student-athlete and fan experience for college rugby.”

Aveva Stadium will be the backdrop for all four championship matches on April 30, 2022. Aveva Stadium is a proper rugby union stadium in Houston, Texas, as part of Houston Sports Park and is home to the Houston SaberCats of Major League Rugby (MLR). The facility was opened on April 13, 2019, is the first stadium built specifically for use by Major League Rugby, and the second rugby-specific stadium for professional competition in the United States.

CRAA has partnered with The Rugby Network (TRN) to provide free online streaming of all four matches with professional broadcast production. TRN provides full 1080p HD streams with replays and highlights of every single MLR match. They also produce weekly rugby shows, documentaries, and latest news from the MLR.

“Our goal is to provide the student-athletes with a professional experience and deliver broadcast to all fans and spectators of the participating institutions,” said Paul Keeler, CRAA Chairperson.
“Partnering with the Houston Sabercats and The Rugby Network is helping us achieve our goal and create great student athlete and fan experiences.

“This is an event we have greatly anticipated as top programs and divisions in college rugby come together for an electric championship Saturday,’ said USA Rugby CEO, Ross Young, “The collective effort by all involved to help this experience come to life is inspiring and a perfect showcase of rugby community values. We’re eager to see student-athletes, friends, families and fans descend on such a first-class facility as Aveva Stadium and hand out some championship hardware.”

AIG, Pearland Convention and Visitors Bureau and 8×8 Sports have also stepped up to partner the CRAA Championship Weekend. 8×8 Sports, an American rugby apparel company, is the “naming partner” of the overall event and has also sponsored the CRAA Fall Classic in Charlotte, NC. AIG and Pearland are “event partners” for the event, who have provided resources to benefit the championship participants. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the event.

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 includes Men’s D1A, Women’s D1 Elite, Women’s D1 and Women’s D2. 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.