centralized location – many MLR players continue to play with their home clubs, so having their disciplinary history captured in Rugby XP is needed.
• Community Judicial Officer Course Update: Completed course in Charlotte, NC this past weekend. Final training course for 2025 will be Oct. 11-12th in Moraga, CA.
  • Kevin Raymond would like to see an online option for the course instead of in-person. As discussed in the meeting, the in-person course is needed for hands-on learning, but will discuss an option for online for understanding purposes only – in order to be certified they must attend the in-person course.

Governance – KJ

• Governance has been working on recommendations for the application for a new club. Please review and provide feedback. Still a work in progress (more than likely.) 
• Governance reviewed, vetted and presented chair nominations in New Business

DEI – vacant

• No Report

Vice Chair – Wes

• No Report

Board Report – Rick

• No Board meeting since last report..
• Continued focus on projected future budget shortfall and possible future dues adjustment.
• USAR 50th anniversary celebration in Washington DC This weekend – July 17-20.
  • July 17 Gala Dozen tables sold.
  • July 18 Board and Stakeholders meeting.
  • July 18 evening US Rugby Foundation Hall of Fame event.
  • July 19 match day
  • July 20 WXV function

USAR Referee and Laws Committee (RLC) – David Chapman

• Nominations and elections are still TBD for the next RLC Chair.

Chair report – Al

• Action Item from SCC 24 08 21: ExCo to look into covering players even when non registered players are involved
  • Bill Goren is sending a quote for insurance while playing against uninsured players. I will send out ASAP.
• No Report

New Business

• Extend Competition Recaps for Fall 15s
  • Motion:SoCal Second:Florida Approved by acclimation 
    • Approval of cost 
• Chair elections
  • Current Chairs running unopposed: Discipline (Megan Braun), Eligibility (Tam Breckenridge), and Governance (KJ Abel Ruch)
  • Motion: Capital Second:    NERFU    Approved by acclimation 
    • Approve slate for reelection
  • DEI Chair Nominee Q&A
    • Process
      • Candidates will appear on the SCC call one at a time.
      • Each candidate will have up to 15 minutes, including their personal statement and Q&A.
      • Union representatives will ask questions of each candidate.
      • The same set of questions will be asked of both candidates, preferably by the same person.
    • Robert Sharp – Wasn’t able to join. UPDATE: Call held July 24th
      • Sharp – Personal Statement.pdf
      • Sharp – Resume.pdf
    • Michael Wilson
      • Wilson – Personal Statement.pdf
      • Wilson – Resume.pdf

Adjourned

• Motion: Capital. Second: NERFU
  • Meeting adjourned at 10:29 PM CST