NEWS
Premier Cup Qualifiers Start MA, OH
The collegiate rugby 7s season explodes into action this weekend, marking the first of two pivotal qualifier periods where twelve Automatic Qualifier tournaments will determine fifteen teams for the 2026 Collegiate National Championships. This initial slate of six tournaments offers seven coveted berths across the nation, highlighting intense matchups in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In the Men's Premier Monumental 7s in Quincy, MA, Kutztown, winners of the 2022 and 2025 events, aims for another title. Key player Jacob Stelluti, with 7 tries at Frost Bite 7s, leads the charge alongside Brown, while St. Bonaventure has already secured their Nationals bid. The Women's Premier Cup Cavalier 7s in Canton, OH, promises drama for three AQ spots, featuring Wheeling, who went 3-1 in a tune-up led by Alexis Dallas, Liz Sinatra, and Ema Tai. They'll contend with Northern Iowa's Morgan Linck and Aquinas's Lillian Stough, noted for an incredible scoring spree at Hawkeye 7s, plus hosts Walsh and Adrian. Finally, the Cowboy 7s in Pittsburgh spotlights Men's DII and DIII, with IUP’s Malcolm Johnson, who tallied nine tries at Frostbite 7s, looking to guide his youthful squad to Maryland. These high-stakes weekends are crucial for collegiate programs, providing direct pathways to national championship glory and unveiling the next generation of US rugby stars.
Eagle Women Win Elusive Podium Finish
USA Women's 7s secured an elusive podium finish in Vancouver, claiming third place after an emphatic 35-21 victory over France. The Eagles, previously finishing fourth in three straight tournaments, got over the hump, demonstrating strength and strategic play throughout Day Two of the SVNS event.
Two AQs, Premier Cup Top 7s Weekend
Collegiate rugby delivered a pivotal weekend of Automatic Qualifiers (AQs) and a Premier Cup clash, shaping the path to 7s Nationals. At the St. Patrick’s 7s, Men’s DII champions Colorado Mesa (CMU), fresh off a 111-7 tournament sweep, aimed to better their 12-0 Final Four loss; Women’s DIII champs Drury, led by USA Eagles invitee Lauren Thomlinson, sought to avenge their three-point semifinal defeat. The Terrapin 7s offered a Men’s DI-AA bid, seeing defending National Champions NC State dominate with Sunshine 7s wins over Alabama and Florida, challenged by UMass Amherst, 10-7 Final Four losers last year. Finally, the non-qualifying Queens Cup pitted Premier Cup powerhouses like two-time defending champions Wheeling, Indiana (Yellow Rose 7s Showcase winners), and Kutztown, offering US rugby fans a crucial early pecking order before Nationals. This weekend provided essential previews of teams vying for collegiate 7s glory just two months away.
Indianapolis Hosts 2026 Women's 7s Championships
Indianapolis is gearing up to host the 2026 CRAA Women’s 7s National Championships, set to electrify Kuntz Stadium on April 25-26, 2026, showcasing the pinnacle of collegiate women's rugby. This prestigious event, a collaborative effort by the College Rugby Association of America (CRAA), USA Rugby, and the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA), will gather over 30 elite programs from across the nation. Powerhouses such as Army, Harvard, Life U, and Lindenwood will clash in the Premier Division, while teams like Air Force, Stanford, and UC Berkeley headline the Challenger bracket, all vying for national glory and vital experience. Crucially, this championship provides a direct talent identification pathway for the USA Women’s Sevens National Team, aligning with 2028 Los Angeles Olympics preparations by offering unparalleled player visibility to national selectors. As CRAA Director Tiffany Lopez noted, the event elevates women's rugby and reinforces Indianapolis's aim to be a global women's sports capital, strengthening the sport's future at all levels.
