The 2023-24 USA Club Women’s Rugby season has kicked off in some areas of the country. Through our ongoing partnership with The Rugby Breakdown and USA Rugby Club Competitions, we provide a comprehensive overview of regional divisions and competitions, offering you an inside look at the action.
In this guide, we’ll dissect the divisions in USA Women’s Club rugby, providing insights into the competitive landscape. As the season progresses, anticipate updates on Regional Championships, Super Regionals, and National Championships. We’re dedicated to keeping you informed with the latest developments, ensuring you’re always in the loop for an exciting rugby season ahead!
Quick Links
League Play and Regional Championships
League seasons differ throughout the country, influenced by factors such as weather, field availability, and local preferences. Typically, the East Coast kicks off the season in the fall, with the rest of the country adopting split seasons.
Regional champions are currently being determined by unions through league competitions, and we’ll share additional details as soon as they become available.
D1
Northern
Midwest Premiership
- League play is September 23 to October 21
- Current Standings: East | West (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- East
- Pittsburgh Forge
- Columbus
- Detroit
- Buffalo
- West
- Metropolis Valkyries
- Chicago Lions
- Milwaukee Scylla
- Chicago
- East
- Postseason
- Nov 4 SFs: Pittsburgh (Eastern 1) 16 vs Chicago Lions (Western 2) 12
- Nov 4 SFs: Metropolis (Western 1) 22 vs Columbus (Eastern 2) 26
- Nov 11 Championship: Pittsburgh (Eastern) 28 vs Columbus (Eastern) 5
Atlantic
East Coast South
- League play is September 30 to April 13
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Atlanta Harlequins (Carolinas)
- DC Furies (Capital)
- NOVA (Capital)
- Philadelphia (EPRU)
- Raleigh Venom (Capital)
- Postseason
- Mar 23: Playoffs
- Apr 6: Playoffs
- *Atlanta has forfeited matches and is not eligible for the postseason
North Eastern Rugby Football Union (NERFU)
- League play is September 16 to October 28
- Current standings (teams are responsible for updating)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Providence
- Boston
- Beantown
- Postseason
- Nov 4: SFs
- Nov 11: Championships
Pacific
Southern California (SoCal)
- League play generally begins in the spring; awaiting schedules
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Participating Teams:
- San Diego Surfers
- Belmont Shore
- Tempe
- Pasadena Royals
- Santa Monica
- Postseason
PNW Premiership (D1/D2 Hybrid)
- League play is from September 10 to October 22
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Salem Attack Owls
- Seattle
- Jesters
- South Sound
- Boise United
- Tacoma
- Chuckanut Bay
- Mudhens
- Portland Pigs
- Eugene Reign
- Bend
- Postseason
Red River | Frontier
Red River
- League play begins Dec 16 and ends Apr 6
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Austin Valkyries
- Houston Athletic Rugby Club (sHARCs)
- Postseason
Frontier
- League play begins September 9
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Black Ice
- Colorado Gray Wolves
- Utah Vipers
- Postseason
D2
Northern
Midwest
- League play is September 9 to October 21
- Current Standings: Upstate NY | Greater Ohio | CARFU | Northern (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Upstate NY
- South Buffalo
- North Buffalo Ninjas
- Uticuse
- Rochester Renegades
- Greater Ohio
- Akron
- Fort Wayne
- Dayton
- Cleveland
- Chicago Area
- Palmer College
- Grand Rapids
- County Will Morrigans
- Chicago Sirens
- Northern
- Wisconsin
- Twin Cities Amazons
- Oconomowoc
- Minneapolis Menagerie
- Upstate NY
- Postseason
- Oct 28 Quarterfinals
- South Buffalo (Upstate NY 1) vs Fort Wayne (Greater Ohio 2)
- Akron (Greater Ohio 1) vs Uticuse (Upstate NY 2)
- Grand Rapid Growlers (CARFU 1) vs Twin Cities Amazons (Northern 2)
- Wisconsin (Northern 1) vs County Will Morrigans (CARFU 2)
- *Palmer College is not eligible to advance due to self-relegation from last season
- Nov 4: SFs (higher seed hosts)
- South Buffalo (Upstate NY) 51 vs Akron (Greater Ohio) 12
- Grand Rapid Growlers (CARFU) 38 vs Wisconsin (Northern) 36
- Nov 11 Championships: South Buffalo (Upstate NY) 30 vs Grand Rapid Growlers (CARFU) 12
- Oct 28 Quarterfinals
Mid-American Rugby Football Union (MARFU)
- League play
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Participating Teams:
- St. Louis Sabres
- KC Jazz
- Postseason
Rocky Mountain
- League play is September 10 to October 15
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Participating Teams:
- Black Ice
- Salt Lake City Slugs
- Boulder Babes
- Laramie Cold Front Coyotes
- Postseason
Atlantic
Capital
- League play is from September 30 to April 6
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- James River
- Norfolk Storm
- NOVA II
- Severn River
