PRESS RELEASE – National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) will host the 2021 Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) on Memorial Day Weekend, crowning men’s and women’s 7s national champions in conjunction with an all-star 10s competition.
The CRC has been the crown jewel of collegiate rugby since 2010, putting the sport on the big stage via national television and major league stadiums and serving as the proving grounds for dozens of future Olympians and pros, like Nate Ebner, Madison Hughes and Danny Barrett.
Now owned and operated by NCR, the membership home to more than two-thirds of college rugby, the CRC is poised for a rebirth as a true national championship.
“National Collegiate Rugby is about the player experience, first and foremost, and we are thrilled to welcome the CRC, which has provided an unparalleled stage to so many for so long, to the home of college rugby,” NCR CEO Jeremy Treece said.
All NCR members are eligible for selection to the 10s representative sides, and all member teams are eligible for selection to the 2021 CRC, though they will have to comply with event-specific COVID protocols and provide signed consent from school administration. A selection committee will be assigned the task of choosing the final 32 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams to compete in CRC May Madness 7s.
“We are committed to providing the best championship experience possible in 2021, and that begins and ends with safety. We are diligently working with all appropriate parties to assure we provide the safest environment possible for rugby student-athletes to return to competition in a meaningful way,” Clifton said.
Teams with administrative approval to play rugby this spring can apply for consideration here. Coaches of NCR member teams with players interested in participating in the Rep. 10s competition should contact their conference commissioners, and interested players should contact their coaches.