Rugby Americas North

Administrative body for rugby union in North America and the Caribbean

Rugby Americas North

Abbreviation| RAN
Established| March 2001; 24 years ago (2001-03) (as NAWIRA)
2010 (as NACRA)
2016[1]
Type| Sports organisation
Headquarters| Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Region served

| Northern America and the Caribbean[a]
Membership| 19 member unions

Official language

* English
* French
* Spanish

President

| Araba Chintoh

Treasurer

| Pablo Septién

Vice President

| Paul Santinelli

Main organ

| Board of Directors

Parent organization

| World Rugby
Website| rugbyamericasnorth.com

Formerly called

* North America and West Indies Rugby Association (2001–2008)
* North America Caribbean Rugby Association (2009–2014)

Rugby Americas North (RAN) is the governing body for rugby union in the North American continental region. Rugby Americas North operates under the authority of World Rugby, and is one of six regional unions represented within it.

Prior to 2016, the organisation was known as NACRA – the North America Caribbean Rugby Association. The preceding body before 2010 was NAWIRA – the North America and West Indies Rugby Association.

The main objective of RAN is the promotion and development of rugby in North America and the Caribbean. The association unveiled a four-year plan during the 2011 Annual General Meeting to grow rugby within its membership unions through promotion, media output and competition.[2]

World Rugby's 40-member executive council includes two seats for RAN representatives, two seats for Canada, and one for the United States. By contrast to RAN's five votes on the World Rugby executive council, European countries have 16 votes.[clarification needed]

## Competitions

[edit]

RAN oversees regional competitions, such as regional qualifiers for Pan Am Games and Rugby World Cups including:

Senior

* RAN Sevens
* RAN Women's Sevens
* RAN Rugby Championship
* RAN Women's Rugby Championship

Youth

* RAN Under-19 Championship

## Governance

[edit]

RAN is governed by a board of five executives. The United States, Canada and Mexico are fixed representatives, while the Caribbean countries elect two nations for delegation.[2] In November 2021 RAN announced changes to its executive committee following its 2021 Annual General Meeting in Miami. George Nicholson was appointed as the new president and Dr. Araba Chintoh and Miguel Carner as vice presidents.[3] Nicholson died in April 2024.[4]

This section needs expansion with: updated office holders. You can help by adding to it. (April 2016)

|

## Player registration

[edit]

Former NACRA logo.

As of 2010, there were 128,828 rugby players within North America:[5] with the largest number of players from:

1. United States (88,151)
2. Canada (23,853)
3. Trinidad and Tobago (5,060)
4. Mexico (3,454)

As of 2016, RAN reported 160,769 total registered players and 1,595,565 non-registered players.[6]

1. USA – 119,682
2. Canada – 27,512
3. Mexico – 6,168
4. Martinique – 3,500
5. St. Vincent & The Grenadines – 1,806
6. Jamaica – 1,518
7. Trinidad & Tobago – 1,403
8. Bermuda – 794
9. Dominican Republic – 600
10. Bahamas – 529
11. Guyana – 522
12. Barbados – 425
13. Cayman – 410
14. St. Lucia – 292
15. Turks and Caicos – 200
16. British Virgin Islands – 117
17. Curacao – 104

As of the 2019 Rugby Americas North Review there were 134,300 participants reported, 69,500 males and 65,000 females.[7]

## Member unions

[edit]

As of August 2024[update] Rugby Americas North has 13 full members and 4 associate members and 2 recognized regional development unions:[8][9]

* Bahamas
* Barbados
*   * Bermuda
* British Virgin Islands
* Canada
* Cayman Islands
*   * Curaçao a
* Dominican Republic a
* French Guiana a, b
* Guadeloupe b
* Guyana
* Jamaica
* Martinique a, b
* Mexico
* St. Lucia
* St. Vincent & the Grenadines
* Trinidad and Tobago
* Turks and Caicos Islands a
* United States

Regional unions (including former affiliates) without current RAN recognition:[10]

