Chicago North Shore is currently 2-0 in the Midwest
The USA National Rugby 7s Tournament will be held Aug. 13-15 at Starfire Sports (Tukwila, Wash.), and the newly shaped “invitation-qualification hybrid” event aims to involve more senior clubs with a two-tiered competition. The pandemic has prevented a full return to rugby so that limiter will obviously impact the number of teams that can commit to a championship run, but there’s hope that the new structure will encourage more participation in the future.
Teams interested in this year’s championship needed to declare their intent by July 1 (via the Intent to Participate form), and Erik Geib, Chair of the USA Rugby Club Competitions Committee, indicated that 14 women’s teams have registered.
“We were hoping to do two tiers of competition for both men and women, but the lower interest from women’s clubs this year means we’ll just be doing one on their side,” Geib explained. “Broadly, I think the formatting idea is a good one, especially coming out of a pandemic, but it still has its challenges. There are a number of anecdotal rationales I’ve heard for the lower interest by women’s teams, but I think realistically everyone has to decide on a club-by-club basis, or even individual-by-individual basis, as to what’s best for them.”
Some regions have been very good about setting up competitions for their senior clubs, and thus, it’s been easier to see which teams are active and looking healthy. In the Midwest, Chicago North Shore has the won the first two series stops, and the Austin Valkyries have also taken two TOLA titles so far. Providence won NERFU qualifier Union Point 7s last weekend, while Queen City won the Empire GU circuit stop in Buffalo. In Florida, Tampa Krewe and Orlando have won a state tournament so far. The Mid-Atlantic kicks off its series next weekend at NOVA.
“If a team wants to compete only if they win their union- or region-based competition, there was an option provided in the form,” Geib noted. “That said, the committee may be amenable to late adds as the U.S. is still coming out of a pandemic and waivers are examined on a case-by-case basis. I can’t imagine a scenario where we wouldn’t want a team that’s the best team in its region and wants to attend.”
There are a handful of team with histories of success at club 7s nationals that, Geib explained, the committee would gladly accept as late additions. Stay tuned for more updates.