WHEELING – Over the last two seasons, the Wheeling University Men’s Rugby team has established themselves as one of the top 7’s programs in the country. They have won back-to-back Collegiate Rugby Championships (CRC) 7’s National Championships and have lost just one 7’s contest over the last two seasons. On Thursday, the quest for a three-peat officially began as the team released their 2026 7’s schedule, featuring four regular season tournaments, including the second straight season that the Cardinals have hosted a home tournament.

The Cardinals had a big target on their back coming into the 2025 7’s season, coming off an undefeated spring and a national title the season before. They opened the year strong, sweeping both the Peach 7’s Tournament and their home Nail City 7’s Tournament to start the season 10-0. They were going along that same road in the Fighting Irish 7’s, but a slip up in the title game against Iowa Central Community College, gave them their first loss of the year.

It would be their only loss of the regular season, as they went on to sweep through their remaining schedule and win the Big Rivers Rugby Conference (BRRC) 7’s Conference Championship. It would propel them once again to the No. 1 seed in the CRC National 7’s Tournament, and they would go 3-0 on day one with wins over Babson College, the University of Mary Washington, and Brown.

A semifinal win over Queens University of Charlotte advanced them to the title game, where they battled St. Bonaventure. It was the tightest contest of the tournament, but the Cardinals came out on top 19-5 to complete the championship.

Although they will not be competing in the Atlantic Rugby Conference (ARC) during 7’s season, they will see many of the same opponents that they battled throughout the fall. It starts with the team that ended their 15’s playoff run, when the Cardinals travel to the Queens Cup, hosted by Queens University of Charlotte. It will give the Cardinals a strong test right out of the gate, as they battle against some of the top National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) DI programs.

They follow that up with some more national-level competition, when they head to Rock Hills, South Carolina for the Ruck the Rock tournament, hosted by XV Rugby.

The Cardinals continue their run on the road when they head to South Bend, Indiana for the Fighting Irish 7’s. It will be the third straight season that the Cardinals have traveled to Notre Dame for a 7’s tournament, winning the championship in the tournament back in 2024. The Cardinals will come home for the second straight season two weeks later, as they bring back the Nail City 7’s to Bishop Schmitt Field.

This year’s tournament will be even bigger than previous seasons, with two fields being in use, with teams coming from around the region. It will be the final tune-up for the Cardinals before they head to the CRC National 7’s, running April 24th and 25th in Boyds, Maryland. The Cardinals will look to defend their national title for the third straight season as they climb the tournament ladder.

The Wheeling University Men’s Rugby team opens their 2026 7’s season on Saturday, March 7, when they take on the Queens Cup at Queens University of Charlotte.