There is a lot of rugby activity in the fall, and this post is an overview of what’s already underway and to come during the rest of 2026. In terms of coverage, those competitions that culminate in championships during the fall are prioritized. But there are many split-season leagues that will get a mention and then more concentrated attention in the new year. [lead photo: Boise State has won its first DI-AA High Peaks game of the season / Jackie Finlan]

COLLEGE

The majority of 15s titles are named in the fall between the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) and National Collegiate Rugby (NCR). Both competitions will name their respective champions in multiple divisions. Additionally, College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) will hold some exhibition matches at the Fall Classic, and a couple of conferences will actually name their 7s champions that will advance to CRAA nationals in April.

NIRA is the primary competition for NCAA varsity programs, although there are a number of teams that now compete in NCR (read more). DI is the most robust and has already closed on two weeks of league games. There is also a quartet of DI teams (La Salle, Long Island, Mount St. Mary’s, Princeton) that from the outset of the season have declared themselves ineligible for the playoffs. They’ll play each other and then “sub-varsity,” or B, sides of other DI programs.

DII also has a championship pathway, and its reigning champion, AIC, is competing toward a DI berth this year. With DIII playing mixed-format rugby, Bowdoin is again playing up with the three other DII teams — Davenport, Frostburg, West Chester — that are postseason eligible. Read more: NIRA & NCR varsity tracker.

NCR represents the majority of women’s college rugby programs in the country. There are four divisions (DI, DI-AA, DII, DIII) that will name conference champions, move through regionals (Nov 13-15) and then appear at nationals (Dec. 4-6, Houston). Learn more. NCR does a really nice job of tracking their competitions throughout the fall, posting rankings and Friday Night Lights games. Follow along at @nationalcollegiaterugby.

It’s also worth noting that while the fall 15s season approaches its end, NCR conferences will simultaneously be mobilizing for the 7s and 15s all-star tournaments in mid-January in Kissimmee, Fla. Squad lists will start posting in December and fill that winter break nicely.

CRAA names its women’s 15s champions in the spring but this year’s Fall Classic in December will feature at least one women’s match. More information to come. As mentioned, there are a couple of leagues — e.g., Pacific Desert and Pacific Mountain — will hold their 7s qualifiers for nationals in April.

SENIOR CLUB

USA Club Rugby‘s Super Regionals and nationals occur in the spring, but two leagues will name champions for those post-seasons before the year ends. The Midwest started down that path on Aug. 22. DI and DII will progress through their respective regular seasons and then DI has crossover semifinals Nov. 7 and finals Nov. 14. The much larger DII has an extra layer of playoffs — quarterfinals on Oct. 31 — and then follows the same playoff format as DI. DIII is also back with the festival circuit.

The Northeast was not far behind in terms of kickoff dates in August. New England‘s DII is robust this year with the addition of New Haven and Danbury, formerly of the Empire GU. Both DII and DIII will hold semifinals on Oct. 31 and finals on Nov. 7. DII and DIII champs will advance to Atlantic Super Regionals in the spring, but DIII does not continue onto nationals.

Empire is also active and will name its champ on Nov. 14. The multi-titled DIII champ, Union County, has bumped up to DII and we’re eager to see how the Mudturtles reinforce that league.

As mentioned, there are many split seasons in the USA Club Rugby sphere, and it’s really only leagues in NorCal and the Southwest that concentrate their entire 15s league play to the spring. It’s a long season and weekly scores are recorded here.

HIGH SCHOOL

Four states host their primary competitions in the fall: Michigan and Wisconsin for 15s, and Colorado and Iowa for 7s. Be mindful that there is a lot of high school rugby happening, almost exclusively 7s, and they are considered state champions. But the aforementioned states have all of their athletes focused on the fall, whereas other states might have a developmental focus, condensed schedule and/or missing players to other sports like soccer.

Idaho is a caveat. While 15s is still the main season, there is a school district-sponsored competition in the fall, and it’s legit. After naming a champ, the state will host a regional tournament for single-school teams in late October. Colorado plays club 15s in the spring, Wisconsin also has a spring 7s series, but again, fall holds a bit more focus.

With that said, the fall 7s season will 100% be covered, because it keeps so many states in motion — Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina, Indiana, NorCal, Oregon and Washington, and many more.

There are some high-level tournaments that keep everyone engaged — New York 7s and LIT 7s are on the same weekend. EGRL and the Midwest Thunderbirds are always buzzing. Right around the new year, SoCal gets its 7s competitions moving, and the 15s West Circuit stokes early excitement for the spring rugby to come.

USA

Can’t forget the Eagles and USA Pathways teams, which are active this fall! The Women’s National Team has five tests through the WXV Global Series and will feature in Ireland, Wales and the U.S. through September and October.

The Youth Olympic Games occur in Senegal in late October-early November and that U18 squad is coming together now. It’s 7s. In December, the U18s will return to New Zealand for Global Youth 7s.

MISC

There are always surprise additions to the calendar and TRB attempts to track it all. But feel free to message Jackie Finlan with omissions and/or suggestions for coverage. When it comes to girls and women’s rugby in the U.S., TRB is happy to feature everyone.