This mid-season report provides a comprehensive overview of the 2025-26 USA Club Women’s Rugby Division 1 landscape. As we approach the postseason, teams across the four Super Regions are vying for a spot in the National Championships held this May in Illinois.
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a three-part series providing a mid-season status update on the national pathway. Today we take a deep dive into Women’s Division 1. Stay tuned for our upcoming features on Women’s D2 and Women’s D3.
Learn more about the 2025-26 USA Club Women’s Rugby Season here.
This information is based on the USA Rugby Club Competitions Committee (CCC) notes, the Rugby Xplorer (RX) Competition Management System (CMS) and in some cases personal conversations with Union representatives. We’ve done our best to get it right but in an amateur sport there are mistakes. Please let us know if something is off and we will make corrections if needed.
The Postseason Pathway
The journey to a national title is a multi-step process. Following local league play, top teams advance to their Union Championships. From there, winners move to the Super Regionals (SR), which serve as the first two rounds of the National Championship Series. These events typically feature a “Round of 16” on day one and a “Round of 8” on day two. Only the four Super Regional champions (one each from the Pacific, Northern, Gulf Coast, and Atlantic) earn a ticket to the National Final Four in Chicago to compete for the championship.
2026 National Championship Details
The 2026 National Championships return to the Chicago Blaze Rugby Complex in Lemont, IL, from May 15–17.
- Dates: May 15–17, 2026
- Location: Chicago Blaze Rugby Complex, Lemont, IL
- Schedule: Division 1 Semifinals (Friday), Division 2 Semifinals (Saturday), Finals for both (Sunday).
- Watch: Live on The Rugby Network, produced by Next Level Rugby.
Super Regionals (SR)
Super Regionals serve as the “Round of 16” and “Round of 8.” The winners of these brackets advance to the National Final Four in Chicago.
Region | Dates | Location | Unions Involved |
Pacific | April 24–26 | Henderson, NV | PNW, NorCal, SoCal, Southwest |
Gulf Coast | April 25–26 | Austin, TX | Red River (TRU) |
Northern | May 2–3 | Lemont, IL | Midwest, Frontier |
Atlantic | May 2–3 | Niagara Univ, NY | NERFU, Capital, EPRU, Empire |
Division 1 Regional Deep Dive
Northern
This year features a significant alignment correction. The Frontier moves back into the Northern SR after being placed in the Pacific last season to fill a seed. This shift creates a brutal bracket: the defending National Champion Utah Vipers and the Midwest Champion Chicago NS are now on a collision course for the Round of 8 instead of a potential National Final.
- Frontier: The Utah Vipers have clinched the top seed with a dominant +192 point differential.
- Midwest: Chicago North Shore (NS) secured their spot by winning the Midwest Championship on November 15, 2025.
- Key Date: May 2: The Northern Super Regional kickoff.
- Postseason Path: The Frontier champion and Midwest champion will face off during the May 2 Northern Super Regional in Lemont, IL.
History
The Midwest has long been a powerhouse in the club game, with Chicago NS securing National Championships in 2011 and 2014. The Utah Vipers have quickly become the modern team to beat, securing the 2025 National Title in a thrilling performance. This region is now home to two of the heaviest hitters in the country, making the Northern Super Regional a de facto national semifinal.
Atlantic
The Atlantic competition is a grueling home-and-away format featuring clubs from the East Coast and South. This region is a historic corridor of women’s rugby and arguably the most competitive in the nation.
- Philadelphia: Currently leading the standings with an undefeated record and a slim one point bonus edge.
- NOVA: Undefeated and sitting in second place, ready for the late-season showdown.
- The Hunt: New York and DC Furies currently hold the 3rd and 4th slots.
- Key Date: March 28: Philadelphia vs. NOVA. This match will likely decide the top seed for the Atlantic Super Regional.
- Postseason Path: Only the top four in the regular season standings advance to the Atlantic Super Regional held May 2–3 at Niagara University.
History
NOVA (Northern Virginia) has become the modern standard for the Atlantic, making the National Final in each of the last four seasons and securing National Titles in 2019, 2022, and 2024. Last year, they represented the region in a classic 36–45 thriller against Utah, finishing as the National Runner-up.
The region’s depth extends far beyond its current champion. Philadelphia, established in 1976, is the third oldest historically women’s club in the nation and was one of only four East Coast teams to attend the very first National Competition in 1978. The DC Furies, also founded in 1978, were pioneers for independent women’s clubs and have been a mainstay in the national Top 16 for decades. Raleigh Venom further cements the region’s pedigree, having reached back to back National Championship matches in 2017 and 2018.
Pacific
The Pacific region features leagues that predominantly play in the spring, making early standings a mix of historical prestige and early-season momentum. While Utah won the region last year, the realignment ensures a returning champion this year.
- PNW: Seattle remains the team to beat. They have a perfect record in their hybrid season, bolstered by their experience competing in the BC Premier league.
- NorCal: While the league is just beginning, it is important to note that Life West and the All Blues are the only D1-declared sides eligible for the postseason pathway.
- SoCal: The San Diego Surfers are currently undefeated with a +109 point differential after three rounds.
- Kay Date:
- Postseason Path:
- NorCal: the overall league winner will advance to the Super Regional
- SoCal: Semifinals are on March 28 with the Championship on April 11.
- PNW: Awaiting details from Union.
History
While Utah won the region last year, the move to the Northern SR means we will see a new regional champion this year.
This region is defined by its deep championship pedigree. Seattle won National Championships in 2015 and 2016, while Life West took the titles in 2017 and 2018. The All Blues hold a legendary record with titles in 1994, 1997 through 2005, and 2007 through 2008. The San Diego Surfers added to the region’s trophy cabinet with their own back to back wins in 2009 and 2010.
Gulf Coast
A major storyline has emerged in the Gulf Coast with the arrival of a collegiate powerhouse testing their mettle in the senior club ranks. This region is currently a four-way battle between established Texas programs and an ambitious newcomer.
- The Newcomer: Life University has burst onto the scene with a dual-pathway program, competing simultaneously in college and Senior Club D1. They are currently 4-0 and living up to the significant hype.
- The Field: The Austin Valkyries, a premiere club since 1991, and the Dallas Quins provide a veteran presence in the league. Both clubs have long histories of representing Texas on the national stage.
- The Pillar: The sHARCs (Houston Athletic) have been a pillar of Texas rugby since 1998 and remain a consistent national threat. They took the Gulf Coast title in 2024 and reached the National Semifinals in 2023 and 2025.
- Key Date: March 7: Life vs. sHARCs. This match serves as a preview for the likely final showdown in Austin.
- Postseason Path: At the end of the league season, the top two D1 teams will compete in a Championship final on April 25, 2026, at the Gulf Coast Super Regionals. The bottom two D1 teams will compete in a match at the RRRC Championships on April 11, 2026.
History
The sHARCs have been a pillar of Texas rugby since 1998, taking the Gulf Coast title in 2024 and reaching the National Semifinals in 2023 and 2025. Life University brings a different history, transitioning their elite collegiate dominance into the Senior Club landscape for the first time this year. This blend of veteran Texas grit and collegiate-honed speed makes the Gulf Coast an unpredictable region this spring.
