Five National 7s Qualifiers This Weekend

Collegiate 7s qualification for the 2026 Collegiate Rugby Championships is intensifying this weekend, with five crucial tickets up for grabs across various divisions nationwide. The Men's Premier Cup will crown its first qualifier at the Sunshine 7s in Gainesville, featuring strong contenders like Notre Dame and Indiana, both aiming for redemption after 2025 Sweet 16 exits. Notre Dame, who beat Harvard 28-12 but fell to Brown 24-12 last year, faces a challenge without Player of the Year candidate Jack Waterhouse and leading try-scorer Zak Banton, relying on transfers James O’Sullivan and Jack Dunne to step up. Meanwhile, Indiana, led by standout flyhalf Tommy Hannon, senior Parker Wall, and junior Matt Chevalier,brother of US Eagle Will Chevalier,will look for a big performance as they contend with Premier Cup mainstays Clemson and NC State, who famously won the DI Club National Championship last year and are now eyeing the top division. In the Women's DI-Club bracket, host Iowa, the 2025 runners-up who outscored opponents 69-12 through three rounds, seeks to secure their bid at the Hawkeye Classic 7s despite losing leading scorer Elizabeth Langlois, facing tough challenges from Purdue, who reached the Final Four last year, and Boise State with returning top-ten scorers Ella Ogletree and Leelynn Huett. This early season action is vital for collegiate rugby, showcasing the next generation of US talent and shaping the field for the national titles to come.