The 2025-2026 national championship schedule is set, including key dates and venues for the major XVs and 7s competitions across men’s and women’s divisions.

‍

Building on the momentum of the 2024-2025 season—which saw significant growth in new clubs and a continued expansion of the college rugby fan base—this season is poised for even greater impact. Strong adoption of the NCR app during last year’s championship events and conference play has led to its expansion for use throughout the regular season. Over 30,000 fans attended postseason and championship events last season, with ticket sales increasing by 15%, underscoring the rising popularity of college rugby.

‍

The upcoming season will once again showcase the nation’s top collegiate rugby talent, culminating in five premier championship events held in three major rugby markets: Houston, Atlanta, and the Washington, D.C. metro area.

‍

Following the 2025 XVs conference seasons, nearly 100 men’s and women’s teams will qualify for the “Road to Houston.” Fall XVs season reaches its pinnacle in December at the Women’s and Men’s XVs National Championships, both returning to SaberCats Stadium, home of Major League Rugby’s Houston SaberCats. These back-to-back weekends highlight the highest level of collegiate XVs competition.

‍

In January, the All-Star competitions will bring together standout players from across the nation. Silverbacks Park in Atlanta will again host both the Men’s National Shield Challenge and the Women’s 7s National Cup, continuing to provide a high-performance pathway for elite student-athletes.

‍

The championship season wraps up in April with the Collegiate Rugby Championship, the largest college 7s tournament in the country. Held at the Maryland SoccerPlex, the three-day event features 144 men’s and women’s teams competing for national titles across multiple divisions.

‍

Championship Schedule

• Women’s XVs National Championship
  December 6-7, 2025
  SaberCats Stadium – Houston, TX
  
  
• Men’s XVs National Championship
  December 12-14, 2025
  SaberCats Stadium – Houston, TX
  
  
• Men’s All Stars – National Shield Challenge
  January 17-18, 2026
  Silverbacks Park – Atlanta, GA
  
  
• Women’s All Stars – 7s National Cup
  January 24-25, 2026
  Silverbacks Park – Atlanta, GA
  
  
• Collegiate Rugby Championship – National 7s
  April 24-26, 2026
  Maryland SoccerPlex – Boyds, MD
  
  

During the 2024-2025 season, NCR’s championship events were streamed to over 200,000 unique devices, while 75,000 fans followed along on social media and 35,000 engaged through the NCR app. NCR anticipated even greater growth over the 25-26 season. 

‍

Further details on qualification pathways and regional locations will be announced in the coming months.