July 14, 2026 — In partnership with USA Rugby, the Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA) is pleased to announce the official 2026–27 playoff and National Championship Series schedule, highlighted by the return of premier championship events and expanded national competition opportunities. [lead graphic: USA Rugby]

Following a massive year for men’s and women’s CRAA championship events in 2025-26, where broadcast viewership, social media impact and competitive rugby reached new highs; CRAA and USA Rugby are proud to further partner on momentum into the next year. The 2026-27 season is positioned to be a turning point for college rugby as added resource and investment are projected to elevate competitions, development, marketing and the overall student-athlete experience across all CRAA clubs and programs.

“We’re pleased to confirm the postseason and championship calendar early this year; allowing administrators, coaches and players the proper amount of preview to organize and compete in another exciting year of college rugby,” CRAA president Paul Keeler said. “The 2025-26 season set new benchmarks for CRAA, so we’re excited to finalize this competition framework and continue momentum toward high-performing teams and improved experiences for student-athletes.”

“College rugby will come into focus in 2026-27, where this finalized competition calendar is a key step toward USA Rugby partnering with CRAA to elevate the college game,” USA Rugby CEO Bill Goren added. “We are excited to inject further resources with CRAA this upcoming season, geared toward establishing the necessary foundations to drive the best standards in college rugby and provide value to the hardworking individuals in the community.”

Fall Classic Returns to Spartanburg

The CRAA Fall Classic will return to the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on December 4–6, 2026. This annual 15s showcase will once again serve as a key milestone in the collegiate rugby calendar, featuring top-level competition and national exposure. An exciting slate of men’s and women’s bowl games are again expected for the 2026 edition, opening the door for elite cross-conference and international collegiate matchups student athletes don’t traditionally get to experience.

Women’s 15s Postseason & National Championships

Regular and postseason competition will all lead to April 10, 2027, as the CRAA Women’s 15s National Championships return to showcase programs competing for national titles in Division 1 and Division 2. Following the 2026 championship that was paired with the Pacific Four Series, CRAA and USA Rugby will again explore opportunities to create ties between the collegiate championship and USA Eagles. These championship fixtures represent a key milestone in the women’s collegiate calendar and continue CRAA’s commitment toward elevating the women’s 15s championship pathway.

Related: ’26 DI Champ Life Univ (Azhinaye Barner) • ‘26 DII Champ San Jose State (Ania Simmons)

Returning in 2027 will be the Women’s D1 Challenger Cup, pairing the two semifinal runner-up teams on championship weekend. The Challenger Cup acts as a third place match and creates another opportunity for teams to compete in a championship arena, gaining further meaningful match play against top teams. Location for the April 10 National Championship is to be confirmed.

Related: ’26 Challenger Champ Stanford (Cara Feit)

2027 Women’s D1 Postseason Pathway
● Regional Quarterfinals and Semifinals: March 25-28
● Division 1 Challenger Cup: April 10
● National Championship: April 10

2027 Women’s D2 Postseason Pathway
● Conference Play and Championships: Completes March 25-28
● National Championship: April 10

Women’s 7s Championship

For the first time since 2023, the Men’s and Women’s USA College 7s National Championships will compete together for a premier event and festival, April 22-25 at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis. By recombining both championships into one weekend, CRAA expands the festival nature of a 7s championship and delivers an improved experience for student-athletes, fans and partners alike.

Related: ’26 7s Premier Champ Life (Hattie Greenwood) • Challenger 7s Champ UCSB (Kelly Griffin)

Qualification for the 2027 national championships will follow a conference championship structure and at-large applications for both men’s and women’s brackets. At-large applications are expected to open in fall of 2026.

2027 USA Rugby College 7s National Championships
April 22-25 • Indianapolis, Ind.

For more information on the men’s playoff and championship events, read the full press release here.