FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2025
SPARTANBURG, SC — The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) is proud to announce the complete fixture lineup for the 2025 CRAA Fall Classic, returning to Spartanburg, South Carolina, on December 6–7, 2025. The event will once again be hosted at the Louis P. Howell Athletic Complex at the University of South Carolina Upstate, in partnership with OneSpartanburg, Inc.
The CRAA Fall Classic has rapidly emerged as one of the nation’s top collegiate rugby festivals, uniting elite programs, pathway academies, and regional all-star teams for a weekend of high-performance competition. Returning to Spartanburg builds on a successful foundation and reinforces the strong community and institutional support behind this signature event.
“We are excited to welcome back the CRAA Fall Classic and build upon the success of the 2024 event,” said John Mark Freeze, Vice President of Sports Development at OneSpartanburg, Inc. “Spartanburg is an excellent backdrop for collegiate athletics, and we are excited to watch some incredible, high-performance rugby being played at County University Soccer Stadium.”
Spotlight Match: The Resurgence of the North American Four
This year’s North American Challenge Bowl, featuring Life University vs. the University of British Columbia, holds special significance as it helps set the stage for the resurgence of the North American Four (NA4)—a continental competition framework designed to feature the top two men’s and top two women’s teams from the United States and Canada.
The renewed NA4 will aim to strengthen cross-border high-performance pathways, elevate competition standards, and provide meaningful international exposure for student-athletes. The Life vs. UBC showdown in Spartanburg will serve as a foundational moment in this bi-national rugby initiative.
2025 CRAA FALL CLASSIC FIXTURES
All matches will be held at the Louis P. Howell Athletic Complex, USC Upstate.
Saturday, December 6, 2025
11:00 AM — D1AA All-Star Bowl (Men)
Heart of America vs. Florida Collegiate Conference
1:30 PM — Upstate Challenge Cup (Men)
Florida State University vs. Southern Virginia University
4:00 PM — Upstate Challenge Cup (Women)
Peaks Rugby Academy vs. Life University
6:30 PM — North American Challenge Bowl (Men)
Life University vs. University of British Columbia
— A showcase match highlighting a renewed North American Four (NA4) initiative.
Sunday, December 7, 2025
12:00 PM — Spartan Regiment Bowl (Men)
Mount Saint Mary’s University vs. Arkansas State University
2:30 PM — Battle of Cowpens Bowl (Men)
St. Thomas University vs. University of Mary Washington
About CRAA
The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) is a USA Rugby-sanctioned competition that includes premier divisions within Men’s and Women’s Collegiate rugby. The competition consists of Men’s D1A, Men’s D1AA, Men’s D2 and Women’s D1 and Women’s D2. CRAA is committed to creating the best possible experience for student-athletes, preserving commercial resources in the collegiate game, and providing opportunities for our members to engage their academic institutions and alumni.
For media or sponsor inquiries, please contact: lesley@lpevents.net or at 864-508-9863.
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