Benfica end 25-year wait as champions crowned across 17 rugby nations

Rugby’s 2026 domestic season has produced a string of historic champions, with Benfica ending a 25-year title drought in Portugal and the Chicago Hounds claiming their first-ever Major League Rugby crown among the standout stories from across the globe.

Portugal – Top 12

SL Benfica reclaimed the Portuguese Premiership for the first time in 25 years, their tenth Top 12 title in total. The Lisbon club were dominant throughout the campaign despite a late scare from GDS Cascais, with former Lobos António Aguilar and Francisco Fernandes central to their success. The win draws Benfica level with CF Os Belenenses on ten titles, leaving them behind GD Direito (12) and CDUL (20) in the all-time standings.

USA – Major League Rugby

Nine years after the founding of Major League Rugby, the Chicago Hounds lifted the trophy for the first time, defeating California Legion 35-17 at SeatGeek Stadium. Their dominance was unambiguous — ten consecutive regular-season wins set the tone for a campaign in which they also dispatched Old Glory DC en route to the final.

South America – Super Rugby Americas

Pampas claimed the Super Rugby Americas title with a 26-17 victory over Argentinian rivals Dogos XV, with Juan Manuel Leguizamón a key figure in their run. With defending champions Peñarol failing to reach the knockouts, Pampas navigated past debutants Capibaras in the semi-finals before sealing the crown on Dogos XV’s home turf.

Spain – División de Honor

VRAC secured their 15th Spanish title — and fifth in the last seven seasons — with a nervy 25-24 final victory settled by a late Baltazar Taibo penalty. They had been the season’s standout side, losing only three of 18 regular-season games and holding first place from the third round onwards.

Italy – Serie A Elite

Valorugby Emilia lifted the Serie A Elite for the second time in their history, beating Petrarca Padova 27-5 in the final. The Reggio nell’Emilia club had to recover from a 17-11 first-leg semi-final defeat to Viadana before winning the return leg 23-10. Azzurri internationals Pierre Bruno and Luca Bigi were among the key performers, alongside Pumas prop Javier Díaz and Italian talent Simone Brisighella.