- Postseason
Empire
- League play is from September 30 to October 28
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Participating Teams:
- New Haven
- Brooklyn
- Danbury
- New York
- Monmouth
- Village Lions
- Morris
- Postseason
- Nov 4: SFs:
- Brooklyn 19 vs New York 29
- New Haven 19 vs Monmouth 5
- Nov 11 Championships: New Haven 24 vs New York 0
- Nov 4: SFs:
EPRU
- League play is from September 30 to April 6
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Participating Teams:
- Phoenixville
- Harrisburg
- Northeast Philadelphia
- Doylestown
- Postseason
- April: EPRU Championship
- April 20: EPRU Champion vs Capital Champion
- May 4: Atlantic Super Regional
NERFU
- League play is September 9 to October 28
- Current standings (teams are responsible for updating)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Worcester Shamrocks
- Albany Knicks
- Burlington
- Hartford Wild Roses
- Portland
- Charles River
- Postseason
Gulf Coast
Red River
- League play is November 18 to April 6
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Little Rock
- Dallas Harlequins
- Dallas RFC
- sHARCs
- BARC
- Round Rock Rage
- San Antonio Riveters
- Postseason
- Apr 21: Championships
- May 4-5: Gulf Coast Super Regional
True South
- League play is October 1 to March 25
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Chattanooga Queens
- Knoxville Minx
- Memphis Flamingos
- Nashville Stone Lions
- Postseason
- April 13-14: Championships
Florida
- League play usually starts in the Spring
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Tampa Bay Krewe
- Ft. Miami
- Orlando
- Jacksonville
- Postseason
Carolinas
- League play is September 30 to February 3
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Atlanta 2.0 Selects
- Charleston Hurricanes
- Feat the Maniacs
- Atlanta Harlequins
- Carolina Villians
- Eno River
- Southern Pines Celts
- Charlotte
- Savannah Shamrocks
- Columbia Bombshells
- Postseason
- Apr 6: SFs @ higher seed
- Apr 13: Championships
Pacific
SoCal
- League play begins in the Spring
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- Ventura County Outlaws
- Santa Barbara Mermaids
- SLO Beaches
- Santa Monica
- San Fernando Valley (SFV)
- Fullerton Wolfpack
- Los Angeles
- Empire Monarchs
- Camp Pendleton Warriors
- Postseason
NorCal
- League play begins in the Spring
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Participating Teams:
- Berkeley All Blues
- East Palo Alto Razorbacks
- Life West
- Sacramento Amazons
- Postseason
Pacific
- League play is September 9 to October 23
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Participating Teams:
- Berkeley All Blues
- East Palo Alto Razorbacks
- Life West
- Sacramento Amazons
- Postseason
Southwest
- League play
- Current Standings (teams are responsible for updating this data)
- Competition Structure
- Participating Teams:
- El Paso
- Prescott Blacksheep
- Las Vegas
- Northern AZ Landsharks
- Old Pueblo Lightning
- Atomic Sisters
- Postseason
Super Regional Championships
Super Regional events will be held in all four regions this year, with each region establishing its own unique format. Ultimately, only one winner from each region will secure a spot in the USA Rugby National Club XVs Championships.
D1
Northern
- Date? in Rocky Mtn (actual location TBC)
- Qualified Teams:
- Pittsburgh Forge (Midwest)
- (Frontier)
Atlantic
- April 20-21 in EPRU (actual location TBC)
Red River
- Red River league winner goes straight to Nationals
Pacific
- TBC
D2
Northern
- Date? in Rocky Mtn (actual location TBC)
- Qualified Teams:
- South Buffalo (Midwest)
Atlantic
- April 20-21 in EPRU (actual location TBC)
- Qualified Teams
- New Haven (Empire)
Gulf Coast
- May 4-5 in TRU (actual location TBC)
Pacific
- TBC
USA Club Rugby National Championships
The USA Rugby Club National Championships are scheduled for May 17-19, 2024, with the location yet to be confirmed.
Teams from both Division 1 and Division 2 will vie for the coveted championship titles. Division 1 matches are slated for Friday afternoon, with Division 2 teams taking the field on Saturday. The finals for both divisions will culminate on Sunday.
Catch all the exciting action on the USA Club Rugby YouTube channel.
In the 2023 edition, the San Diego Surfers clinched victory in the D1 division, while the D2 title went to the Knoxville Minx.
The seeding for the upcoming 2023 tournament is expected to mirror last year’s arrangements. This means that in the D1 division, the West will face off against the Pacific, while the Atlantic will take on the Midwest. In the D2 division, Northern teams will compete against the Atlantic, and the Gulf Coast will go head-to-head with the Pacific.
D1
D2
History
- 2022-23 Competition | National Championships
- 2021-22| National Championships
- 2020-2021 – cancelled due to COVID-19
- 2019-2020 |
- 2018-2019 |
- 2017-2018 |
