ATLANTA, GA – National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) is proud to host the 2026 Men’s All-Star Championship this weekend, January 17-18. Featuring the top 300 collegiate players from across the United States, the event has solidified its reputation as the premier scouting window for national team representatives and professional rugby leagues.
The tournament serves as a critical evaluation point for athletes seeking to advance to the next level of the sport. Throughout the weekend, official scouts will identify talent for professional contracts and national team high-performance camps.
Performance in Atlanta will determine the rosters for NCR’s prestigious 2026 Summer High-Performance (HP) cycle, which will include a return to RugbyTown 7s (August 21-23), and be coached by Steven Lewis and Ethan Pougnet. The NCR team is currently finalizing a XVs assembly with a mid-August target date, to be coached by Edward Tubridy. Coaches bios below.
Another highlight at this year’s tournament is the landmark partnership with Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL). NRL selectors will be evaluating the field to choose 15 elite athletes for a newly formed NRL/NCR Select Team. These players will travel to Las Vegas for a fully-funded participation in the Vegas 9s Tournament, where they will compete in front of Australian professional scouts for potential trials in the world's premier rugby league competition.
“The All-Star weekend has become more than just a competition; it is a diverse weekend of development, networking and a global stage for our members to showcase their abilities,” said Brad Dufek, NCR Men’s Director. “With the professional and international pathways now available, these 300 athletes are playing for much more than a trophy—they are auditioning for their future careers in rugby.”
By consolidating high-stakes competition with direct professional access, the Men’s All-Star Championship continues to be the engine for the future of American rugby.
All matches will be streamed live. Stadium matches available on NCR TV for a $12.99 weekend pass and outer field matches on YouTube.
Men's Summer Tour Coaches
Steve Lewis of Elevate Rugby (7s) - National Championship winning coach (7s) & GM (MLR), 2 x USA Rugby Coach of the Year. Currently Head Coach of Old Blue 7s, Nigeria 7s, Guyana 7s and High Performance Consultant for Costa Rica Rugby.
Ethan Pougnet (7s) – Founder and Director of Rugby at Rebel Rugby Academy, a five-time North American Sevens Champion and national leader in the U-18 sevens pathway. Former USA Rugby Sevens pathways coach and analyst, RugbyTown Sevens champion with USA U-23s (2023), and long-time developer of elite youth talent in the United States.
Edward Tubridy (XVs) – Irish-born coach and former player with experience across Ireland and Italy, including Young Munsters, Sunday’s Well, and Rieti RFC. Since relocating to the U.S. in 2011, he has coached at multiple levels and is currently Director of Rugby at Northeastern University, with additional experience in the Free Jacks Academy and High Performance All-American programs.
