There are only two weeks left until the field is set for all divisions at the 2026 Collegiate Rugby Championships, meaning teams that have yet to lock in their spot through an Automatic Qualifier tournament have only a few bites left at the apple. If you’re not locked in by Selection Saturday on April 18, you’ll have to make sure that you’ve built a strong enough resume throughout the Spring to get the nod over a host of other competitive programs.
After last weekend’s AQ bonanza, this weekend feels like a ghost town, with only two gateway tournaments on the books. It’s the calm before the storm as qualified teams rest up ahead of their trip to Maryland, and fringe contenders prepare for the host of tournaments slated for the final weekend of the Spring, on April 11.
Wolverine 7s
The biggest tournament slated for this weekend will take place in Ann Arbor, hosted by perennial contenders Michigan. Wolverine 7s will qualify one team for the Women’s DI-AA bracket at the CRC’s and there are plenty of worthy teams vying for the spot.
Hosts Michigan have looked strong so far this Spring but have yet to win it all through four tournaments. The Wolverines went 2-2 at the Hawkeye Classic, splitting two matches against Minnesota, beating Howard University, before ultimately losing to Boise State 17-19. They looked even better at Cavalier 7s, notching huge wins against Davenport, Adrian, and Walsh University but the tournament ended on a sour note with double-digit losses to, admittedly very strong DI programs, Wheeling and Aquinas.
Tournaments at Notre Dame and Indiana resulted in similar performances with plenty of solid wins added to the resume, but no finals victories to lock up their qualification. Anna Rimatzki, Biana Caprio, and company have only their home tournament this weekend and Rugby Northeast 7s, hosted by defending champs Northeastern, next weekend to clinch an automatic berth to the CRCs.
Standing in the way of the Wolverines this weekend will be an incredibly strong side from the University of Northern Iowa. The Panthers, led by Morgan Linck and Macie Graves, have played in only two tournaments so far this Spring but have looked good doing it. They went 4-1 at Cavalier 7s, with wins over Aquinas, Adrian, Walsh, and Michigan State plus a fairly reasonable 22-7 loss to Wheeling. UNI also looked good at the Tom McDowell Invitational last weekend in games against Iowa State, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This is the last AQ of the season for the Panthers, though they will host their annual Murra Mayhem tournament on April 11 to boost their qualification resume if need be.
Rounding out the field at Wolverine 7s are Michigan State – who have spent all Spring playing against top competition and have All-Star scrumhalf Liz Jewell available to break open games at any time – and the University of Pittsburgh, who went 3-2 at Frostbite 7s behind a strong performance by All-Star Annabeth Weston.
High Peaks 7s
The final AQ on the docket for this weekend is the Women’s DIII qualifier for the High Peaks conference, hosted by Northern Colorado.
The heavy favorites heading into the tournament have to be defending XVs National Champions Colorado School of Mines. With a roster that boasts DIII Player of the Year “Primetime” Piper Lee, along with incredible talents like Aliya Lynn, Kate Osborn, and McKenzie Williams, the Orediggers seem primed to make a run at the old 22-skidoo – winning back-to-back fifteens and sevens national titles in the same school year – for the 2025-26 season.
Teams in the High Peaks are pretty familiar with each other, however, as they cross paths a lot in local tournaments. Mines has already seen most of their competition in this AQ at two tournaments hosted by Air Force and one hosted by the University of Denver earlier in March. Denver will compete in this AQ, as will New Mexico Tech, who have played in three tournaments so far this Spring.
Western Oregon, who finished behind MiraCosta College at their own AQ a few weeks ago, will also attend this qualifier as they look to return to Maryland after a tight loss to Niagara in the first round of the tournament in 2025. The Wolves beat everyone except for MiraCosta at their tournament and have plenty of dangerous athletes for teams to contend with.
Hosts Northern Colorado went 2-1-1 and the Air Force 7s tournament, beating a Mines’ B-Side, a combined Air Force and Colorado C-side, and drawing 10-10 against a Wyoming B-side. The Bears only loss in that tournament, however, came against Colorado College, who will also be participating in this qualifier. The Cutties beat the Mines B’s and and Air Force C’s as well, but lost to Wyoming 5-15.
Tune in to The College Rugby Show tomorrow at 6:00 PM EST for more storylines, predictions, and analysis of the road to National 7s.
