Brackets Locked In for 2026 Men’s Collegiate Rugby Championship National 7s

National Collegiate Rugby has officially announced the men’s brackets for the 2026 Collegiate Rugby Championship. 80 of the top collegiate programs from across the country converge on the Maryland Soccerplex in search of a national championship across four divisions.

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Men’s Division III

With last year’s champion out of the mix, the spotlight turns to top-seeded Springfield, runners-up in 2025 and 2023. Denver also looks lethal in the West Region, with last year’s leading try scorer, Anthony Rice, still blazing trails for the Pioneers. In the East, Richmond rings in at No. 1, but 2024 champ Slippery Rock and 2022 winner New Mexico Tech also look dangerous.

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Men’s Division II

Defending champion UNC-Wilmington and Miami (OH) are seeded No. 1 in their respective regions. 2022 and 2023 champion IUP sneaks into Miami’s West Region as an at-large six seed, as the Crimson Hawks are trying to send head coach Seth Erwin into retirement with one more title. Eight-seeded Norwich is hoping to send Bob Weggler into retirement with hardware after 25 years as head coach, which would require a first-round upset of Wilmington.  

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Men’s Division I-AA

Three of the last four national champions are back in the hunt, with 2025 winner N.C. State the top seed in the East, and 2024 champ Louisville No. 1 out West, where 2022 winner Sam Houston is No. 4, facing reigning XVs champion Tennessee in the opening round. Should fourth-seeded Texas A&M win it all, head coach Tui Osborne will become the first in collegiate rugby history to win national titles with three different programs.    

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Men’s Premier Cup

With just one loss, defending champion and top-seeded Wheeling looks every bit the favorite in the West. Indiana, winners of Yellow Rose 7s, Tropical 7s and the Big Ten, are No. 1 in the Midwest. Reigning XVs champion St. Bonaventure and Prusmack Award winner Manu Taula top the East region, while Fraser Leslie and Walsh are the favorites in the South. Don’t sleep on 2-seed Southern Virginia, coached by former USMNT center and Chicago Bears fullback Paul Lasike. The Knights are making just their second CRC appearance, but they knocked off St. Bonaventure and 2022 champion Kutztown to get here.

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All matches will be streamed live on NCR TV with a $19.99 All Access Pass. 

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