BOYDS, Md. – The 2026 Collegiate Rugby Championships Premier Cup Final featured two members of American rugby royalty, each searching for their third title when two-time National Champion Dartmouth took on the two-time defending champion Wheeling Cardinals. While Dartmouth took an early 5-0 lead off the back of a dazzling Richard Wofford try, the Cardinals came back and completed their three-peat with a 14-12 victory.
Dartmouth looked destined to claim its third title in program history, and first since 2012, but a yellow card to star Ethan Knight for tackling Shadreck Mandaza, mid-penalty quicktap, opened the door for one of two tries from reigning Player of the Year, and MVP of the weekend, Alex Nyamunda. In the end, just a conversion separated the Cardinals from the Big Green.
In the first semifinal, Dartmouth trailed 7-5 late but was able to pick up a try at the death to claim the 10-7 victory over Notre Dame. In the other semifinal, Wheeling faced its strongest competition this week but still came away with a hard-fought 17-10 win over an extremely game Kutztown squad.
In the third-place game, Kutztown doubled up Notre Dame 24-12 and Walsh won a 26-7 decision in the fifth place game over Belmont Abbey. The Premier Plate was won by Brown who upended Clemson 14-7.
Fordham defeated Marian 10-7 in the Bowl Final with a game-winning try at the death. In the Shield Final, one conversion made all the difference as Air Force upended Michigan 14-12.
The leading scorer in the men’s Premier division was Tito Edjua. The junior from Brown scored eight tries and added eight conversions for 56 points in five games.
2026 All Tournament Team
- Jack Dunne, Notre Dame, Junior
- Tito Edjua, Brown, Junior
- Ethan Knight, Dartmouth, Graduate
- Shadreck Mandaza, Wheeling, Sophomore
- Alex Nyamunda, Wheeling, Junior
- Benedict Quinn, Kutztown, Senior
- Mackenzie Bridges, Marian, Sophomore
