FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SANTA CLARA, CA — The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) is pleased to announce that the CRAA Men’s U19s will compete in the 2026 Rugby Americas North (RAN) U19s Tournament, scheduled for August 5–8, 2026, in Querétaro, México.
This international competition represents a major step forward in CRAA’s commitment to building a clear, merit-based pathway for American rugby players and coaches, providing meaningful exposure to high-performance international environments at a critical stage of development.
The CRAA U19s program is designed to serve as a development bridge for high-potential athletes, aligning closely with USA Men’s National Team Pathways while expanding competitive opportunities beyond existing U18, U20, and U23 selections.
“This opportunity is about true high-performance access and alignment,” said Paul Santinelli, CRAA Executive Director. “The RAN U19s Tournament allows us to identify, prepare, and expose the next tier of American talent to international rugby while reinforcing the standards and expectations required at the highest levels of the game.”
Player Eligibility & Nominations
CRAA coaches will have the ability to nominate players who meet established age-grade and athletic performance standards. Eligible players include:
- High school graduates committed to CRAA colleges or universities, or
- Current CRAA collegiate players
- Date of birth: January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2009
All selections will emphasize long-term athlete development, player welfare, and readiness for international competition.
Program Alignment & Development Focus
The CRAA U19s will operate in alignment with USA National Team Pathways, incorporating:
- Feedback and collaboration with USA Pathways staff
- National pathway Individual Development Plans (IDPs)
- Shared playbooks, performance standards, and cultural expectations
- Exposure to international tournament preparation and match demands
In addition to player development, the initiative will provide international coaching and management experience for emerging American coaches, further strengthening the domestic high-performance coaching pipeline.
USA Rugby Head of Men’s Player Systems and Development, Brenden Keane added, “We appreciate the continued partnership with the College Rugby Association of America in the identification and development of young American talent. As with the CRAA Collegiate All-Americans last year, this opportunity to work together on identification, selection, and development for this U19 group is another important step forward in pathway alignment. We’re pleased to partner in giving coaches and young athletes meaningful international exposure and accelerating their transition to the next level. Experiences like this prepare players for future national team environments and strengthen the long-term pipeline for American rugby.”
The 2026 RAN U19s Tournament in Querétaro marks a significant milestone in CRAA’s broader strategy to create intentional, connected pathways that develop players and coaches while elevating the future of American rugby on the international stage.
Additional details regarding nominations, selections, staffing, preparation camps, and competition schedules will be released in the coming months.
About CRAA
The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) is a USA Rugby sanctioned competition that includes divisions within Men’s and Women’s Collegiate rugby. CRAA is committed to creating the best possible experience for student athletes, keeping commercial resources in the collegiate game, and creating experiences for our members to engage their academic institutions and alumni.
Contact:
College Rugby Association of America (CRAA)
pkeeler@craa.rugby
www.craa.rugby
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