North Texas is joining the Red River Conference next fall, adding to the D1A rolls and evening out the RRRC to 10 teams.

The conference is currently split into two divisions, four teams in the North and five teams in the South. Scheduling for these teams has been difficult. But now with two divisions of five, the scheduling will be somewhat easier.

UNT has performed fairly well in D1AA and then as an independent, winning a bowl game in 2016 and lobbying fairly hard to join D1A.

“This is a culmination of hard work both on and off the field," North Texas head coach Michael Engelbrecht said. "Our plan is to represent the conference, the University of North Texas, and the great game of rugby to the highest of our abilities of all times.”

Interim conference commissioner Phil Terrigno said that both North Texas and Texas State have pitched to be part of the conference. Texas State was not accepted in April and hasn't been talking with the conference in a formal way since.

North Texas was engaged with the conference for almost two seasons. 

"There's always a little bit of frustration when you have to wait," Engelbrecht said. "But I totally understand where they're coming from. We needed to make sure we did what they needed us to do."

The Mean Green still had to perform on (and off) the field. North Texas' good results prompted the conference to take notice of the team, but the RRRC was also impressed with how UNT hosts teams and how it manages its venue.

"It's something that as a coaching staff and as a club we're very happy," Engelbrecht said.

Also in D1A, there are reports that American International College and Boston College are in talks to join divisions in the Liberty Conference. AIC would likely join the I-95 Division within the Liberty and BC would be considered for the New England.