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.
World Rugby's 51-member executive council includes two seats for RAN representatives, as well as one each for the Canadian and USA Rugby unions.
Contents
Competitions
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
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. 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. Nicholson died in April 2024.
Player registration
As of 2010, there were 128,828 rugby players within North America: with the largest number of players from:
United States (88,151)
Canada (23,853)
Trinidad and Tobago (5,060)
Mexico (3,454)
As of 2016, RAN reported 160,769 total registered players and 1,595,565 non-registered players.
USA – 119,682
Canada – 27,512
Mexico – 6,168
Martinique – 3,500
St. Vincent & The Grenadines – 1,806
Jamaica – 1,518
Trinidad & Tobago – 1,403
Bermuda – 794
Dominican Republic – 600
Bahamas – 529
Guyana – 522
Barbados – 425
Cayman – 410
St. Lucia – 292
Turks and Caicos – 200
British Virgin Islands – 117
Curacao – 104
As of the 2019 Rugby Americas North Review there were 134,300 participants reported, 69,500 males and 65,000 females.
Member unions
As of August 2024 Rugby Americas North has 13 full members and 4 associate members and 2 recognized regional development unions:
Regional unions (including former affiliates) without current RAN recognition:
St. Kitts and Nevis
Notes:
World Cup qualifying
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.