USA Rugby Level 3 Coaching Applications Open
USA Rugby Training & Education has announced a vital opportunity for aspiring high-performance coaches across the nation, with applications now open for the prestigious World Rugby Level 3 Coaching course. This intensive program, running over several months and encompassing 150 notional learning hours, is meticulously designed to elevate coaches engaged in highly competitive environments, focusing on advanced player profiling, selection, game models, and intricate tactical development. Aspiring coaches must submit their applications by Sunday, March 29, 2026, to be considered for this competency-based assessment, which includes a mandatory in-person assembly in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, from August 12-14, 2026. The course fee is $795, with USA Rugby covering accommodation, meals, and transfers during the Fort Lauderdale assembly, though participants are responsible for their own travel. USA Rugby Director of Training & Education, Jamie McGregor, highlights the program's crucial role, stating it will "help us continue to develop coaches to better support our aspirational players," signifying a significant investment in raising the overall standard of rugby across the United States. This initiative is fundamental for fostering the next generation of top-tier American rugby talent.
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.
2026 Sorensen, Scholtz Nominees Announced
College rugby's brightest prospects are in the spotlight with the announcement of the 2026 MA Sorensen and Rudy Scholz Award nominees, celebrating the nation's top women's and men's collegiate players. The MA Sorensen Award, honoring USA Rugby legend MaryAnn Sorensen, a 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup winner, features an exceptional list of female athletes like Cassidy Ball (Army West Point), Lindenwood's Freda Tafuna, and Lei Opeti (Life University), all vying for the prestigious trophy presented at a Seattle gala in June. For the men, the Rudy Scholz Award, presented by the Washington Athletic Club since 2016, highlights standout talent including George Engels (Army West Point), Solomon Williams (UC Berkeley), and Dom Besag (Saint Mary's). These initial nominee lists, curated by a panel of coaches with public input, will be narrowed to a group of finalists before a selection panel votes on the ultimate winners. This process underscores the robust talent pipeline in US collegiate rugby, signaling strong prospects for the national team programs and the continued growth of the sport across the country.
USA Rugby updates Competition Eligibility Policy
USA Rugby has issued a mandatory update to its Competition Eligibility Policy, directly responding to the United States Administration’s Executive Order 14201, which the USOPC requires all National Governing Bodies to adopt. This crucial revision, approved by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), maintains USA Rugby’s NGB status and avoids sanctions, impacting all sanctioned competitions nationwide. The new policy establishes three categories: Men’s, Women’s, and an innovative Open Division. The Open Division permits any athlete, regardless of gender assigned at birth or gender identity, to compete in full-contact and non-contact USA Rugby-sanctioned events, with approval granted on a per-tournament basis. While USA Rugby acknowledges this change will significantly impact community members and may conflict with some values, it underscores its commitment to inclusivity while adhering to federal mandates like the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act, ensuring a fair and safe competition environment for US rugby.
Spring Coaching Mentorship Applications Open
National Collegiate Rugby's popular Coaching Mentorship Program has opened applications for its Spring 2026 cycle. This six-week virtual initiative, running March 9 - April 20, pairs developing coaches with experienced mentors to enhance skills, expand networks, and elevate the student-athlete experience across all NCR divisions. Applications close March 2.
CRC National 7s qualification schedule March-es onward
The collegiate rugby 7s season is accelerating into March with two critical qualifying tournaments this weekend - the Yellow Rose 7s Showcase in Houston, TX, and the Frostbite 7s in Lancaster, PA - both offering vital pathways to the Collegiate Rugby Championship National 7s. Billed as the largest national qualifier, the inaugural Yellow Rose 7s will host teams from 14 states across all four men's divisions, with Texas A&M, now under coach Tui Osborne, entering as a strong Premier contender after outscoring tune-up opponents 130-0, while Indiana, returning 14 of 15 players from last year's 13th-place CRC squad and having placed third at Sunshine 7s, will challenge along with Southern Nazarene and the University of South Carolina, who previously lost to Indiana 19-26. The Texas event also features DI-Club powerhouse Sam Houston State, DII National runners-up Montana State, and defending DIII champions UW-Eau Claire. Concurrently, the Frostbite 7s will see 2025 XVs National Champions St. Bonaventure, CRC runners-up last year with dynamic players like Koen Webb and Manulua Taula, battle Premier rivals including Belmont Abbey in the men's bracket. In the women's Premier division, AIC, fresh off their third NIRA DIII National XV's title in five years and led by top try-scorer Naomi Dodd, are favorites to secure the first qualification, making these events essential viewing for US rugby fans eager to follow the collegiate game's rising stars and future national champions.
