After an eight year-run, Ralph Lauren Rugby, the preppy collegiate offshoot of Ralph Lauren, is calling it quits. Effective February 2, 2013, the e-commerce site Rugby.com will shut down, and 14 RLR stores in the U.S. and abroad–including London and Japan–will close their doors. Ralph Lauren Rugby launched in 2004 on Newbury Street in Boston as a sportif, Ivy League-inspired line aimed at the 25 and under crowd. In 2011, Rugby opened up its first boutique across the pond in London’s Covent Garden. Moving forward, Ralph Lauren Corp. plans to focus on the core Ralph Lauren brand.
