2026 Midwest Playoffs

MEN’S D1 (PREMIERSHIP)

The top four teams from each Conference will qualify. The Quarterfinals are set for November 7th, with third and fourth seeds crossing over to visit the top two seeds from the opposite Conference in a standard 1 v. 4 and 2 v. 3 format. Winners advance to Semifinal matches at the Midwest Championship event on November 14th, and the finalists will meet for the title at a neutral site on April 17, 2027. The champion advances to the Club Rugby NCS in May.

WOMEN’S D1 (PREMIERSHIP)

The top two teams from each Conference to the Semifinals during the weekend of November 7th, with each No. 2 seed traveling to its opposing No. 1 seed. The winners will play for the Midwest title on November 14th, and the champion will advance to the Club Rugby NCS in May 2027.

MEN’S D2

Will feature an eight-team field made up of the top two teams from each League plus two wildcards, selected by League Points per Game (LPPG). Teams will be seeded No. 1 through No. 8, with the top four hosting Quarterfinals on October 24 in a standard 1-vs.-8, 2-vs.-7, etc. format.

After a bye on October 31st, higher remaining seeds will host the Semifinals on November 7th. The finalists will meet at the Midwest Championship on November 14th, and both teams will advance to the NCS, with the champion earning the Union’s No. 1 seed.

WOMEN’S D2

Will feature an eight-team field, with the five League winners joined by three wildcards selected by LPPG. Once seeded No. 1 through No. 8, the top four teams will host Quarterfinal matches during the weekend of October 31st in a standard 1 v. 8, 2 v. 7, etc. format.

Semifinals will follow on November 7th, hosted by the highest remaining seeds, though Midwest Rugby Union may adjust matchups based upon geography. The finalists will meet on November 14th, and both will advance to the NCS, with the champion receiving the Union’s top seed.

MEN’S D3

Will open with a 16-team field, as the top two teams from each of the eight Leagues qualify. In the Round of 16, each League’s No. 2 seed will travel to the No. 1 seed from its sister League: East/Ohio, Michigan/Indiana, CARFU/Wisconsin, and Iowa/Minnesota.

Quarterfinal hosting the following weekend will generally go to the top seeds unless both top seeds in a pairing win, in which case Eastern, Indiana, CARFU, and Iowa will host on October 24th. After an October 31st bye weekend, Semifinals will be played at Conference-based neutral sites on November 7th, followed by the Midwest Championship on November 14th. As with D2, both finalists advance to the NCS, with the champion earning the Union’s top seed.

MEN’S D4

Will crown a Midwest champion with no NCS pathway. Top League seeds receive byes through the October 17th Round of 16, while Iowa No. 3 visits Minnesota No. 2, Minnesota No. 3 visits Iowa No. 2, Central No. 3 visits CARFU No. 2, and CARFU No. 3 visits Central No. 2.

Those winners will then travel to the corresponding No. 1 seeds in Minnesota, Iowa, Central, and CARFU. After a bye on October 31st, the remaining Teams will play Semifinals on November 7t at the same neutral location as Men’s Division 3, with the winners meeting for the Men’s D4 title on November 14th.