Five Qualify for National 7s
The path to collegiate rugby glory intensified last weekend as five programs officially punched their tickets to the Collegiate Rugby Championship National 7s through automatic qualifying tournaments held across four states. In the Men’s Premier Cup, Notre Dame secured their spot by winning the Sunshine 7s in Gainesville, Florida, overcoming Aquinas 12-5 in the final after an unblemished 3-0-1 pool play performance. Host Iowa showcased incredible grit at the Women’s Division I Club Hawkeye 7s, rebounding from an opening loss to Boise State to exact revenge with a 26-17 championship victory, featuring explosive pool play scoring with 38 points against Michigan State and 35 against Purdue. The Women’s Division II saw Bowling Green dominate the Great Lakes 7s in Michigan, going a perfect 3-0, including an astounding 77-point effort against Oakland and a 49-14 final win over previously undefeated GVSU. Concurrently, UNC-Charlotte qualified as the runner-up at Sun's Out Scrum's Out, following an undefeated run in pool play and a tight 12-10 semifinal triumph over Georgia Tech. Rounding out the qualifiers, the University of Richmond captured the Men’s Division III title at the Southern 7s in North Carolina, completing a 4-0 run by defeating The Citadel 24-19 in the final. These impressive early qualifications highlight the burgeoning talent across collegiate rugby and promise an exhilarating showdown at the upcoming National 7s.
Five National 7s Qualifiers This Weekend
Collegiate 7s qualification for the 2026 Collegiate Rugby Championships is intensifying this weekend, with five crucial tickets up for grabs across various divisions nationwide. The Men's Premier Cup will crown its first qualifier at the Sunshine 7s in Gainesville, featuring strong contenders like Notre Dame and Indiana, both aiming for redemption after 2025 Sweet 16 exits. Notre Dame, who beat Harvard 28-12 but fell to Brown 24-12 last year, faces a challenge without Player of the Year candidate Jack Waterhouse and leading try-scorer Zak Banton, relying on transfers James O’Sullivan and Jack Dunne to step up. Meanwhile, Indiana, led by standout flyhalf Tommy Hannon, senior Parker Wall, and junior Matt Chevalier,brother of US Eagle Will Chevalier,will look for a big performance as they contend with Premier Cup mainstays Clemson and NC State, who famously won the DI Club National Championship last year and are now eyeing the top division. In the Women's DI-Club bracket, host Iowa, the 2025 runners-up who outscored opponents 69-12 through three rounds, seeks to secure their bid at the Hawkeye Classic 7s despite losing leading scorer Elizabeth Langlois, facing tough challenges from Purdue, who reached the Final Four last year, and Boise State with returning top-ten scorers Ella Ogletree and Leelynn Huett. This early season action is vital for collegiate rugby, showcasing the next generation of US talent and shaping the field for the national titles to come.
NCR Announces 2026 Vegas 9s Rosters
National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) has unveiled its Men's and Women's select side rosters for the Premier Division of the 2026 NRL Vegas 9s Festival, a monumental step for US collegiate rugby. This groundbreaking partnership with Australia's National Rugby League (NRL), dubbed the "NFL of Australia," will send 15 women and 15 men to compete, offering direct exposure to professional NRL and NRLW scouts for potential trials. Chosen from over 600 student-athletes evaluated at NCR’s All-Star Championships against NRL high-performance standards, these players will benefit from NRL-funded travel and individual recruiting profiles. Competing during a "Triple Header weekend" at Allegiant Stadium, days before elite NRL matches, provides a unique global platform to showcase their talent in a new rugby format, highlighted by NCR Women’s Director Alycia Washington. Ultimately, this initiative establishes a vital pathway from US college rugby to international league competition, underscoring American talent and providing fans a direct link to the professional future of US rugby stars.
