NCR National Championships

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The NCR National Championships are the national championship tournaments sponsored by National Collegiate Rugby (NCR, formerly National Small College Rugby Organization) for men's and women's college rugby in both 15s and 7s rugby.

SportRugby Union
Founded2002
First season2002-03
No. of teamsVaries
Quick facts Sport, Founded ...
NCR National Championships
SportRugby Union
Founded2002
First season2002-03
No. of teamsVaries
CountryUnited States
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NSCRO rebranded as NCR in 2020, when it expanded its mission and reach by offering membership and organizing championships for larger colleges playing in upper divisions. Prior to this NSCRO sponsored four regional tournaments: New England, New York/Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and South. The regional champions were invited to compete in the annual "Fearsome Four" to determine the NSCRO National Champions. The 15's championship is now branded as a part of the Collegiate Rugby Championship.

Division Championships include (for both XVs & 7s):

  • Division I (Premier & Club)
  • Division I-AA
  • Division II
  • Division III

Former competitions were:

History

From 2002 to 2006 for Men's 15s, and from 2003 to 2006 for Women's 15s, the event name was "East Coast Division 3 Collegiate Championship". In 2007, the events were renamed to "NSCRO Men's Collegiate Division 3 National Championship", "NSCRO Women's Collegiate Division 3 National Championship" and "NSCRO Women's Collegiate Division 4 National Championship". In August 2012, Small College Championship nomenclature replaced Division 3, and since Fall 2012, the "Women's D4 Championship" was discontinued.[1]

In 2015, NSCRO inaugurated the lower-level Men's Challenge Cup Championship, which ran until 2021. In the 2020-21 season, NSCRO rebranded to National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) and introduced Division I, I-AA and II championships.[2] The Small College division and its championship was renamed to Division III in 2024.[3]

XV's Champions

Men's Division I

Year Champion Score Runner-up Location Date ref
2021 St. Bonaventure University 19 - 18 Penn State SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 12 Dec 2021
2022 Brown 21 - 5 Queens SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 10 Dec 2022
2023 Notre Dame College 33 - 10 St. Bonaventure SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 9 Dec 2023
2024 Brown 23 - 20 Queens SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 14 Dec 2024
2025 St. Bonaventure University 55 - 19 Queens SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 13 Dec 2025 [4]

Men's Division I-AA

Year Champion Score Runner-up Location Date ref
2021 Virginia Tech 34 - 22 West Chester SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 12 Dec 2021
2022 Virginia Tech 24 - 22 Louisville SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 10 Dec 2022
2023 Kentucky 43 - 28 Louisville SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 9 Dec 2023
2024 Kentucky 57 - 14 Bowling Green SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 14 Dec 2024
2025 Tennessee 21 - 15 Bowling Green SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 13 Dec 2025 [5]

Men's Division II

Season Champion Score Runner-up Location Date
2021 Thomas More 21 - 17 Adrian College SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 12 Dec 2021
2022 Principia 34 - 22 IUP SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 10 Dec 2022
2023 IUP 20 - 17 Memphis SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 9 Dec 2023
2024 IUP 19 - 14 Northern Iowa SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 14 Dec 2024
2025 Vermont 71 - 5 Chicago SaberCats Stadium, Houston TX 14 Dec 2025 [6]

Men's Small College/NCR Division III

More information East Coast Division 3 Collegiate Championship (2002-06), NSCRO Men's Collegiate Division 3 National Championship (2007-2012) ...
Season Champion Score Runner-up Location ref
East Coast Division 3 Collegiate Championship (2002-06)
2001-02Western Carolina University 15 - 7 Stonehill College Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
2002-03Furman University Stonehill College Cherry Hill, New Jersey
2003-04Furman University 14 - 5 Central Connecticut Cherry Hill, New Jersey
2004-05Furman University Duke University Greenville, SC
2005-06Bentley University 29 - 12 The Citadel Richmond, Virginia
NSCRO Men's Collegiate Division 3 National Championship (2007-2012)
2006-07Bentley University 11 - 10 Furman University Winston-Salem, North Carolina
2007-08Plymouth State University 22 - 17 Furman University Hamilton College, Clinton, New York
2008-09Coastal Carolina 36 - 15 SUNY-Oswego Cherry Hill, New Jersey
2009-10Penn State Berks 11 - 6 Keene State College Virginia Beach Sportsplex Stadium, Virginia [7]
2010-11Longwood University 36 - 27 Occidental College Virginia Beach Sportsplex Stadium, Virginia [8]
NSCRO XVs Champions Cup/Small College Championship (2012-2023)
2011-12Salve Regina University 22 - 15 California Maritime Academy Infinity Park, Glendale, CO [9]
2012-13Saint John's (Minn.) 31 - 16 Duke University Infinity Park, Glendale, CO
2013-14Saint John's (Minn.) 37 - 25 New England College Infinity Park, Glendale, CO
2014-15New England College 32 - 15 Mount St. Mary's University Infinity Park, Glendale, CO
2015-16Mount St. Mary's University 26 - 19 Claremont Colleges Infinity Park, Glendale, CO [10]
2016-17Claremont Colleges 65 - 0 Tufts Infinity Park, Glendale, CO [11]
2017-18Iowa Central Community College 64 - 11 Claremont Colleges Life University, Marieta, GA [12]
2018-19Claremont Colleges 57 - 17 Christendom College Siena University, Albany, NY [13]
2019-20 Tournament cancelled due to Covid-19
2021Christendom College 34 - 29 New Mexico Tech SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [14]
2022Cal Poly Humboldt 20 - 15 Wayne State College SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [15]
2023Babson 27 - 23 Wayne State College SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [16]
NCR Division III (Renamed from Small College from 2024)
2024Wayne State College 27 - 8 Holy Cross SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [17]
2025 Franciscan 29 - 17 Slippery Rock SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [18][19]
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Men's Challenge Cup Championship (2014-2021)

