The Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) is an annual college rugby sevens tournament. The CRC capitalized on the surge in popularity of rugby at major universities following the 2009 announcement of the addition of rugby sevens to the Summer Olympics. The CRC (called Collegiate Championship Invitational in its first year, 2010) began as an independent competition run by USA Sevens, LLC, owned by American International Media LLC.In 2005, USA Rugby sold a 90% interest in USA Sevens, LLC to American International Media, LLC, with USA Rugby retaining the remaining 10% ownership interest. See USA Rugby, Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, 2010 It was the highest profile college rugby sevens competition in the United States, with the tournament broadcast live on NBC from 2010 to 2017 and on ESPN News and ESPN3 in 2018 and 2019. The CRC as it existed during this period has been called "the old CRC". Beginning in 2021, the tournament has been organized by National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) for its member schools under license for the name and logo. It was broadcast by Rugby Network in 2021 and 2023 and CBS Sports in 2022. Since the CRC franchise was licensed to NCR, the tournament has primarily featured comparatively smaller universities. USA Rugby, the older rival of NCR, conducts its separate collegiate sevens championship annually, organized by its arm, the College Rugby Association of America.
Format and qualifying The tournament has expanded since its inaugural competition, which featured sixteen sides, to include thirty-two sides competing in all divisions for both men and women in the 2024 tournament. The competition was played over the course of two days. Instead of the typical pool play seeding that was done in prior years, there were now cup and plate brackets. This format ensured that every game had to be won to secure the championship title. The first round held 16 matches, and the 8 winners from that would advance to the cup brackets and the losers to the bowl and shield brackets. This sorting of teams would continue until two were left in the cup bracket for a championship game.
The majority of the participating teams are invited to the tournament based on winning a qualifying tournament recognized by the National Collegiate Rugby. Teams can also participate by getting an at-large bid from the Collegiate Rugby Championship Committee.
History The inaugural 2010 Collegiate Rugby Championship, at the time known as the Collegiate Championship Invitational (CCI), was held in Columbus, Ohio, at the Columbus Crew Stadium. Utah defeated Cal 31–26 in overtime in a thrilling final. Bowling Green's Rocco Mauer led the tournament with 11 tries and was named tournament MVP by Rugby Mag.Bleacher Report, College Rugby: Utah Upsets Cal To Win Sevens Title, June 7, 2010, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/402408-college-rugby-utah-upsets-cal-to-win-sevens-championship
The 2011 Collegiate Rugby Championship moved to PPL Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NBC increased their coverage over the previous year, devoting 14 hours of coverage to the tournament.Philly.com, Rugby sevens championships to get plenty of TV exposure, June 2, 2011, Rugby Mag, CRC to Return to PPL Park in 2012, June 5, 2011, http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1151:crc-to-return-to-ppl-park-in-2012&catid=73:collegiate-sevens&Itemid=91 California and Arizona were favored after cruising to victories in the first day of pool play, but both were knocked out in quarterfinal upsets. Ultimately, Dartmouth beat Army 32–10 in the final.
Due to the strong support from Philadelphia fans and its Pennsylvania-based title sponsorship, Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, the CRC remained in Philadelphia through 2019. Beginning in 2021, after a year's absence, the tournament has been organized by National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) for its member schools under license for the name and logo. It moved to New Orleans in 2021 and was played at the Gold Mine on Airline. That venue again hosted the tournament for the 2022 edition, with television coverage provided by CBS Sports. Having previously been held in late Spring, the 2023 tournament was moved to late April and the venue once again changed to the Maryland SoccerPlex in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
Past results
Men's Cup
Year Venue Final Bronze*Winner Score Runner-upWinnerScore Runner-up2010Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, OHUtah31–26CaliforniaArizonaSan Diego State2011 PPL Park, Chester, PADartmouth32–10ArmyUtah12–10Central Washington2012 PPL Park, Chester, PADartmouth24–5ArizonaCalifornia26–7Life University2013 PPL Park, Chester, PA California 19–17 Life UniversityNavyUCLA 2014 PPL Park, Chester, PA California 24–21 Kutztown Life University UCLA 2015 PPL Park, Chester, PA California 17–12 Kutztown Life University Arizona 2016 Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, PA California 31–7 UCLA Kutztown Arizona 2017 Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, PA California 19–0 Life University LindenwoodIndiana 2018 Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, PA Lindenwood 24–7 UCLA Life UniversityArizona 2019 Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, PALindenwood 21–12Life University NavyKutztown 2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Gold Mine, New Orleans, LALindenwood 24–14Life UniversityArmy12–10Davenport 2022(Premier) Gold Mine, New Orleans, LAKutztown 17–12DartmouthLindenwood31–0Iona 2023(Premier) Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC Mount St. Mary's 19–5 IndianaKutztown Belmont Abbey 2024(Premier) Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC Wheeling 29–12 Kutztown Babson 35–14 Iowa Central 2025(Premier) Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC Wheeling 19–5 St. Bonaventure Queens 17–12 Belmont Abbey 2026(Premier) Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC Wheeling 14–12 Dartmouth Kutztown 24–12 Notre Dame *Both semifinalists are listed as "Bronze Winners" in years in which a third place match was not contested.
