The 2026 USA Club Rugby 15s season is culminating May 15-17 in Lemont, Ill., and the national semifinals for all divisions are set now that the Super Regional Championships (SRCs) have concluded. For the women’s competitions, Division I and Division II will name national champions, and all games will be live-streamed on USA Club Rugby’s YouTube channel (@usaclubrugby). [lead photo: Jackie Finlan / TRB]

 

DIVISION I

FRI MAY 15 SEMIFINALS
All times CT
3 p.m. Utah Vipers v San Diego (field 2)
4 p.m. Life Univ v NOVA (field 1)

Reigning national champion Utah Vipers and San Diego will contest the first DI semifinal on Friday, May 15. The Surfers won the Pacific SRC (April 24-26, Henderson, Nev.) and did so as the SoCal #2 seed, beating Seattle 33-5 and Berkeley 48-22 to earn its berth to the national semifinals.

Interestingly, the Utah Vipers played out of the Pacific SRC last year and that alignment would have logistically been much more favorable in 2026. Instead of driving to Las Vegas for the Pacific SRC and having three weeks to recoup for nationals, the Vipers flew to Chicago last weekend for one game against Midwest champ Chicago North Shore. A fantastic game evolved in Lemont, and Utah stuck out a North Shore comeback in a 31-24 Northern SRC final win. The Vipers will now return to Chicago in fewer than two weeks for the national semifinals.

On the other side of the bracket, Life University secured its semifinal spot on April 25, defeating sHARC 55-19 in Austin for the Gulf Coast SRC title. 2025-26 marks the Running Eagles’ first-ever club season and the trip to Lemont will be the program’s third national title chase of the spring.

The Marietta, Ga., team will face Atlantic SRC titleholder NOVA in the national semifinals. The Virginia side beat New York 43-21 last Saturday and then Philadelphia 36-24 in Sunday’s win. Philly had beaten NOVA in the regular season so it was a redemptive win for the former national champion. NOVA also featured in the DI final against Utah last year.

The national championship will be held Sunday.

NORTHERN SUPER REGIONAL
Times in Central • Livestream

DIVISION I
Saturday Championship
Utah Vipers 31-24 Chicago North Shore

ATLANTIC SUPER REGIONAL
Times in Eastern • Livestream

DIVISION I
Saturday Semifinals
NOVA 43-21 New York
Philadelphia 55-0 D.C. Furies

Sunday Semifinals
3rd: D.C. Furies 50-17 New York
Championship: NOVA 36-24 Philly

DIVISION II

SAT MAY 16 SEMIFINALS
All times CT
12 p.m. Life West v Milwaukee Scylla (field 1)
1 p.m. Phoenixville v Tampa Bay (field 2)

The Milwaukee Scylla put in a dominant performance for the Northern SRC title. The Wisconsin side beat the Salt City (Utah) Slugs 62-12 in Saturday’s semifinals and then fellow Midwest team South Buffalo 42-5 in Sunday’s final. The Scylla will face Pacific SRC titleholder Life West in the national semifinals. The Gladiatrix beat Portland 42-24 and Las Vegas 29-12 on April 25-26 for the berth to Lemont. Life West is a former DI and DII national champion, winning DI titles in 2017 and 2018, and a DII trophy in 2016. Stay tuned for Tyra Norlander interview.

On the other side of the bracket are nationals returners Phoenixville White Horse and Tampa Bay Krewe. The former repeated as the top team in the Atlantic SRC, beating Severn River 34-22 on Saturday and New Haven 27-22 on Sunday. White Horse has featured in the previous two DII national finals, and in 2024 fell to Tampa Bay for the trophy. The Florida champion took the Gulf Coast SRC crown on April 25-26, beating Charlotte 31-21 and then Knoxville 60-10 for the spot to nationals in Lemont.

All national finals are on Sunday, May 17.

NORTHERN SUPER REGIONAL
Times in Central • Livestream

DIVISION II
Saturday Semifinals
Milwaukee Scylla 62-12 Utah Slugs
South Buffalo 44-34 St. Louis

Sunday Championship
Milwaukee Scylla 42-5 South Buffalo

ATLANTIC SUPER REGIONAL
Times in Eastern • Livestream

DIVISION II
Saturday Semifinals
Phoenixville 34-22 Severn River
New Haven 25-5 Providence

Sunday Finals
3rd: Severn River 38-17 Providence
Championship: Phoenixville 27-22 New Haven

DIVISION III

There is no Division III national championship for women but the Gulf Coast and Atlantic SRCs host their own championships for members. The Atlantic is the best established and saw Portland repeat after a 52-7 semifinal win against York & Lancaster and 38-5 victory against Frederick. Battleship took home the Gulf Coast trophy on April 25-26, topping Dallas Reds 24-12 and Southwest Hammerheads 75-5 for its first podium finish.

NORTHERN SUPER REGIONAL
Times in Central • Livestream

DIVISION I
Saturday Championship
Utah Vipers 31-24 Chicago North Shore

DIVISION II
Saturday Semifinals
Milwaukee Scylla 62-12 Utah Slugs
South Buffalo 44-34 St. Louis

Sunday Championship
Milwaukee Scylla 42-5 South Buffalo

ATLANTIC SUPER REGIONAL
Times in Eastern • LivestreamSaturday Semifinals
Portland 52-7 York & Lancaster
Frederick 43-36 Union

Sunday Finals
3rd: Union 38-5 York & Lancaster
Championship: Portland 38-5 Frederick