ATLANTA, GA – This Saturday, January 24, National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) will host the 2026 Women’s All-Star Championship, the most significant assembly of women’s collegiate talent. The event will feature over 340 elite athletes competing in a high-intensity environment designed to bridge the gap between collegiate success and the professional ranks.
While the event serves as a premier competition, its primary function is as a centralized scouting hub. Official representatives from and Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) will be conducting live evaluations to identify players for national team high-performance camps and the burgeoning domestic professional landscape.
For the second consecutive year, the Women’s High-Performance 7s team will travel to Portugal for the prestigious Algarve 7s (June 5-7). Following a historic run last year where the NCR side reached the finals—falling short in a hard-fought championship match—the 2026 squad returns with the goal of securing the title.
Broadening the scope of professional opportunity, NCR is expanding its landmark partnership with Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) to provide a direct link to the NRLW, the world’s premier women’s professional league. Selectors will identify 15 standout athletes to form the NRLW-NCR Select Team. This squad will receive a fully-funded invitation to the Vegas 9s Tournament in late February, offering a direct audition for professional scouts and potential trials in Australia.
In addition to the 7s circuit, performance in Atlanta will dictate the player pool for the summer XVs cycle. NCR High-Performance staff is currently finalizing a Women’s XVs assembly and international match slated for mid-August, ensuring a year-round development pathway for the nation's top collegiate talent.
“This weekend represents a fundamental shift in how we develop women’s talent in the United States,” said Alycia Washington, NCR Women’s Director. “With over 340 players in Atlanta, we are seeing the depth of the women's game grow at an exponential rate. From the pitches in Georgia to the stadium in Portugal, the pathway to professional rugby has never been more visible or more attainable.”
Streaming & Access Fans can follow the action live through multiple platforms. Stadium matches will be featured on NCR TV via a $12.99 weekend pass, while outer field competition will be available for free on YouTube.
