EDGEWATER BEACH, OH — The sand was hot, the competition was fierce, and when the dust finally settled, there was only one team left standing.
For the second year in a row, the Brunswick Valkyries are the Cleveland Beach 5s champions.
Hosted by the Cleveland Crusaders, the 2026 Cleveland Beach 5s brought teams together for a day of fast-paced, hard-fought beach rugby. The Valkyries arrived with something to prove and a title to defend. By the end of the tournament, they had done both.
The Valkyries wasted no time making their intentions clear.
Opening pool play, Brunswick took on Medina, followed by Stateburg, Marysville, and the Aviators. Match after match, the Valkyries battled their way through the pool, putting their speed, physicality, teamwork, and determination on full display.
Four opponents entered the pool.
Four opponents fell.
With victories over Medina, Stateburg, Marysville, and the Aviators, the Valkyries punched their ticket to the knockout rounds and established themselves as a force to be reckoned with.
But the job wasn't finished.
The semifinals brought an unexpected turn.
With the Valkyries ready to take the field and fight their way into the championship match, their semifinal opponent forfeited. Just like that, Brunswick advanced to the 2026 Cleveland Beach 5s Final.
A championship appearance is an accomplishment.
A championship defense is something else entirely.
And waiting on the other side?
The Aviators.
The matchup was set.
The Valkyries had already defeated the Aviators earlier in pool play, but the championship match was a new game, a new challenge, and a chance for the Aviators to turn the tables.
Beach rugby leaves little room for hesitation. Five players. Open space. Relentless pressure. Every possession matters.The Valkyries answered the challenge.The Aviators fought back, but Brunswick refused to give up the advantage. As the final battle unfolded, the Aviators eventually fell, leaving the Valkyries standing at the top of the tournament once again.
Back-to-back champions.
Four pool-play victories. A semifinal forfeit. One final showdown.
And at the end of it all, the Brunswick Valkyries stood victorious.
The 2026 Cleveland Beach 5s championship marks the Valkyries' second consecutive tournament title, adding another chapter to a growing tradition of competing hard, playing together, and finishing what they started.
The crown stays with the Valkyries.
And if the rest of the rugby world wasn't paying attention before, they probably are now.
Congratulations to the Brunswick Valkyries, your 2026 Cleveland Beach 5s Champions!
BACK-TO-BACK. VICTORY OR VALHALLA.