Charles River Women’s+ Rugby was founded in 2005, the same year the club celebrated a new era of growth. Formed by determined alumnae of Northeastern University seeking a competitive and community driven alternative within Boston rugby, the Lady Rats quickly established themselves as the sister side to the Charles River Rugby Football Club, founded in 1973. From the outset, the Women’s+ team combined on field ambition with the strong social culture that defines the club.

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The inaugural 2005 season was an immediate success. Fielding a competitive squad in every match, the Lady Rats posted a winning record and laid the groundwork for rapid progress. In just their second year of competition, the Women’s+ Rats completed an undefeated Division III season in 2007, finishing atop the table and earning promotion to Division II.

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League realignment within the New England Rugby Football Union in 2009 returned Charles River to Division III, but the setback proved temporary. In May 2011, the Women’s+ side captured the Division III championship after once again finishing at the top of the standings. With growing numbers and skill, the team moved back to Division II in the fall of 2012 and began establishing itself as a strong and consistent competitor.

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Building momentum in Division II, Charles River advanced to its first playoffs in 2014. The following year marked another milestone as the team finished second in NERFU and ranked among the top sixteen Division II teams in the nation under USA Rugby competition. In 2017, the Women’s+ Rats returned to the playoffs for the second time in club history, advancing to the second round.

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The club’s fifteenth anniversary arrived in 2020 during the “lost year” of canceled competition, postponing planned celebrations but not diminishing pride in the program’s growth. From a scrappy startup in 2005 to a respected Division II contender, Charles River Women’s+ Rugby has built a legacy of resilience, competitive excellence, and inclusive community. Today, the Women’s+ Rats compete in Division III, carrying forward the spirit and determination of the club’s foremothers while shaping the next chapter of Charles River rugby.