On Friday-Saturday, May 15-16, more than 700 rugby players will fill the Regional Athletic Complex pitches in Salt Lake City, site of the 2026 Girls’ High School National 15s Tournament. The annual event also features a middle school division, and thus four 15s champions will be named after two days of competition: single school, high school club tiers 1 and 2, and middle school. [lead photo: @shotsbywatts]

As one might expect, Utah is the best represented state at nationals. It’s home to former high school club champions Majestics and United, but Utah Youth Rugby has also pumped a lot of effort into developing this age grade. Read more from UYR President Alex Nunnally, who is also overseeing the referees at nationals and has arranged for some top talent to be flown into Salt Lake City.

Another seven Utah sides will also feature at nationals: Layton Christian Academy (LCA), Herriman, Provo, Salt Lake Venom, Wasatch, Westlake Drua and Westside Lions. United, Majestics, LCA and Westlake Drua have also entered teams into the middle school division.

California as a state has four teams in Salt Lake City; but more accurately, there is the top SoCal side in two-time reigning high school club champion, and top-three NorCal teams in the SacAir Amazons, San Mateo Wolverines and the Sacramento Harlequins. The Bay Area’s East Palo Alto is competing in the middle school division, as is Belmont Shore and Wolverines.

Eagle High School is the two-time reigning single-school champion and will be traveling to Utah with a second side for Tier 2. The Mustangs are joined by nationals returners Meridian and Rocky Mountain, which have national finals experience.

Kahuku is back in the mix after several years’ hiatus and the Hawaiians represents the farthest-west team at nationals. It’s a welcome return for the former single-school champion, back when the Raiders were led by the late, great Nusi Tukuafu. Colorado’s Summit High School pumps up the single-school lineup as well and last participated at 15s nationals in 2022.

Representing Montana is nationals first-timer Hydra out of Helena Valley. Heavyweight Divine Savior Holy Angels is the sole Midwest representative and brings double-digit national titles with them from Wisconsin. And then City Honors out of Buffalo, N.Y., is the lone rep from the East Coast and was happy to make the long trip now that the tournament moved from Madison, Wis.

Six high school programs are also bringing middle school teams for the 15s division. East Palo Alto is heading to Salt Lake City for its debut in the middle school competition as well.

Competition format, pools, schedule and more are being finalized so stay tuned.

MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMS

• Belmont Shore, SoCal
• EPA Razorhawks, NorCal
• Layton Christian Academy, Utah
• Majestics, Utah
• San Mateo Wolverines, NorCal
• United, Utah
• Westlake Drua, Utah

HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS

• Belmont Shore, SoCal
• City Honors, New York
• Divine Savior Holy Angels H.S., Wisconsin
• Eagle H.S., Idaho
• Herriman, Utah
• Hydra, Montana
• Kahuku, Hawaii, Utah
• Layton Christian Academy
• Majestics, Utah
• Meridian, Idaho
• Provo, Utah
• Rocky Mountain, Idaho
• SacAir Amazons, NorCal
• Sacramento Harlequins, NorCal
• Salt Lake Venom, Utah
• San Mateo Wolverines, NorCal
• Summit H.S., Colorado
• United, Utah
• Wasatch, Utah
• Westlake Drua, Utah
• Westside Lions, Utah