Dallas, Texas — The Urban Rugby Championship (URC) has announced the seven premier programs selected to compete in its 5th Annual tournament this March in Dallas.
Supported by the US Rugby Foundation (USRF), this milestone event brings together the nation’s most impactful urban rugby organizations to showcase high-performance talent from under-resourced communities.
The 2026 URC continues the Foundation’s mission to grassroots youth rugby by providing youth from major metropolitan areas a national stage to demonstrate the sport’s core values of teamwork, respect, and discipline.
"The Urban Rugby Championship is more than just a tournament; it is a testament to the talent and resilience found in our city centers," said US Rugby Foundation CEO Shane Young. "As we look toward the 2028 Olympics and the upcoming World Cups on American soil, our goal is to ensure that every young athlete—regardless of their zip code—has a pathway to the pitch. We are building a sustainable future where the core values of rugby serve as a foundation for lifelong success."
This tournament, of course, is close to Young's heart as he started and nurtured Memphis Inner City Rugby and that spearheaded the URC.
Spreading Rugby Through Competition
The Urban Rugby Championships is a 7s tournament featuring rugby programs (boys and girls) from cities across the USA. All of these programs have been successful in bringing the game of rugby, and its values, to heavily-minority regions that might not have been exposed to the sport otherwise.
These programs have not only provided positive activities for young people in those areas, but have helped those athletes to expand their options and compete and succeed at major college programs, on the national stage, and for the USA.
