After a historic 2024-25 season that saw several of the nation’s top collegiate rugby programs dominate both XVs and 7s competition, the Atlantic Rugby Conference is set to make its official debut in Fall 2025.

The formation of the conference follows an extraordinary showing at the 2025 Collegiate Rugby Championship National 7s, where the entire Men’s Premier Cup semifinal lineup—Wheeling University, Queens University of Charlotte, St. Bonaventure, and Belmont Abbey—was composed exclusively of future Atlantic Rugby members. Wheeling University capped the weekend with a commanding 19-5 victory over St. Bonaventure in the final, securing back-to-back national titles and the third championship for the conference in four years.

That 7s dominance mirrored a powerful Fall XVs season in 2024, with St. Bonaventure, Wheeling, and Queens all reaching the National semifinals. Queens came within inches of claiming a title, narrowly falling to Brown University 23-20 in a repeat of the 2022 final.

Recognizing their shared standards of excellence and commitment to elevating collegiate rugby, these elite programs are now joining forces to form the Atlantic Rugby Conference. The founding members—Wheeling University, Queens University, St. Bonaventure, Belmont Abbey College, Walsh University, and Kutztown University—bring with them a proven track record of success and a shared vision for the future of the college game.

“This conference is being built by winners,” said Conference Administrator Zachary Ahlin. “These teams have been among the best in the country for years, and now they’re coming together to raise the standard even higher.”

With fierce rivalries already in place and national championship expectations across the board, the 2025-26 season promises to be one of the most competitive and compelling in recent memory.