In partnership with National Collegiate Rugby, the inaugural tournament unites Ivy League and Power Four powerhouses Brown, Dartmouth, Notre Dame and UCLA in a celebration of academic and athletic excellence.
GLASGOW / BOSTON — FirstPoint USA, the world’s leading international sports recruitment and university placement agency, has been unveiled as the headline sponsor of a prestigious new in-season college rugby competition: The FirstPoint USA Scholars Cup.
Sanctioned by governing body National Collegiate Rugby (NCR), this landmark tournament brings together four of the globe’s most iconic academic institutions—Dartmouth College, Brown University, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)—to compete against each other in a historic series of in season matches for the very first time.
This headline sponsorship further solidifies FirstPoint USA’s commitment to the American rugby pathway, building upon its status as the Official College Pathway Partner of NCR and its recent high-profile partnership with the world’s biggest schools rugby event, the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens.
The tournament’s launch arrives on the heels of a major shift in the collegiate landscape, with UCLA Men’s Rugby officially joining NCR for the upcoming 2026-27 season. FirstPoint USA has played a pivotal role in orchestrating the inaugural Scholars Cup, which kicks off this Fall, blending Ivy League prestige with Power Four athletic tradition.
Andrew Kean, CEO and Founder of FirstPoint USA: "We are hugely excited to be involved in this groundbreaking new event, which further enhances the competitive college rugby landscape in the US. Bringing together four of the highest-profile academic and athletic programs in the country adds another layer of opportunity for players aspiring to play in the States. Interest in this competition will accelerate what is already the fastest-growing college sport in the country.
"The opportunity to play rugby and study at some of the leading universities in the world is life-changing for aspiring student-athletes. With the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups coming to the USA in 2031 and 2033, there has never been a better time to explore these options. We are seeing significant investment from an increasing number of elite academic institutions into their rugby programs, and the Scholars Cup is a competition that many of our future athletes will aspire to play in."
Jeremy Treece, CEO of National Collegiate Rugby (NCR): "This competition perfectly embodies our mission: uniting the nation’s most prestigious academic institutions with elite-level rugby under the highest standards of collegiate governance. We are deeply grateful to FirstPoint USA for their visionary sponsorship and look forward to an outstanding Fall season."
Dave Laflamme, Head Coach of two-time National Champions, Brown University: "The Scholars Cup is a fantastic new addition to our schedule, and our players are already looking forward to testing themselves against other elite programs nationwide this Fall. These four institutions share the same core values on and off the field, and the event will undoubtedly capture the imagination of fans, students, and alumni globally."
Harry Bennett, Head Coach of UCLA Men’s Rugby: "The excitement of our recent move to NCR has been heightened by the opportunity to be involved in the FirstPoint USA Scholars Cup. This event represents the absolute pinnacle of US college rugby and gives an incredible platform for our athletes to showcase their talent at an elite level. We are incredibly grateful to FirstPoint for their investment and head into the new season with an eager sense of anticipation."
FirstPoint USA’s rugby division combines international and collegiate expertise. The department is led by Director of Rugby Sean Lamont, who earned 104 caps during a distinguished international career for Scotland, alongside Head of Rugby Jamie Berrisford, a Life University alum who won two national titles with the Running Eagles.
By bridging the gap between talent and opportunity, FirstPoint USA continues to support ambitious student-athletes from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Hong Kong, South Africa, Canada, and the US in securing life-changing pathways to elite American universities.
Prospective student-athletes looking to explore their options on the US college rugby pathway can find out more and register their interest here: FirstPoint USA Rugby Pathway
