A fantastic weekend of club rugby in America saw 22 teams punch their tickets to the 2013 Emirates Airline USA Rugby Men’s Senior Club National Round of 16.

The inaugural Elite Cup competition has moved into the playoff stage after an intense five-week schedule of highly competitive matches between eight of the best club teams across the country.

On an overcast but pleasant Saturday afternoon the Denver Barbarians hosted San Francisco Golden Gate in a test between two of the best in the West.

Capping off a full day of rugby events at Infinity Park this weekend was the much-anticipated Elite Cup match between the Glendale Raptors and Old Puget Sound Beach from Seattle.

Perfect weather accompanied the Elite Cup’s debut on the Pacific coast, as San Francisco Golden Gate (SFGG) powered past Seattle OSPB 36-27 while temperatures hovered in the 50s at beautiful Magnuson Park.

Under clear blue skies, but with a northerly wind that created wind chills in the 20s, New York Athletic Club bested host Old Blue 29-14 in the opening East Pool match of the inaugural Elite Cup competition.

New York Athletic Club will open its USA Rugby Elite Cup season this Saturday against in-state rival Old Blue.

The USA Rugby Elite Cup was kicked-off on Saturday at Highlands Ranch's Shea Stadium as the Denver Barbarians and Glendale Raptors began the tournament's inaugural session with a lively display of sport.