More information Year, Champions ...
Year Champions Score Runner-up Location ref
2014-15University of the Pacific 39 - 32 Northern Colorado Founders Field, Cheswick, Pennsylvania [20]
2015-16Salem State University 43 - 17 Point Loma Nazarene Founders Field, Cheswick, Pennsylvania [21]
2016-17Bethel College 30 - 21 Iowa Central Community College Founders Field, Cheswick, Pennsylvania [22]
2017-18MiraCosta College 56 - 5 John Carroll University Founders Field, Cheswick, Pennsylvania [23][24]
2018-19Azusa Pacific University 30 - 21 Washington & Lee Siena College, Loudonville, NY
2019-20 Tournament cancelled due to Covid-19
2021 Siena College 25 - 20 Wayne State College SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [25][26][27]
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Women's Division I

Season Champion Score Runner-up Location ref
2022 Michigan 41 - 14 Notre Dame College SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [28]
2023 Michigan 33 - 17 Notre Dame College SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [29]
2024 Wheeling 58 - 17 Southern Nazarene SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [30]
2025 Southern Nazarene 82 - 21 Northern Iowa SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [31][32][33]

Women's Division I-AA

Season Champion Score Runner-up Location ref
2025 Northeastern 44 - 10 Colorado SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [34][35]

Women's Division II

Season Champion Score Runner-up Location ref
2022 Wisconsin-Eau Claire 78 - 0 Marquette SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [36][37]
2023 Wisconsin-Eau Claire 32 - 29 Vassar SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [38][39]
2024 Vassar 24 - 5 Wisconsin-Eau Claire SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [40]
2025 Coast Guard 51 - 12 Wisconsin-Eau Claire SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [41][42]

Women's Small College/NCR Division III

More information East Coast Division 3 Collegiate Championship (2003-06), NSCRO Women's Collegiate Division 3 National Championship (2007-12) ...
Season Champion Score Runner-up Location ref
East Coast Division 3 Collegiate Championship (2003-06)
2003The College of New Jersey University of Maine
2004Fordham Susquehanna University
2005Castleton Susquehanna University
2006Babson Ursinus College
NSCRO Women's Collegiate Division 3 National Championship (2007-12)
2007 (spring)Stonehill College Penn
2007 (fall)Stonehill College Marist College
2008Bryant Gettysburg
2009Massachusetts Institute of Technology 41 – 5 East Stroudsburg South Jersey RFC, Cherry Hill, NJ [43][44]
2010Bentley 3 – 0 Drexel South Jersey RFC, Cherry Hill, NJ [45]
2011Carleton College 59 – 7 Lock Haven South Jersey RFC, Cherry Hill, NJ [46][47]
2012Wayne State College 32 – 0 Roger Williams South Jersey RFC, Cherry Hill, NJ [48]
NSCRO Women's Small College Championship (2013-23)
2013Wayne State College 18 – 5 Smith South Jersey RFC, Cherry Hill, NJ [49]
2014Roger Williams 45 – 10 Sacred Heart South Jersey RFC, Cherry Hill, NJ [50]
2015Minnesota State University Moorhead 44 – 24 Colgate Rugby Athletic Center, Charlotte, NC [51]
2016Wayne State College 11 – 0 Colgate Life University, Marieta, GA [52][53]
2017Wayne State College 46 – 26 Bentley Life University, Marieta, GA [54][55]
2018Wayne State College 67 – 12 Catholic Life University, Marieta, GA [56]
2019Wayne State College 90 – 14 Endicott Life University, Marieta, GA [57]
2019-20 Tournament cancelled due to Covid-19
2021Wayne State College 72 – 10 SUNY–Cortland Tennessee Rugby Park, Knoxville, TN [58][59]
2022Endicott 24 – 12 Lee SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [60]
2023 St. Bonaventure 22 – 17 Wisconsin-Platteville SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [61][62]
NCR Division III (Renamed from Small College from 2024)
2024 Endicott 22 – 15 Colorado School of Mines SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [63]
2025 Colorado School of Mines 38 – 29 Endicott SaberCats Stadium, Houston,TX [64][65]
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7's Champions (CRC National 7's)

