2025 Men's Player Finalists Announced

National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) has unveiled the impressive finalists for its 2025 Men’s Player of the Year Awards, announced live during the Men’s National Championship halftimes on December 13, 2025. This expanding national awards platform spotlights 20 exceptional collegiate athletes from the Fall 2025 season across four divisions, showcasing the high standard of rugby played nationally and their season-defining performances, as lauded by NCR Men’s Director Brad Dufek. Among the standout nominees are Division I’s Jack Waterhouse from Notre Dame, a 6’7” former age-grade Springbok whose unique blend of pace and power is unmatched, and Division II’s Malcolm Johnson from IUP, who boasts a school record of 46 tries in a single sevens season. For US rugby fans, these rising stars,including Division I-AA’s Jace Hernandez (Texas A&M) and Division III’s Joseph Moleski (Franciscan),embody the crucial pipeline for Major League Rugby and national team contention. A panel of rugby experts will now determine the Player of the Year recipients, to be announced in January.