Wildcats, Gators, Chanticleers Earn 1st Bids to
The first automatic bids to the 2026 Collegiate Rugby Championship have been secured, with three teams punching their tickets to the national 7s tournament at the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds from April 24-26. The Kentucky Wildcats men’s squad went 5-0 at the Pitt Dome 7s, earning their Men’s Division I Club bid with a 22-17 victory over Western Michigan, following a 40-12 semifinal win against Delaware. Meanwhile, the Florida Gators women mirrored Kentucky’s perfect 5-0 run at the Love at First Ruck 7s, becoming the first Women’s DI Club qualifier by defeating rival Florida State 17-12, including a 46-0 shutout against Citadel. Lastly, Coastal Carolina’s women secured their inaugural Women’s DII bid, going unbeaten to capture the Love at First Ruck DII title with a 29-17 win over South Florida, after outscoring pool opponents 100-20. These qualifications ignite an exciting journey for the 144 teams aspiring for national glory, setting a high standard for US collegiate rugby fans.
Team Stripes Wins Inaugural Women's Championship
The inaugural Women’s XV’s All-Star Championship delivered thrilling competition on a frigid Atlanta day, ultimately crowning Team Stripes as its first-ever champions with a commanding 3-0 record. Led by University of Virginia’s Nancy Kechner, recipient of a US Women’s Rugby Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, Team Stripes demonstrated remarkable consistency and skill across their grueling three-game schedule, amassing 12 table points and the highest point differential of 32-31 over Team Hawks. Their journey to the title included a tight 14-10 victory over Team Hawks, sealed by two successful conversions from James Madison’s Nora Richards, and a decisive 28-12 win against a strong Team Stars roster in the finale, featuring tries from Southern Nazarene hooker Lauren Anderson, Purdue’s Tiara Mason, and UVA's Kate Delaney. Virginia fly-half Milena Keene, who also scored a try against the Stars, was rightly named the tournament's inaugural XV's MVP, standing out among a field of top talent from programs like Northern Iowa's Emma Hastings and Brown's Caitlin Moroney. This groundbreaking event, despite being truncated to one day, clearly showcased the depth of talent in collegiate women's rugby, signaling a bright and competitive future for the sport in the United States.
Women’s All-Stars Swarm Atlanta
The Women’s All-Star Championship is set to ignite Silverbacks Park in Atlanta this Saturday, bringing together 394 of the nation's premier college rugby players and coaches for a thrilling one-day showcase. Originally planned as a two-day event, the entire schedule has been condensed due to inclement weather, promising an action-packed Saturday for fans. This landmark championship will feature both XVs and 7s competitions for the first time, with four formidable XVs sides,the Hawks, Bison, Stars, and Stripes,battling for an inaugural title in a round-robin format, while 17 conferences vie in the 7s knockout stages across six pools. The XVs rosters are loaded with talent, including Stars standout Alexis Dallas from 2024 national champions Wheeling, DII Player of the Year finalist Kate Boggs (Coast Guard), DI finalist Natalie Lamar (St. Bonaventure), DIII POY finalist Julia Nilsen (East Stroudsburg) for the Bison, and DI POY finalist Lauren Anderson (Southern Nazarene) leading the Stripes. In the competitive 7s, defending champions Lonestar, featuring DI POY candidate Telesi Uhatafe, will be challenged in what's dubbed the "pool of death," Pool D, showcasing POY finalists Isabel Henderson (Notre Dame) and Piper Lee (Colorado School of Mines). This event is crucial for US rugby, offering a vital glimpse into the next generation of women's stars and significantly elevating the collegiate game's profile.