MIDWEST/ NCS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

DIV.GenderMatchDateLocationTeam ATeam B
D3MenMidwest Play-In A10/17/2026East #1East #1Ohio #2
D3MenMidwest Play-In B10/17/2026Ohio #1Ohio #1East #2
D3MenMidwest Play-In C10/17/2026Michigan #1Michigan #1Indiana #2
D3MenMidwest Play-In D10/17/2026Indiana #1Indiana #1Michigan 2
D3MenMidwest Play-In E10/17/2026CARFU #1CARFU #1Wisconsin #2
D3MenMidwest Play-In F10/17/2026Wisconsin #1Wisconsin #1CARFU #2
D3MenMidwest Play-In G10/17/2026Iowa #1Iowa #1Minnesota #2
D3MenMidwest Play-In H10/17/2026Minnesota #1Minnesota #1Iowa #2
D4MenMidwest Play-In A10/17/2026Marion, IAMarion MutantsEau Claire Orcs
D4MenMidwest Play-In B10/17/2026Faribault, MNFaribault BokspringsIowa #3
D4MenMidwest Play-In C10/17/2026CARFU #2CARFU #2Central #3
D4MenMidwest Play-In D10/17/2026Central #1Central #2CARFU #3
D2MenMidwest Quarterfinal A10/24/2026MD2 #1 SeedMD2 #1 SeedMD2 #8 Seed
D2MenMidwest Quarterfinal B10/24/2026MD2 #4 SeedMD2 #4 SeedMD2 #5 Seed
D2MenMidwest Quarterfinal C10/24/2026MD2 #2 SeedMD2 #2 SeedMD2 #7 Seed
D2MenMidwest Quarterfinal D10/24/2026MD2 #3 SeedMD2 #3 SeedMD2 #6 Seed
D3MenMidwest Quarterfinal A10/24/2026Higher SeedMW Play-In A WinnerMW Play-In B Winner
D3MenMidwest Quarterfinal B10/24/2026Higher SeedMW Play-In C WinnerMW Play-In D Winner
D3MenMidwest Quarterfinal C10/24/2026Higher SeedMW Play-In E WinnerMW Play-In F Winner
D3MenMidwest Quarterfinal D10/24/2026Higher SeedMW Play-In G WinnerMW Play-In H Winner
D4MenMidwest Quarterfinal A10/24/2026Minnesota #1Minnesota #1MW Play-In A Winner
D4MenMidwest Quarterfinal B10/24/2026Iowa #1Iowa #1MW Play-In B Winner
D4MenMidwest Quarterfinal C10/24/2026Central #1Central #1MW Play-In C Winner
D4MenMidwest Quarterfinal D10/24/2026CARFU #1CARFU #1MW Play-In D Winner
D2WomenMidwest Quarterfinal A10/31/2026WD2 #1 SeedWD2 #1 SeedWD2 #8 Seed
D2WomenMidwest Quarterfinal B10/31/2026WD2 #4 SeedWD2 #4 SeedWD2 #5 Seed
D2WomenMidwest Quarterfinal C10/31/2026WD2 #2 SeedWD2 #2 SeedWD2 #7 Seed
D2WomenMidwest Quarterfinal D10/31/2026WD2 #3 SeedWD2 #3 SeedWD2 #6 Seed
D1MenMidwest Quarterfinal A11/07/2026Western #1Western #1Eastern 4
D1MenMidwest Quarterfinal B11/07/2026Western #2Western #2Eastern 3
D1MenMidwest Quarterfinal C11/07/2026Eastern #1Eastern #1Western #4
D1MenMidwest Quarterfinal D11/07/2026Eastern #2Eastern #2Western #3
D1WomenMidwest Semifinal A11/07/2026Western #1Western #1Eastern #2
D1WomenMidwest Semfinal B11/07/2026Eastern #2Eastern #1Western #2
D2MenMidwest Semfinal A11/07/2026Higher SeedMW Quarterfinal A WinnerMW Quarterfinal B Winner
D2MenMidwest Semifinal B11/07/2026Higher SeedMW Quarterfinal C WinnerMW Quarterfinal D Winner
D2WomenMidwest Semfinal A11/07/2026Higher SeedMW Quarterfinal A WinnerMW Quarterfinal B Winner
D2WomenMidwest Semifinal B11/07/2026Higher SeedMW Quarterfinal C WinnerMW Quarterfinal D Winner
D3MenMidwest Semfinal A11/07/2026Neutral SiteMW Quarterfinal A WinnerMW Quarterfinal B Winner
D3MenMidwest Semifinal B11/07/2026Neutral SiteMW Quarterfinal C WinnerMW Quarterfinal D Winner
D4MenMidwest Semfinal A11/07/2026Neutral SiteMW Quarterfinal A WinnerMW Quarterfinal B Winner
D4MenMidwest Semifinal B11/07/2026Neutral SiteMW Quarterfinal C WinnerMW Quarterfinal D Winner
D1MenMidwest Semfinal A11/14/2026Lemont, ILMW Quarterfinal A WinnerMW Quarterfinal B Winner
D1MenMidwest Semifinal B11/14/2026Lemont, ILMW Quarterfinal C WinnerMW Quarterfinal D Winner
D1WomenMidwest Final11/14/2026Lemont, ILMW Semifinal A WinnerMW Semifinal B Winner
D2MenMidwest Final11/14/2026Lemont, ILMW Semifinal A WinnerMW Semifinal B Winner
D2WomenMidwest Final11/14/2026Lemont, ILMW Semifinal A WinnerMW Semifinal B Winner
D3MenMidwest Final11/14/2026Lemont, ILMW Semifinal A WinnerMW Semifinal B Winner
D4MenMidwest Final11/14/2026Lemont, ILMW Semifinal A WinnerMW Semifinal B Winner
D1MenMidwest Final04/17/2027Neutral SiteMW Semifinal A WinnerMW Semifinal B Winner
D2MenNorthern Super Regional Semifinal A05/01/2027TBDMW Final WinnerTBD
D2MenNorthern Super Regional Semifinal B05/01/2027TBDMW Final LoserTBD
D2WomenNorthern Super Regional Semifinal A05/01/2027TBDMW Final WinnerTBD
D2WomenNorthern Super Regional Semifinal B05/01/2027TBDMW Final LoserTBD
D3MenNorthern Super Regional Semifinal A05/01/2027TBDMW Final WinnerTBD
D3MenNorthern Super Regional Semifinal B05/01/2027TBDMW Final LoserTBD
D1WomenNorthern Super Regional Final05/02/2027TBDMW Final WinnerTBD
D2MenNorthern Super Regional Final05/02/2027TBDNSR Semifinal A WinnerNSR Semifinal B Winner
D2WomenNorthern Super Regional Final05/02/2027TBDNSR Semifinal A WinnerNSR Semifinal B Winner
D3MenNorthern Super Regional Final05/02/2027TBDNSR Semifinal A WinnerNSR Semifinal B Winner
D1MenNational Semifinal05/14/2027TBDMW Final WinnerTBD
D1WomenNational Semifinal05/14/2027TBDNSR Final WinnerTBD
D2MenNational Semifinal05/15/2027TBDNSR Final WinnerTBD
D2WomenNational Semifinal05/15/2027TBDNSR Final WinnerTBD
D3MenNational Semifinal05/15/2027TBDNSR Final WinnerTBD
D1MenNational Championship05/16/2027TBDNational Semifinal WinnerTBD
D1WomenNational Championship05/16/2027TBDNational Semifinal WinnerTBD
D2MenNational Championship05/16/2027TBDNational Semifinal WinnerTBD
D2WomenNational Championship05/16/2027TBDNational Semifinal WinnerTBD
D3MenNational Championship05/16/2027TBDNational Semifinal WinnerTBD

Updated: 09/09/2026

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