How Rugby Riot calculates the most accurate high school rugby rankings in America
Every team starts the season with 2,000 points. As teams play games, they earn or lose points based on how they perform. The better you play against strong opponents, the more points you earn.
Rankings are updated after every game is recorded, so you always see the most current standings.
The outcome of the game is the most important factor:
| Result | Base Points |
|---|---|
| Win | +50 points |
| Tie | +15 points |
| Loss | +5 points |
Yes, even losses earn a small amount - you showed up and competed!
Beyond just winning, we reward teams that score points and play solid defense:
💡 This means a 35-7 win is worth more than a 14-10 win, even though both are victories.
Every team has a "C-Value" that represents how strong they are, ranging from 1.0 to 6.0:
| C-Value | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 5.0 - 6.0 | Highest strength rating |
| 4.0 - 4.9 | Very high strength rating |
| 3.0 - 3.9 | Above average strength rating |
| 2.0 - 2.9 | Average strength rating |
| 1.0 - 1.9 | Below average strength rating |
At the start of each season, teams carry over their C-Value from the previous year. This prevents wild ranking swings early in the season.
When you play a tough opponent, you earn bonus points just for taking them on:
| Opponent's C-Value | Bonus Points |
|---|---|
| 5.0+ | +50 points |
| 4.0 - 4.9 | +40 points |
| 3.0 - 3.9 | +30 points |
| 2.0 - 2.9 | +20 points |
| 1.0 - 1.9 | +10 points |
💡 Both teams in a game receive this bonus. Playing strong opponents benefits everyone!
Here's where it gets interesting: teams exchange points based on their performance in each game.
We calculate each team's "game score" by adding up their win points, offensive points, and defensive points, then adjusting based on opponent strength.
The difference between the two teams' game scores determines how many points transfer from one team to the other.
If Team A outperforms Team B by 100 adjusted points in a game, Team A gains ~100 ranking points while Team B loses ~100 points. This keeps the total points in the system balanced.
Games are processed in the order they were played. This means:
Forfeits are handled simply:
Forfeits are recorded as 0-0 scores with a forfeit flag.
A common question we get: "Why is that team ranked higher than us when we beat them?"
The answer often comes down to games played. Each game is an opportunity to earn points through:
Team A has played 20 games while Team B has played 8. Even if Team B beat Team A head-to-head, Team A had 12 more opportunities to accumulate points. If Team A performed well in those extra games, they could still have a higher total.
💡 Of course, more games also means more chances to lose points. A team that plays a lot but loses frequently will see their ranking drop. The system rewards teams that play often and perform well.
We track both school-based programs and club teams. You can filter the rankings to see:
We're happy to help! Reach out to us at hi@rugbyriot.com and we'll get back to you.
Check out the latest rankings and find your team!
View Rankings