Men's Division I Club

Season Champion Score Runner-up Location ref
2022 Sam Houston State 17 - 15 Salisbury Gold Mine, New Orleans, LA [66]
2023 San Diego 15 - 7 Clemson Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [67]
2024 Louisville 29 - 0 NC State Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [68]
2025 NC State 12 - 7 UNC - Charlotte Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [69]

Men's Division II

Season Champion Score Runner-up Location ref
2022 Indiana University of Pennsylvania 17 - 7 Lander Gold Mine, New Orleans, LA [70]
2023 Indiana University of Pennsylvania 12 - 7 NC State Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [71]
2024 Maine 19 - 15 Georgetown Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [72]
2025 UNC Wilmington 24 - 12 Montana State Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [73]

Men's Small College & Division III

More information 2019-21, Tournament cancelled due to Covid-19 ...
Season Champion Score Runner-up Location ref
2012-13Occidental College 28 - 15 University of North Florida PPL Park, Chester, PA [74]
2013-14New England College 22 - 14 New Mexico Highlands University PPL Park, Chester, PA [75]
2014-15New Mexico Highlands University 22 - 19 New England College PPL Park, Chester, PA [76]
2015-16New Mexico Highlands University 31 - 7 St. Mary's College of Maryland Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, PA [77]
2016-17Christendom College 24 - 19 St. Mary's College of Maryland Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, PA [78]
2017-18The Claremont Colleges 17 - 0 Salve Regina University Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, PA [79]
2018-19New Mexico Highlands UniversityV 17 - 12 The Claremont Colleges Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, PA [80]
2019-21 Tournament cancelled due to Covid-19
2022New Mexico Tech 26 - 10 Christendom College Gold Mine, New Orleans, LA [81]
2023Babson 17 - 0 Springfield Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [82]
NCR Division III (from 2024)
2024Slippery Rock 19 - 12 St. Thomas (Minn.) Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [83]
2025 Wisconsin-Eau Claire 20 - 0 Springfield Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [84]
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V - Title was vacated by NSCRO

Women's Division I Club

Season Champion Score Runner-up Location ref
2022 Roger Williams 12 - 7 Wisconsin-Eau Claire Gold Mine, New Orleans, LA [85]
2023 Clemson 29 - 17 UMass Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [86]
2024 Claremont 17 - 7 Oregon Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [87]
2025 Northeastern 15 - 12 Iowa Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [88]

Women's Division II

Season Champion Score Runner-up Location ref
2022 Chicago 10 - 5 South Dakota Founders Field, Cheswick, Pennsylvania [89]
2023 Roger Williams 10 - 5 Colorado Mines Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [90]
2024 Wisconsin-Eau Claire 22 - 5 Roger Williams Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [91]
2025 Coast Guard 17 - 5 Roger Williams Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [92]

Women's Small College & Division III

More information 2020-22, Tournament cancelled due to Covid-19 ...
Season Champion Score Runner-up Location ref
2014Wayne State College 24 – 7 South Dakota State Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan [93]
2015Wayne State College 22 – 17 Mount St. Mary's University Founders Field, Cheswick, Pennsylvania [94]
2016Wayne State College 20 – 0 Colorado College Founders Field, Cheswick, Pennsylvania [95]
2017Colgate University 15 – 12 Wayne State College Founders Field, Cheswick, Pennsylvania [96][97]
2018Wayne State College 24 – 5 Lee Founders Field, Cheswick, Pennsylvania [98]
2019Wayne State College 31 – 7 Rochester Founders Field, Cheswick, Pennsylvania [99]
2020-22 Tournament cancelled due to Covid-19
2023Endicott 15 - 10 Lee Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [100]
2024 Yale 31 - 7 Gannon Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [101]
2025 Endicott 32 - 0 Baldwin Wallace Maryland SoccerPlex, Greater Washington, DC [102]
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See also

References

External links

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