Rugby Canada and USA Rugby agree to 4-year calendar

Rugby Canada and USA Rugby have agreed to a 4-year annual playing and development calendar covering their men’s and women’s programs. The agreement guarantees regular cross-border Tests, or international matches, for the senior sides, RugbyPass said.

The agreement follows separate development plans by the federations. On 29 April 2026, Rugby Canada announced its NextGen program, combining national camps and international competitions. It described its under-18 camps as an entry point that prepares players for men’s under-20 and women’s under-21 international competition.

Fixtures and camps for younger players

The partnership also plans fixtures and joint camps for men’s under-19 and under-20 programs and women’s under-20 and under-21 teams. Rugby Canada high-performance director Shawn Bullock said joint youth programs and shared hosting would provide players with consistent high-level competition each year.

USA Rugby general manager for high performance Tamara Sheppard said the partnership strengthens competition and cooperation across senior 15-a-side, youth and sevens programs, giving players more opportunities to develop and compete at a high level.

In its own junior pathway announcement, USA Rugby said its men’s under-18 program would run as an under-19 program for the 2027 cycle, extending selection to all high school athletes with support from USA Youth & High School Rugby. Age-eligible under-19 players already in college would form the foundation of the men’s under-20 program.

Match dates, venues, camps and competition schedules under the cross-border agreement are to be confirmed in 2027.