Men's Sevens Nationals set to cap off electric collegiate season this weekend in Iowa City

Men’s Collegiate 7s continues it's reintroduction to the championship stage this weekend in Iowa City, as Iowa State Rugby hosts top teams from D1A and D1AA, all eyeing a chance for 2026 honors and trophies to take home.

The action is played this weekend, May 9-10 from the Iowa City Soccer Complex with the full tournament streamed live on CRAA Rugby YouTube.

16 teams land in Iowa City, 10 representing D1AA and 6 D1A, where two champions will be crowned on Sunday evening. The D1AA bracket will compete in pool play on Saturday, leading to quarterfinals that evening and the ensuing clash of top teams fighting their way to Sunday’s championship final. 2026 D1AA Champions if fifteens, Western Washington, will return to the Midwest for the sevens championship, in an effort to sweep the men’s collegiate titles in back-to-back weekends. Hosts Iowa State will carry home-field advantage into the weekend, as will the Iowa Hawkeyes who made an appearance in the championship final last year.

Men’s D1A schools make their return to championship sevens rugby, as six invitational teams compete in a round robin pool stage across Saturday and Sunday morning. Every match will matter as the top seeded teams on points will go directly into the Championship final. Major programs with USA National Team alumni like Life University, Lindenwood, Saint Mary’s and Davenport will join the quick striking Air Force and McKendree squads, who have all in recent weeks shifted training focus to the sevens game.

CRAA President, Paul Keeler said on the final championship of the year, “Every year, we try to raise the standard for what our championship events feel like for the student-athletes who earn the right to be there. This year’s Men’s Collegiate Sevens National Championships are another opportunity to do exactly that, and we’re proud of what this event is becoming.

The level of competition continues to rise across CRAA Sevens, and this year’s field is shaping up to be a great representation of the speed, physicality, and quality that exists throughout the collegiate game right now. Programs from around the country are fighting for the opportunity to get to Iowa and compete on a national stage; that energy is something you can feel building already.

CRAA championships have always been about more than just crowning a winner. They’re about creating meaningful experiences, building pathways, and giving athletes an environment that reflects the level they aspire to reach. Sevens remains an important pathway toward higher levels of rugby and USA National Team opportunities; bringing so much talent together in one place always makes for a special weekend.

We’re excited to welcome teams, coaches, supporters, and the broader rugby community to Iowa and showcase what collegiate rugby can look like at its best.”