SPRING CUP
2027
A spring season organized for you. Fresh opponents, real competition, and a finals day with a trophy to lift.
The format
Three games, then a knockout. Five games, win or lose.
Three games in your group stage, against clubs you do not normally face. Every club is then ranked in one table and split into brackets of four. In each bracket the semi-final winners go through to the final for the trophy, and the losers play off for third, so everyone has a meaningful game on finals day. An eight-club edition runs two brackets, each with its own trophy: the Cup and the Plate. Bigger fields add the Shield and the Bowl, up to four trophies, depending on how many clubs an area brings. There is no early knockout, so every club is guaranteed five games no matter how the group stage goes.
Finals day is a full day of rugby at a proper stadium with room for a crowd. Up to four finals and four third-place games, all on the same ground, all on the same day, so the whole field and its supporters are in one place. Trophies at the end, then the after-party with the partner bar. A celebration of rugby, on the field and off.
Pre-register your club for 2027
Spring Cup 2027 sign-ups are open
We build editions where the format works: a cluster of clubs close enough to travel in a day, enough to fill brackets of four (we run fields of 8, 12 or 16 clubs), and a mix of divisions that keeps games competitive. Where we believe an area can support one, we invite the clubs in it to join. Registering now does not commit you to anything. We confirm the edition and lock dates first, then ask for an entry fee, expect around $500 to $700 per club. It covers some of the cost of running the tournament, the venue, referees, athletic trainers, trophies and photography, and it confirms your club is in. We take no profit on entry fees; the rest is covered by sponsorship. Spots are first come, first served, and we cannot take every club, so get your name in early.
Spring Cup NYC 2026 · inaugural edition
How Year 1 went
Eight clubs. Finals day at Columbia. New Haven Old Black lifted the Cup. Brooklyn lifted the Plate.
See the full Year 1 record →FAQs
Is Spring Cup confirmed in my city?
Not yet for new markets. We confirm an area once enough clubs sign up to fill brackets of four (we run fields of 8, 12 or 16). We will let you know in your area by early fall 2026.
Will it clash with our league playoffs?
No. We schedule the group stage after the league season, and if your club is on a deep playoff run we flex your early fixtures around it. Spring Cup is built to fill the gap, not fight your league.
How much does entry cost?
TBC per market. Expect $500 to $700 per club. The money goes to venue, refs, athletic trainers, trophies and photography. We run no profit margin on entry fees. The tournament is funded by sponsorship.
What if my market does not have enough clubs?
You are notified and no charge is taken. We do not take entry fees until a market is confirmed.
Is this affiliated with USA Rugby?
No. We are independent. Clubs do need to comply with USA Rugby CIPP registration for insurance, which most already do.