Men's championships
Team #Years 5 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 3 2018, 2019, 2021 3 2011, 2012 2 2024, 2025, 2026 1 2010 1 2022 1 2023
Appearances
Champion Runner-up Semifinals Quarterfinals Participant APP 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22(P) 23(P) 24(P) 25(P) 26(P) School Dartmouth 15 Notre Dame 15 Navy 11 Penn State 11 Kutztown 12 Virginia Tech 12 Arizona 10 Indiana 12 California 9 Life 9 Army 9 Temple 9 South Carolina 8 UCLA 7 St. Joseph's 7 Michigan 8 Clemson 8 Wisconsin 7 Air Force 7 Maryland 7 Boston College 6 Iona 7 Texas 5 Lindenwood 5 Wheeling University 6 Delaware 6 St. Bonaventure 6 Arkansas State 4 Tennessee 4 Notre Dame College 4 Florida 4 Northeastern 4 Harvard 5 Nazareth College (NY) 4 Fordham 5 American International 6 Marian University 5 Utah 4 Mt St. Mary's 3 Ohio State 3 James Madison 3 Iowa CCC 3 Belmont Abbey 4 Mary Washington 4 Brown 4 Rio Grande 4 Fairfield 4 Siena 4 Aquinas 4 Central Washington 2 St. Mary's 2 Oklahoma 2 NC State 2 Penn 2 Drexel 2 LSU 2 Iowa State 2 Alabama 2 Babson 2 Queens 2 Loyola (MD) 2 San Diego State 2 Davenport 1 Western Michigan 1 Cal Maritime 1 Arizona State 1 Bowling Green 1 North Carolina 1 Villanova 1 Colorado-Denver 1 Franciscan 1 Salve Regina 1 Wayne State 1 Lander University 1 New Mexico Tech 1 Central College (IA) 1 Louisiana 1 Tulane 1 University of Denver 1 Mckendree University 1 Taylor University 1 Christendom College 1 Scholastica 1 West Chester 1 Louisville 1 USC 1 Howard 1 Thomas More 1 Eastern Carolina 1 Southern Virginia 2 Principa 1 South Nazarene 1 Texas A&M 1 Walsh 2 Adrian 1 Purdue 1 Drury 1 Indiana Tech 1 Wingate 1 Kentucky 1
Women's Cup
Year Final Winner Score Runner-up2011 Army 14–5Penn State 2012 Not held2013Penn State 31–5Ohio State 2014 Penn State 29–12James Madison University 2015 Penn State 24–7 Lindenwood 2016 Life 19–10Lindenwood 2017 Life 17–12 Lindenwood 2018 Lindenwood 21–12 Penn State 2019Lindenwood 34–12Army 2020Not held2021Lindenwood 10–7Life2022(Premier)Lindenwood 19–7Life2023(Premier)Brown 21–19Army2024(Premier)Brown 12–5Army2025(Premier)Brown 19–7Army2026(Premier) American International24–7Brown
Women's Championships Team #Years 4 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 3 2013, 2014, 2015 3 2023, 2024, 2025 2 2016, 2017 1 2026 1 2010
Popularity The Collegiate Rugby Championship initially succeeded in drawing media attention."7s tournament points to resurgence of invitationals", Gainline.us, Nov. 11, 2011. NBC recognized that rugby was growing in popularity, participation and interest,Bleacher Report, NBC to Broadcast Collegiate Sevens Rugby Championship, March 6, 2010, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/358141-nbc-to-broadcast-collegiate-sevens-championship and NBC's broadcast of the inaugural 2010 CRC was the second time college rugby had been broadcast live on network TV in the US. (The first broadcast was on CBS's "Sports Spectacular" program in April 1960 when Stanford and Dartmouth played a match at West Point}. The honor of first collegiate try ever scored on broadcast TV belongs to Evan Kaufman of Indiana University.Bleacher Report, Rugby: NBC's Collegiate Sevens Championship Preview, June 3, 2010, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/400735-rugby-nbcs-collegiate-sevens-championship-preview NBC Sports Programming President, Jon Miller, described NBC's support of the Collegiate Rugby Championship, "We're hoping to see continued growth in the ratings and the attendance. We like the sport a lot, and we've given it a great time period and a real plumb (sic) position on our schedule."Rugby Mag, Fans Can Make Rugby Work on TV - NBC, May 1, 2012, http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4390:fans-can-make-rugby-work-on-tv-nbc&catid=149:usa7s-crc&Itemid=392 Tournaments broadcast by NBC posted respectable TV ratings, with the TV audience larger than that of the NCAA lacrosse championships."Varsity Cup, USA 7s parent, NBC in landmark pact", Gainline, June 21, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2014."College Rugby Shines Under TV Spotlight Created by 2016 Olympics", Bloomberg, Mason Levinson, May 28, 2015.
Due in part to the exposure from NBC's broadcasts, the tournament attracted several blue chip corporate sponsors, including Geico, Subway, Toyota and Bud Light.PRNewswire, Utah Utes Win Inaugural USA 7's Rugby Collegiate Championship Invitational on NBC, June 6, 2010, http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/utah-utes-win-inaugural-usa-7s-rugby-collegiate-championship-invitational-on-nbc-95741209.html The CRC is popular with fans, with over 17,000 fans turning out to watch the 2011 tournament,Philly.com, "Big turnout for Rugby Sevens tournament at PPL Park," June 6, 2011, http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/123210403.html. and over 18,000 fans in attendance at the 2012 tournament."PPL Park to host college rugby championship through 2014", The Times Herald, June 3, 2012. This was followed by a twenty-two percent increase in attendance from 2014 to 2015 totaling 24,813 and an even further increase in 2016 to a total attendance of 27,224. In September 2014, Penn Mutual life insurance company announced a multi-year title sponsorship of the annual championship, which led to the tournament being renamed to the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship.