Cardinal Athletics has exciting news for 2026! After nearly five decades of being a beloved sport at Catholic University, men’s rugby is being elevated from a club sport to a premier team sport.
As a result of decades of hard work, passion, and support from generations of players, alumni, coaches, and friends, men’s rugby has become one of the strongest and most respected club programs on campus. Over the past five consecutive seasons, the team has advanced to the Sweet 16 of the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Division III tournament, with four Elite 8 appearances and back-to-back trips to the Final Four in 2022 and 2023.
The mission for the overall Catholic University Athletics program revolves around having students compete in a sport that they love, to help shape who they become. The addition of another varsity sport now widens that aperture for more options so the men’s rugby program can flourish as another competitive option for student-athletes in the Landmark Conference.
For the inaugural rugby season (the team plays in both the fall and the spring), John Solomon will be joining the team as a full-time head coach. Solomon has held the position of head coach for the past fifteen years. His leadership has been instrumental to the program’s success on the national stage.
For more on the men's rugby team, visit their site, and for the latest highlights on all our programs, visit Catholic University Athletics.
