Midwest Rugby Union

The 3rd Annual Thunderbird Cup has wrapped up! Now announcing the 2026 Senior Club Champs! Thank you to all of the teams for bringing your best and putting on an incredible show - we’ll see you all next year! 🏆🏉

Here are the final match results from the Senior Club Thunderbird Cup! 🏆🤩🏉🦅

Love these guys! Best in the business!

Without a doubt the hardest working part of the NLR Crew is our Ground Team.

Hours before we go live, and before anyone else’s shows up at the facility, the crew on the ground is hard at work setting up, and then delivering the camera feeds and audio back to our studio. Once the games end, they spend another couple of hours breaking down and preparing for the next day. Yesterday we did 10 hours of live broadcast, they were there for a long 15+ hour day to “Change the way America views Rugby”.

Fun fact: They’re all Rugby Players too. We are not just a production company, we live and breathe rugby. That’s what separates Next Level Rugby from everyone else. Our desire and passion to grow the game.

Last day of Thunderbird Cup! 🏉🦅

Congratulations to our U23 Thunderbird Cup CHAMPS! 🤩🏆

DAY 2 MATCH RESULTS!🤩🏆🏉

WATCH THE MATCHES THIS WEEKEND! Subscribe to Midwest Rugby Union YouTube to tune in! (link in bio)

Day 1 match results are in and the schedule is set! We’ll see everyone tomorrow! 🤩🏉🦅

🏉 IT’S HERE. GAME DAY HAS ARRIVED. 🏉

The wait is over — the 2026 Midwest Thunderbird Cup kicks off TODAY at the Chicago Blaze Rugby Facility in Lemont, Illinois!

The Midwest’s premier weekend of high-performance rugby is officially underway as the next generation of talent and top senior players battle for championship glory.

🔥 Today’s action features the U23 Semifinals as teams fight for a place in tomorrow’s championship matches.
🔥 Saturday brings a massive full day of rugby with more than a dozen matches across U23 championship play and Senior Club Semifinals.
🔥 Sunday closes out the weekend with all Senior Championship matches and the crowning of this year’s Thunderbird Cup champions.

Whether you’re making the trip out to Lemont to catch the action in person or tuning in from home, this is a weekend you do not want to miss.

📍 Chicago Blaze Rugby Facility — Lemont, IL
🎥 Matches streamed live by Next Level Rugby on the Midwest Rugby Union YouTube Channel
📅 Full field and broadcast schedules available on socials

The Midwest’s best are ready.
The stage is set.
Thunderbird Cup weekend starts NOW. ⚡🏆

🏉 THE WAIT IS OVER — MIDWEST THUNDERBIRD CUP WEEKEND STARTS TOMORROW! 🏉

The field and broadcast schedule are here as some of the best rugby talent in the Midwest prepares to battle it out in Lemont this weekend.

🔥 Friday kicks off with the U23 Semifinals

🔥 Saturday brings an absolutely loaded day featuring more than a dozen matches including U23 Championship action and Senior Club Semifinals

🔥 Sunday closes the weekend with all Senior Championship
Matches as teams fight for Midwest Thunderbird Cup glory!

Whether you’re joining us in person at the Chicago Blaze Rugby Facility to enjoy an incredible weekend of rugby and beautiful weather, or tuning in from home, you won’t want to miss a minute of the action.

🎥 All matches on Fields 1 & 2 will be streamed LIVE by Next Level Rugby on the Midwest Rugby Union YouTube Channel.

📹 Most matches on Field 4 will also be available via Chicago Blaze Veo coverage.

This weekend will feature nonstop rugby, championship intensity, and some of the top players from across the Midwest. Get ready for a massive weekend.