After their last appearance in Paris, the Olympic bronze medalists USA Rugby will be participating in Portland’s Premier Rugby Sevens All-Star Tournament next month.
This one-day event will see Team USA facing off against the PR7s All-Stars in multiple 14-minute matches.
“We anticipate this event to be a record-setting tournament for rugby fans in the US,” said PR7s founder and CEO Owen Scannell. “Our PR7s All-Star format ensures high-level competition as the US national teams gear up for international competition once again… We’re excited to create history with USA Rugby.”
Premier Rugby Sevens leads the sport
The USA Rugby-sanctioned PR7s is a 16-team touring league at the highest level of rugby sevens competition in the US. Since its launch in 2021, the league has incorporated equal pay into its financial structure. With the top domestic talent in the sport, the next season of PR7s will start in summer 2025.
PR7s had a strong representation in Paris with 21 of the league’s athletes standing on the Olympic podium. Five contributed to New Zealand’s back-to-back gold medals, while four aided Canada in achieving their best Olympic result with a silver. Additionally, 12 out of the 14 athletes on Team USA’s bronze medal-winning roster have experience playing on the PR7s field.
Harnessing Olympic success to grow US rugby
The upcoming PR7s All-Star Tournament in November aims to leverage the success of this summer’s Olympic medals to enhance the growth of rugby.
“This is an excellent opportunity for fans to witness our Olympians in action again and for rugby to continue gaining momentum in the US with our partners at PR7s,” said USA Rugby CEO Bill Goren on Tuesday.
Even before the medal matches last summer, the rugby sevens competition at the Paris Games attracted a sold-out crowd of over 66,000 fans and gained popularity among celebrities.
Team USA’s bronze victory, the first-ever Olympic medal for the US in rugby sevens, generated immediate support for the sport domestically, from both fans and investors. Shortly after the medal ceremony, the team received a $4 million investment from women’s sports owner and new rugby sevens enthusiast Michele Kang to support their journey to the 2028 podium in LA.
The PR7s All-Star Tournament marks the next phase in the sport’s growth in the US. Additionally, it will be the first competition where fans can celebrate their Olympic heroes on home turf.
How to buy tickets to the PR7s All-Star Tournament in Portland
The tournament will commence at 5 PM ET on November 17th at Portland’s Providence Park, with tickets available through SeatGeek.
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