* St. Kitts and Nevis

Notes:

^a Denotes associate member of RAN not affiliated with World Rugby.[11]

^b The governing body is the French Rugby Federation which has territorial committees for overseas departments and territories.[12]

## World Rugby Rankings

[edit]

Men's World Rugby Rankings (as of 2 January 2023)[13] | North America*  | World Rugby  | +/-  | National Team  | Points

|
|
|
|

1  | 19 |  |  United States | 65.92
2  | 23 |  |  Canada | 60.46
3  | 51 |  8  |  Mexico | 45.83
4  | 52 |  |  Trinidad and Tobago | 45.51
5  | 54 |  4  |  Cayman Islands | 44.37
6  | 58 |  1  |  Guyana | 42.86
7  | 67 |  |  Jamaica | 39
8  | 68 |  |  Bermuda | 38.91
9  | 81 |  |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 34.91
10  | 83 |  |  Barbados | 34.72
11  | 99 |  |  Bahamas | 27.76
*Local rankings based on World Rugby ranking points
Women's World Rugby Rankings (as of 2 January 2023)[14] | North America*  | World Rugby  | +/-  | National Team  | Points

|
|
|
|

1  | 4 |  |  Canada | 84.22
2  | 7 |  |  United States | 76.78
3  | 23 |  |  Trinidad and Tobago | 46.45
4  | 34 |  |  Jamaica | 40.52
5  | 38 |  |  Guyana | 39.63
6  | 53 |  |  Cayman Islands | 34.95
7  | 59 |  |  Barbados | 30.06
8  | 60 |  |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 28.71
9  | 61 |  |  Bahamas | 27.67
*Local rankings based on World Rugby ranking points

## World Cup qualifying

[edit]

Rugby Americas North nations participate in qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup every four years. Two Rugby Americas North nations –Canada and United States – have qualified to play in Rugby World Cups.

Edition  | Automatically qualified  | Qualified via competition  | Qualified via repechage  | Eliminated in repechage  | Eliminated at final stage  | Eliminated at second stage  | Eliminated at first stage

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1987 |  Canada
United States | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
1991 | —  |  Canada
United States | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
1995 |  Canada | —  | —  | —  |  United States | —  |  Bermuda
1999 | —  |  Canada
United States | —  | —  | —  | —  |  Trinidad and Tobago
Guyana
Bermuda
Bahamas
Barbados
2003 | —  |  Canada |  United States | —  | —  |  Trinidad and Tobago |  Bermuda
Saint Lucia
Barbados
Bahamas
Cayman Islands
Guyana
Jamaica
2007 | —  |  Canada
United States | —  | —  | —  |  Barbados |  Guyana
Trinidad and Tobago
Saint Lucia
Bahamas
Cayman Islands
Jamaica
Bermuda
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
2011 | —  |  Canada
United States | —  | —  | —  |  Trinidad and Tobago |  Barbados
Guyana
Cayman Islands
Bahamas
Jamaica
Bermuda
Mexico
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
2015 | —  |  Canada
United States | —  | —  | —  |  Bermuda |  Trinidad and Tobago
Guyana
Cayman Islands
Mexico
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Barbados
Jamaica
Bahamas
2019 | —  |  Canada
United States | —  | —  | —  | —  |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Cayman Islands
Bermuda
Bahamas
Trinidad and Tobago
Barbados
Jamaica
Guyana
Mexico
2023 | —  | —  | —  |  United States |  Canada | —  | —

## See also

[edit]

