CUP RUGBY AMERICA
Tournament rugby for US clubs in their down seasons.
Outside your league season it’s friendlies or nothing. We run the alternative: a real tournament in your off-window, five guaranteed games and a finals day, with all the admin handled.
Why Cup Rugby America exists
Meaningful rugby, year-round
Most US rugby clubs play one league season, fall or spring depending on where they are. Outside that window there is nothing real to play for. Unless you are on a playoff run, and that is built for a handful of clubs, you spend the off-season filling the calendar with friendlies. Friendlies have their place. They are not enough to hold a squad together for months.
Cup Rugby America runs proper tournaments in those off-windows. Spring Cup for fall-league clubs. Fall Cup for spring-league clubs. Both follow one model: fresh opponents where we can, manageable travel, a three-game group stage, then a four-team knockout: a semi-final, then either the final for your bracket’s trophy or a third-place playoff. No early knockout. Every club gets five games, win or lose.
It is a development competition at heart. More game time, squads that stay together through the off-season, and good rugby with a trophy worth winning. More players, more clubs, more teams forming. That is how the sport grows, and it is why we built it.
The tournaments
Two windows. One model.
We bring an edition to an area when the format works there, then invite the clubs in to join. Same shape both seasons: a three-game group stage, a four-team knockout, and a finals day at a proper stadium with room for fans, where every bracket plays its final for a trophy.
For clubs whose main season runs in fall. The inaugural edition ran in NYC through spring 2026. Sign-ups for 2027 are open as we confirm new markets.
Explore Spring Cup →
For clubs whose main season runs in spring or summer, where fall is otherwise empty. The first Fall Cup lands in fall 2026. Registering interest now.
Explore Fall Cup →The Year 1 story
Spring Cup NYC 2026
Spring Cup 2026 ran in New York from late March to the end of May. Eight clubs, twenty-three matches, finals day at Columbia University. New Haven Old Black lifted the Cup. Brooklyn lifted the Plate. The day finished at Pig N’ Whistle with the Spring Cup Boat Race and a Bondi in everyone’s hand.
Year 1 was not perfect. We learned a lot about what makes a tournament work for clubs and players, what makes finals day a celebration instead of just another fixture, and where to spend and where to save. All of it goes into Year 2.
Partners
Backed by people who care about US club rugby
Cup Rugby America is built with partners, local and national, who care about the club game. Year 1 in NYC was made possible by three. Year 2 expands the platform, and we are talking to more.
Beer Partner
Provided the beer for Year 1 finals day and the after-party at Pig N’ Whistle. Free cans for every player.
Trophy Partner
Scottish trophy makers who supply Scotland Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors. Hand-crafted the Spring Cup and Spring Plate from solid oak and reclaimed whisky cask staves.
Bar Partner
Hosted the Year 1 after-party in Midtown Manhattan. The unofficial Cup Rugby America home in NYC.