Rugby fans in the United States have a packed weekend ahead, with both Eagles senior teams in action, the Pacific Nations Cup reaching its finale in Tokyo, the WXV Global Series continuing across Europe, and another full slate of college and USA club rugby.
The biggest American storyline comes in two parts. The USA Men face Canada in the Pacific Nations Cup third-place playoff in Tokyo early Saturday morning, before the USA Women open their WXV Global Series campaign against Ireland in Dublin on Sunday.
College rugby also moves deeper into the fall season. NIRA has another significant Saturday schedule, NCR competition stretches across the country, CRAA has several D1A and D1AA matchups, and USA club rugby fills much of Saturday afternoon.
Here is what rugby fans should know about the weekend of September 18–20.
Rugby This Weekend: The Quick Guide
USA Men vs Canada: Eagles Finish the Pacific Nations Cup
Saturday, September 19 · 2:00 a.m. CT
Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium · Tokyo
The Men’s Eagles have one more opportunity to finish their Pacific Nations Cup campaign on a positive note when they face Canada in the third-place playoff in Tokyo.
The USA reached finals weekend after facing Japan in the semifinal at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka. Japan won 63–14 to advance to the championship match against Fiji.
Canada reached the third-place playoff after a 45–29 semifinal loss to defending champion Fiji.
That sets up another meeting between the North American rivals, this time with third place in the Pacific Nations Cup at stake.
USA head coach Scott Lawrence has made several changes to his starting side. Fakaosifolau Pifeleti comes into the front row at loosehead prop, while Lance Williams starts at openside flanker.
There are also changes in the backline. Luke Carty moves into the starting lineup at fly-half alongside scrum-half Ruben de Haas, Cassh Maluia starts at inside center and Julian Roberts comes onto the wing.
Canada has made changes of its own. Foster DeWitt starts at hooker, Jesse Kilgour returns at scrum-half and Ethan Fryer makes his first start since returning from a skull fracture suffered against Chile in 2024.
Canada captain Lucas Rumball is also set to earn his 70th cap, which would move him into fourth place on Canada’s all-time men’s appearance list.
What to watch: how the Eagles respond defensively after the Japan defeat, whether the USA can establish more sustained possession and how the changes at fly-half and inside center affect the American attack.
Fiji vs Japan for the Pacific Nations Cup Title
Saturday, September 19 · 5:05 a.m. CT
Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium · Tokyo
After Canada and the USA settle third place, Fiji and Japan meet for the Pacific Nations Cup championship.
Defending champion Fiji is attempting to win the competition for a third consecutive year and extend its tournament record to eight Pacific Nations Cup titles.
Japan is chasing its first championship since 2019 after finishing runner-up to Fiji in each of the previous two tournaments.
Fiji reached the final with its 45–29 victory over Canada, while Japan advanced after beating the USA 63–14.
Japan has made three changes to the side that defeated the Eagles. Faulua Makisi moves into the starting lineup at No. 8, Jack Cornelsen switches to the second row and Tomoki Osada comes onto the wing.
For American fans willing to make it an early morning, the two matches create a Pacific Nations Cup doubleheader beginning with Canada–USA at 2:00 a.m. CT and finishing with the championship at 5:05 a.m. CT.
USA Women Open WXV Against Ireland
Sunday, September 20 · 7:45 a.m. CT
Tallaght Stadium · Dublin
The American rugby weekend continues Sunday morning when the Women’s Eagles begin their 2026 WXV Global Series campaign against Ireland.
The match is part of the first season of World Rugby’s new WXV Global Series format, which has replaced the previous centralized WXV divisional tournament structure with a broader international series.
USA Rugby named a 36-player squad for the campaign, which begins with road matches against Ireland and Wales before the Eagles return to the United States for three October tests.
After Dublin, the USA travels to Cardiff to face Wales on September 26. The Eagles are then scheduled to return home to play Italy twice before finishing their WXV campaign against England.
Ireland provides the first test of that run, with the match taking place at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.
What to watch: how quickly the Women’s Eagles establish their attack, how the USA handles the opening match of an extended international campaign and which players begin establishing larger roles during the next phase of the program.
How to Watch WXV in the United States
World Rugby says WXV matches are available on RugbyPass TV unless a specific market broadcaster applies.
For viewers in the United States, Paramount+ carries selected WXV Global Series matches. Because the U.S. listing applies to selected matches rather than the entire competition, fans should check the individual match listing before kickoff.
WXV Global Series Takes Over the Weekend
Ireland–USA is only one part of a major weekend in the WXV Global Series. RFC’s tournament centre connects the competition schedule directly to individual team hubs and match centres.
Wales and South Africa begin the weekend Friday at Cardiff Arms Park. Saturday then brings four internationals across Italy, England, France and Scotland before Ireland and the USA close the weekend Sunday.
WXV Challenger Continues in Hong Kong
The WXV Global Series Challenger reaches its second round Saturday in Hong Kong, with another tripleheader at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground.
Because Hong Kong is 13 hours ahead of U.S. Central Time in September, the opening match begins late Friday night for American viewers even though all three matches are officially played on Saturday, September 19 in Hong Kong.
Fiji, Hong Kong China and the Netherlands all opened the Challenger with victories. Fiji defeated Spain 38–32, Hong Kong China beat Brazil 29–24 and the Netherlands defeated Samoa 70–0.
The six-team competition continues across three match weekends, with the final round scheduled for September 26.
College Rugby: Another Packed Fall Weekend
The American college schedule expands again this weekend, with matches across NIRA, NCR and CRAA.
NIRA Matches to Watch
NIRA’s schedule begins Friday before another busy Saturday of varsity women’s rugby.