* World Rugby
* Sudamérica Rugby
* Americas Rugby Championship

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Includes Guyana and French Guiana.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About Rugby Americas North". rugbyamericasnorth.com.
2. ^ a b Learning More About NACRA. Rugby Canada,18 July 2012. [dead link]
3. ^ Kelly, Bryan (2021-11-19). "RUGBY AMERICAS NORTH ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE". Rugby Americas North. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
4. ^ "Remembering RAN President George Nicholson and his Lasting Impact". Rugby Americas North. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
5. ^ "Year in Review" (PDF). IRB. 2010. p. 10\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-03.
6. ^ "THE REGION". Rugby Americas North. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
7. ^ Bryan Kelly (January 6, 2020). "2019 Rugby Americas North Year in Review". Rugby Americas North. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
8. ^ "Full members". Rugby Americas North. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
9. ^ "Associate members". Rugby Americas North. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
10. ^ "Affiliated Unions". NACRA. 2011. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013.
11. ^ "Handbook" (PDF). World Rugby. 2014. pp. 16–10\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
12. ^ "The Committee". Guadeloupe Rugby. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
13. ^ "The World Rugby Men's Ranking". World Rugby. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
14. ^ "The World Rugby Women's Ranking". World Rugby. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

International rugby union competitions

* World Rugby
* Africa
* Asia
* Europe
* North America
* South America
* Oceania

Worldwide|

| Men|

* World Cup
* Nations Championship
* World Cup Sevens
* Sevens Series
* U20 World Championship
* U20 Trophy

|

Women|

* World Cup
* World Cup Sevens
* Sevens Series
* Rugby X
* WXV

Multi-sport events|

* Olympic Games (7s)
* Asian Games
* Commonwealth Games (7s)
* Mediterranean Games
* Pacific Games (7s)
* Pan American Games
* World Games

Intercontinental|

* Americas Pacific Challenge
* Nations Cup
* Pacific Nations Cup
* Pacific Rugby Challenge
* The Rugby Championship
* Pacific Four Series
* Arab Rugby Sevens Men's
* Arab Rugby Sevens Women's
* The Rugby Championship U20

Continental|

| Africa|

* Rugby Africa Cup
* Rugby Africa Women's Cup
* Africa Men's Sevens
* Africa Women's Sevens
* U20 Barthés Trophy

|

Asia|

* Asia Rugby Championship
* Asian Sevens Series
* Asia Rugby Women's Championship
* Asia Rugby Women's Sevens Series
* U19 Championship

Europe|

* Six Nations
* Europe International
* Women's Six Nations
* Europe Women's
* Europe Sevens
* Europe Women's Sevens
* U20 Six Nations
* U20 Championship
* U18 Championship
* U18 Sevens
* U18 Women's Sevens

Oceania|

* Oceania Men's Championship
* Oceania Women's Championship
* Oceania Sevens
* Oceania Women's Sevens
* U20 Championship

North America|

* RAN Championship
* Americas Rugby Championship
* Americas Rugby Challenge
* RAN Women's Championship
* RAN Sevens
* RAN Women's Sevens

South America|

* South American Championship
* Americas Rugby Trophy
* Sudamérica Sevens
* Sudamérica Women's Sevens
* U20 Championship

Defunct|

* Olympic Games (15s)
* Pacific Games (15s)
* World Games (7s)
* Churchill Cup
* Crescent Cup
* Pacific Rim Championship
* Pan American
* Serendib International Cup
* Super Cup
* Tbilisi Cup
* U-19 World Championship
* U-21 World Championship
* Women's Nations Cup
* IRB Women's Sevens Challenge Cup
* South Pacific Championship
* Super 10
* ARFU Asian Rugby Series

* Women's international rugby
* World Rugby Rankings
* World Rugby Awards

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in North America

Sovereign states|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Canada
* Costa Rica
* Cuba
* Dominica
* Dominican Republic
* El Salvador
* Grenada
* Guatemala
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States

Dependencies and
other territories

* Anguilla
* Aruba
* Bermuda
* Bonaire
* British Virgin Islands
* Cayman Islands
* Curaçao
* Greenland
* Guadeloupe
* Martinique
* Montserrat
* Puerto Rico
* Saint Barthélemy
* Saint Martin
* Saint Pierre and Miquelon
* Saba
* Sint Eustatius
* Sint Maarten
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* United States Virgin Islands

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