Collegiate Rugby Unveils Women's Player Awards
National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) has proudly unveiled its 2025 Women’s Player of the Year Award winners, spotlighting exceptional talent from across its four competitive divisions after a rigorous selection process involving nearly 7,000 players from 300 teams. Southern Nazarene junior Telesi Uhatafe, an explosive center, earned the Division I honor after an incredible five-try performance in the national championship game, powering the Crimson Storm to an 82-21 victory over Northern Iowa and their first program title, fresh off training with the 7s national team. Division I-AA’s Molly McAlevey, a Northeastern senior No. 8, capped a dominant year with a 15s national championship, adding to a 7s title and an NCR All-American tour in England, proving to be the constant heartbeat of her Huskies squad. Resilient Coast Guard senior Kate Boggs, a Division II No. 8, secured her award by leading the Bears to their first XVs national title with five playoff tries, including one in their 51-12 championship win against Wisconsin Eau Claire, remarkably after recovering from a broken leg. Meanwhile, Colorado School of Mines sophomore fullback Piper Lee claimed the Division III accolade, averaging two tries per game in the playoffs to guide her team to their inaugural national championship, showcasing incredible field vision and attacking prowess. These outstanding athletes exemplify the remarkable growth and competitiveness within collegiate women’s rugby, serving as vital leaders and ambassadors for the sport's bright future in the US.
Important Schedule Update - Women’s All-Star Championship
National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) has announced a significant schedule alteration for the upcoming Women’s All-Star Championship in Atlanta, prioritizing player safety due to extreme weather forecasted for Sunday, January 25th. All collegiate rugby action will now be consolidated into an extended single day of play on Saturday, January 24th, utilizing three match fields to ensure the full completion of the championship safely while maintaining its high standard of competition. Under the revised format, XVs teams will each play three matches on Saturday, with each contest featuring two 20-minute halves of intense, fast-paced rugby. The 7s competition will adopt a modified pool play structure, culminating in knockout rounds, guaranteeing each team a minimum of four matches. For fans unable to attend in Atlanta, NCR remains committed to providing a comprehensive live stream, with stadium matches accessible via a weekend pass on NCR TV and outer field games broadcast on the NCR YouTube channel, allowing US rugby fans to witness the future stars without interruption from the elements.
NCR Announces Women's Pathways, Portugal Return
National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) recently announced significant new pathways for women’s rugby at its 2026 Women’s All-Star Championship in Atlanta, where 340 elite collegiate athletes converged for a crucial scouting showcase. This high-intensity event served as a centralized hub for identifying talent for national camps and professional opportunities, including preparing the NCR Women’s High-Performance 7s team for their return to Portugal’s prestigious Algarve 7s (June 5-7), aiming for a title after last year's finals run. Further expanding professional pathways, NCR enhanced its partnership with Australia’s NRL, sending 15 standout athletes to form the NRLW-NCR Select Team for a fully-funded invitation to the Vegas 9s Tournament in late February, offering direct auditions and potential trials in Australia with the NRLW. Combined with a summer XVs cycle including an international match in mid-August, these initiatives, as NCR Women’s Director Alycia Washington stated, represent a “fundamental shift” making the professional rugby pathway “more visible or more attainable” for US talent.
North Run Table in Rising Stars
The North region utterly dominated the Rising Stars Championship in Atlanta, sweeping their competition with a perfect 3-0 record to claim the title. Thomas College scrumhalf Conor Tierney was named tournament MVP for his stellar performance, expertly guiding the North's offense and contributing seven conversions and two penalties. Their journey saw a 13-5 win over the South, a 26-12 semifinal triumph against the East,with AIC center Otsile Maphosa scoring two tries,and a decisive 43-12 final over the West, highlighted by two key tries from Thomas College flanker George Pelter. Elsewhere, Kentucky's Nate Ingolls of the East led the competition with six tries, while North Alabama's Mohale Maolibeli and South Carolina's Landen Day scored two tries each in the South's 41-24 win for third place. This crucial collegiate showcase provides an invaluable platform for identifying and developing the next generation of talent, making it a cornerstone event for the future of US rugby.