8 Qualify in Texas, PA, DC

Eight teams punched their tickets to the Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) Nationals this past weekend, setting a thrilling pace for the upcoming national championship. In Houston, Indiana dominated the Men's Premier Cup with a 5-0 record, defeating Southern Nazarene 38-7, while Sam Houston bested Baylor 30-14 for the DI Club bid. Denver also secured the DIII title with a 17-5 win over Montana State, who additionally qualified in DII. Across the Frostbite 7s in Lancaster, PA, St. Bonaventure clinched a Men’s Premier Cup spot, but American International College (AIC) truly impressed in the Women’s Premier Cup, going undefeated with commanding shutouts, including a 36-0 final victory against Long Island, becoming the first qualifier in their division. Meanwhile, James Madison claimed the Women's DI Club berth at the Bison Brawl in D.C., finishing 4-0 and topping North Carolina 12-5, with the University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA) also earning a Women's DII bid from the Lonestar qualifier. These strong performances underscore the fierce competition defining the road to the CRC.