England Students Men’s Rugby clash against France Universities for 2026 on English Soil

The Students Rugby Football Union (SRFU) is delighted to confirm that England Students will face France Universities over the first May Bank Holiday weekend (Friday 1st or Saturday 2nd May 2026) on home soil.

Le Crunch Universitaire returns to English soil once again for the biggest clash in the University calendar. The venue will be announced soon, and it promises to be a fantastic setting for this prestigious encounter.

Last year’s match saw the French emerge victorious on home soil at the Stade Beaudry Stadium in Terrasson-Lavilledieu, securing a 42-31 victory.

Nominations now open!

We are pleased to confirm that player nominations for the England Students Men’s squad are now open.

Who can nominate? Nominations must be submitted by a qualified coach from the player’s academic institution. Players cannot nominate themselves.

Before you nominate: Please read the Player Eligibility and Selection Information before completing the form.

Deadline: All nominations must be submitted by Thursday, 20th February 2026.

Nomination information

Stay tuned for the official venue announcement and further details on how you can support the team.

Plus, more information on the England Students Women’s programme will be coming soon – watch this space!