The first-ever USA 7’s Rugby Collegiate Championship Invitational, a Rugby Sevens round-robin tournament featuring 16 historically significant collegiate rugby teams, is set for competition from June 4-6 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Rugby Sevens features seven players per team playing on the same size pitch as a 15’s match and offers non-stop action where speed, high scoring and athleticism rule the day. The USA 7’s Rugby Collegiate Championship Invitational will be broadcast live on NBC on Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6 from 4-6 p.m. ET and Universal Sports on Saturday and Sunday from 2-4 p.m. ET.
16-Team Round-Robin Tournament Marks First Time College Rugby 7’s Will Appear Live on Network Television
“We’ve brought together the best-of-the-best for the inaugural USA 7’s Rugby Collegiate Championship Invitational,” said Dan Lyle, Tournament Director USA 7’s Rugby. “It’s a great opportunity to expose the sport to a mass audience in anticipation of inclusion in the Olympics.”
Rugby Sevens will be an Olympic sport starting in 2016 and the USA 7’s Rugby Collegiate Championship Invitational offers fans a preview of the talent pool available for the U.S. Olympic team.
The USA 7’s Rugby Collegiate Championship Invitational features 16 Division I collegiate traditional powers, including Arizona, Arizona State, Army, Bowling Green, Cal, Dartmouth, Florida, Harvard, Indiana, Navy, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, San Diego State, Tennessee, and Utah.
“Rugby Sevens is such a fast-paced sport that once you watch it you get to appreciate how much endurance and skill it takes to play the game,” said Ohio State head coach Tom Rooney. “Creating a tournament to match up the best of the best on the university level is a great way to showcase the sport to a growing fan base.”
Broadcast Schedule:
* NBC Sports live coverage from 4:00-6:00 p.m. ET on June 5 and 6
* Universal Sports live coverage from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET on June 5 and 6
* NBC Mobile live simulcast from 4:00-6:00 p.m. ET on June 5 and 6
* Hulu.com full event coverage available on-demand in HD quality video
About USA Sevens:
USA Sevens owns and operates America’s premier rugby event, the USA Sevens Rugby Tournament. Held annually, the event is one of the eight international stops in the IRB Sevens World Series. With an attendance of over 50,000 during the two day event, it is the largest annual rugby event in North America and one of the fastest growing rugby events in the world.
(source: NBC)