- Friday, 5:00 p.m. CT: North Carolina vs Guilford
- Saturday, 10:00 a.m. CT: AIC vs Navy
- Saturday, 10:00 a.m. CT: Southern Nazarene vs Lindenwood
- Saturday, 11:00 a.m. CT: Mount St. Mary’s vs La Salle
- Saturday, 11:00 a.m. CT: Davenport vs Frostburg State
- Saturday, 11:00 a.m. CT: Princeton vs West Chester
- Saturday, 12:00 p.m. CT: Sacred Heart vs Army
Princeton and Lindenwood produced two of the biggest scores of last weekend. Princeton defeated LIU 91–0, while Lindenwood beat Queens 103–5. Harvard also made a major early-season statement with a 76–0 victory over Brown.
Princeton now hosts West Chester, while Lindenwood travels to Southern Nazarene. Sacred Heart–Army adds another matchup to follow as the NIRA season begins to take shape.
CRAA: D1A and D1AA Matches
RFC’s current college schedule includes D1A and D1AA matches on Friday and Saturday.
- Friday, 12:00 p.m. CT: Texas A&M vs Loyola New Orleans — D1AA
- Friday, 5:00 p.m. CT: Southern Virginia vs Mount St. Mary’s — D1A
- Saturday, 12:00 p.m. CT: Mary Washington vs Navy — D1A
- Saturday, 12:00 p.m. CT: Indiana vs Purdue — D1A
- Saturday, 12:00 p.m. CT: Michigan State vs Ohio State — D1A
- Saturday, 12:00 p.m. CT: Wyoming vs Colorado — D1A
- Saturday, 12:00 p.m. CT: Charlotte vs North Carolina — D1AA
- Saturday, 12:00 p.m. CT: Ferris State vs Trine — D1AA
Indiana–Purdue and Michigan State–Ohio State put two familiar Big Ten matchups on Saturday’s schedule, while Navy travels to face Mary Washington.
NCR Schedule Spreads Across the Country
NCR has one of the largest domestic college schedules of the weekend, with matches beginning Friday and continuing through Sunday.
Friday includes Indiana–Purdue and Michigan–Bowling Green among the games currently listed in RFC’s schedule.
Saturday brings a much larger slate across multiple conferences and divisions, including Aquinas–Davenport and dozens of matches from New England to Texas and the Upper Midwest.
The weekend continues Sunday with the United States Merchant Marine Academy scheduled to face Seton Hall.
With the college season reaching full fall volume, RFC’s match centres and results pages will continue to update as verified scores become available.
USA Club Rugby Has a Full Saturday
College rugby is not the only domestic game filling Saturday. USA club rugby continues across multiple divisions and geographic unions.
In Midwest Men’s Division I Western action, Chicago Blaze hosts Chicago Lions while Metropolis welcomes the St. Louis Bombers. Both matches are currently scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT.
The Minnesota men’s Division III schedule includes Rochester Rogues against Metropolis and the St. Paul Jazz Pigs against Eastside Banshees, both currently scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT.
Women’s club rugby also has a substantial Saturday schedule. Milwaukee Scylla hosts Minneapolis Menagerie in Midwest Women’s Division II Western action, while additional matches across the Midwest, Capital and Empire competitions add to the nationwide slate.
Top 14: Toulouse Heads to Rennes to Face Vannes
France’s Top 14 continues with Round 3 this weekend, and one of the headline matches takes Toulouse to Brittany.
Vannes vs Toulouse is scheduled for Saturday, September 19 at 9:00 p.m. local time at Roazhon Park in Rennes.
Vannes is moving the match away from its regular home at Stade de la Rabine for the occasion, using the larger Roazhon Park in Rennes.
Toulouse arrives as the four-time defending French champion, giving promoted Vannes one of the biggest home occasions of its season.
The Top 14 round continues across Saturday and Sunday before Bordeaux-Bègles hosts Stade Français in the Sunday fixture.
Three Matches for U.S. Fans to Circle
Canada vs USA — Saturday, 2:00 a.m. CT
The Men’s Eagles have an immediate opportunity to respond to the loss against Japan, with third place in the Pacific Nations Cup on the line against Canada. Open the RFC Match Centre →
England vs Canada — Saturday, 9:00 a.m. CT
Canada faces one of the biggest tests on the WXV weekend against England at Sandy Park. Open the RFC Match Centre →
Ireland vs USA — Sunday, 7:45 a.m. CT
The Women’s Eagles begin their WXV campaign on the road in Dublin. Open the RFC Match Centre →
What to Watch This Weekend
How do the Men’s Eagles respond? Japan’s 63–14 semifinal victory exposed areas the USA will want to improve immediately. Canada gives the Eagles another international test just seven days later.
What difference do the USA lineup changes make? Luke Carty starts at fly-half, Cassh Maluia moves into the midfield and Julian Roberts comes onto the wing as Scott Lawrence adjusts his backline for Canada.
What does the Women’s Eagles WXV campaign look like? Ireland begins an international run that takes the USA from Dublin to Cardiff before the Eagles return home for the remainder of their WXV schedule.
Who takes the Pacific Nations Cup? Fiji is chasing a third consecutive championship and record-extending eighth title, while Japan is attempting to win the tournament for the first time since 2019.
Which college teams make an early move? Princeton, Lindenwood and several other programs have already produced major early-season results. This weekend brings another large slate across NIRA, NCR and CRAA.
How quickly can the domestic scoreboard fill? College and club rugby are now reaching full fall volume. RFC will continue updating match centres and results as verified scores become available throughout the weekend.
