USA Rugby Elite Cup
SportRugby union football
Inaugural season2013  (first and only)
Replaced byUSA Rugby Super League
Number of teams8
CountryUnited States (USA Rugby)
ChampionsSan Francisco Golden Gate RFC[1]
WebsiteElite Cup

The USA Rugby Elite Cup was an American rugby union competition which ran for just one season in 2013. The competition was founded in 2012,[2] replacing the USA Rugby Super League involving top USA rugby clubs.[3] The inaugural Elite Cup tournament began on 16 March 2013, but the competition folded at the end of 2013.[4]

Format

Pool stage

Two pools of four teams play three games, one against each other team in their pool. There is no inter-pool play. The pools are divided geographically, East & West. Four points are awarded for a win and two points for a draw. A bonus point is awarded for a loss by seven points or fewer, or for scoring four tries or more. The top two teams from each pool qualify for the semi-finals. The two pool winners have home field advantage.

Knock-out stage

The semi-finals are East 1 vs East 2 and West 1 vs West 2. The semi-finals are played at the home stadiums of the higher-seeded teams.

Teams

Team Pool Stadium (capacity) City
Boston East Franklin Park (500) Boston, MA
Denver Barbarians West Shea Stadium (Denver) Denver, CO
Glendale Raptors West Infinity Park (4,000) Glendale, CO
Life East Life University Rugby Complex Marietta, GA
New York Athletic Club (or NYAC) East Travers Island New York City
Old Blue East Columbia Soccer Stadium (3,500) New York City
Seattle Saracens West Magnuson Park Seattle, WA
San Francisco Golden Gate (or SFGG) West Ray Sheeran Field San Francisco, CA
USA Rugby Elite Cup is located in the United States
Boston
Denver Barbarians
Glendale Raptors
Life
NYAC
Old Blue
Seattle Saracens
SFGG
Locations of teams for the 2013 Elite Cup season.

Results

Year Location Final
Winner Score Runner-up
2013[1] Infinity Park
Glendale, Colorado 		San Francisco Golden Gate 31 - 26 Life

References

  1. ^ a b "SFGG Take Elite Cup". Rugbymag. May 25, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "USA Rugby Confirms 'Elite Cup'". Rugbymag. August 31, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  3. ^ Thisisamercanrugby.com. "Rugby Super League President Discusses Elite Cup". Thisisamercanrugby.com.
  4. ^ "The Fallout From The Elite Cup Demise - What Next For D1". Last word on sports. 19 January 2014.
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