2027 Thunderbird Cup

JUNE 4-6, 2027 | CHICAGO BLAZE RUGBY FACILITY | LEMONT, IL

EVENT OVERVIEW & PURPOSE

The 2027 Midwest Thunderbird Cup is planned for the weekend of June 4–6, 2027, at the Chicago Blaze Rugby Facility in Lemont, Illinois, just outside Chicago. The event is designed to bring together Local Area Union representative sides from across the Midwest Rugby Union for a high-performance fifteens rugby competition and player identification opportunity.

The mission of the Midwest Thunderbird Cup is to provide all players within the Midwest Rugby Union an opportunity to compete in high-performance rugby while representing their Local Area Union. The event is also intended to serve as the primary selection opportunity for inclusion in the Midwest Thunderbird Program for the following competitive cycle, which runs from August through July.

The Midwest Thunderbird Program is an elite-level senior club program for playing members of the Midwest Rugby Union. The program provides selected senior club players an opportunity to train, assemble, and compete at an elevated representative level.

EVENT QUICK REFERENCE

ITEM	DETAIL
Event	2027 Midwest Thunderbird Cup
Dates	June 4-6, 2027
Location	Chicago Blaze Rugby Facility, Lemont, IL
Competitions	Senior Men, Senior Women, U23 Men, U23 Women
Format	Cup and Plate Competitions; 80-minutes matches
Registration	Event Registration via Rugby Xplorer
Fees	No fees; refundable participation deposit likely

COMPETITION DIVISION & FORMAT

The Union intends to organize competition for Senior Men, Senior Women, U23 Men, and U23 Women. It is the Union’s desire for all member LAUs to register sides in all available areas of competition.

• U23 semifinal matches are planned for Friday, with finals and relegation/ consolation matches on Saturday.
• Senior club semifinal matches are planned for Saturday, with finals and consolation matches on Sunday.
• Generally, Cup semifinals will be seeded 1 v. 4 and 2 v. 3; Plate semifinals will be seeded 5 v. 8 and 6 v. 7 across all competition levels.
• Where LAUs do not enter sides in a competition, the Union will use an equitable method to determine seeding for the 2027 event.
• A specific field schedule will be posted closer to the event after teams are finalized.

2027 COMPETITION SEEDING

Competition	Cup Seeding	Plate Seeding
Senior Men	1. Indiana 2. Wisconsin 3. Ohio 4. Iowa	5. Allegheny 6. Minnesota 7. Michigan 8. CARFU
Senior Women	1. CARFU 2. Minnesota 3. Allegheny 4. Ohio	5. Michigan 6. Indiana 7. Iowa 8. Wisconsin
U23 Men	1. Allegheny 2. Minnesota 3. CARFU	Remaining Seeds TBD
U23 Women	1. Ohio 2. CARFU 3. Michigan 4. Minnesota	5. Indiana 6. Iowa 7. Wisconsin 8. Allegheny

MATCH RULES & ON-FIELD PROCEDURES

All matches will be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as specified by World Rugby, along with any applicable USA Rugby and Midwest Rugby Union guidelines for fifteens competition.

• All matches will consist of two (2) forty-minute halves with a ten-minute halftime.
• The Senior Club Overtime Policy will apply if a match is tied at the end of full time.
• Substitutions will follow World Rugby Law 3. Teams rostering 23 players must have six front-row eligible players available.
• Rolling substitutions will not be permitted. All substitutions must be processed through the 4th Official on the sideline.

REGISTRATION, ROSTERS, & PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

The 2027 event is intended to be administered through Rugby Xplorer. Senior club players will be required to register for the applicable senior team within the Event at no charge. College players who are not current Midwest members will be required to register for their U23 side within the Event for a nominal charge. All players must be registered before participating and must be from their LAU they are competing with. Senior Clubs players must play on a senior side associated with the LAU. Collegiate players must either attend school or reside within the geographical boundaries of the LAU.

• All teams may name up to twenty-eight players for the weekend.
• Teams may roster no more than twenty-three players for each Match Roster.
• The Midwest Rugby Union will validate each player’s eligibility before the event.
• Player movement will follow the Rules of League Competition.
• No match roster may contain more than five non-resident players or more than five professional players.
• For this event, a professional player is defined as a player who has taken the field in the current or immediately preceding year for a professional franchise and/or senior national team. Academy matches do not count as professional rugby matches.

EVENT CONDUCT, DISCIPLINE, & REQUIRED MATCHES

Teams are required to play consolation matches when offered unless a medical or inclement weather waiver is granted by the Midwest Rugby Union. Failure to participate in consolation matches without a waiver may result in sanctions. Event discipline will be handled on site, and technical zone and sideline management will be enforced throughout the event.

VENUE AMENTITIES & FACILITY INFORMATION

• Concessions will be available on site throughout the event.
• No outside alcohol is permitted. No one under the age of 21 will be permitted to consume alcohol.
• The bar is expected to be open during the event.
• Locker rooms will be available for men and women throughout the event. Players should not leave belongings unattended and do so at their own risk.
• Showers will be available. The buddy system is strongly recommended for anyone showering.
• Restrooms will be available throughout the facility, including inside the locker rooms and clubhouse.

MEDICAL, STREAMING, MERCHANDISE, & PROGRAM ACCESS

• Professional medical training staff will be available throughout the event.
• Merchandise will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. Items often sell quickly, so early arrival is recommended.
• Fields 1 and 2 are expected to be professionally streamed throughout the event.
• Midwest Thunderbird coaches will be available to scout players and answer questions about the program.

LAU ACTION ITEMS

• Confirm intent to enter sides in each competition area.
• Identify coaches, administrators, and team contacts for each side.
• Prepare player pools and confirm registration requirements in Rugby Xplorer once the event is available.
• Ensure rosters comply with match roster limits, front-row requirements, and eligibility rules.
• Communicate check-in, venue, conduct, and match-day expectations to all players and staff.