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‘Rugby has arrived in the United States’: PR7s’ record-breaking event

Lucas Lacamp #12 of the United States runs with the ball for a try during the Premier Rugby Sevens All-Star Tournament between the U.S. National Team and the PR7s’ All-Stars at Providence Park on November 17, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s) has rewritten history, set new benchmarks, and helped raise the sport’s standing in North America by welcoming a record-breaking crowd to Portland’s Providence Park last month for the 2024 PR7s All-Star Tournament.

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As rain poured down from the heavens, supporters packed the stands in their thousands to watch six professional matches, which saw the USA and Canadian Women’s sides take the field. America’s Men’s team also took part in the highly entertaining event.

With the USA and Canada Women’s sides both medalling at the Paris Games, this tournament on November 17 was an opportunity for fans to watch some of their Olympic heroes in action before the HSBC SVNS Series got underway in Dubai from November 30.

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The All-Star Tournament proved to be a record-breaking success both on and off the field, with PR7s reporting multiple successes on Wednesday. PR7s has listed 13 highlights in a press release that covers areas including commercial, broadcast, digital, social, and rugby.

Catch up on the action from the HSBC SVNS Series on RugbyPass TV, which you can sign up for HERE.

With RugbyPass TV streaming the event internationally and FS2 airing it in the U.S., more than 1.5 million unique accounts were reached on November 17. There were also more than 95,000 views on YouTube and 2.2 million organic views of content on Instagram.

This was the largest live audience in PR7s history with nearly 5,000 fans attending the event, which saw ticket sales surpass the previous record by 39 per cent. PR7s managed to reach these heights despite the one-sale less than one month before the tournament.

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“The success of the PR7s All-Star Tournament shows that rugby has arrived in the United States,” CEO of Premier Rugby Sevens, Owen Scannell, said in a statement.

“The record-breaking attendance and global broadcast reach are clear signals that this summer has changed the game for the sport.

“Smashing records on a cold and rainy day with a super engaged crowd that turned up with less than a month’s notice shows the excitement for rugby’s moment is here to stay and we are proud to be part of making it happen.”

As for the rugby, there were 25 Olympians on show including 19 men and women who competed at this year’s Paris Games. There were three Olympic medallists on the USA team and four Olympic runners-up on the Canadian team.

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Bronze medallists Sammy Sullivan also participated as a coach, and Alex ‘Spiff’ Sedrick – who scored the match-winning try and conversion in the Olympic bronze medal playoff against Australia – was also involved as a broadcaster.

Peter Sio Jr, Autumn LoCicero, Autumn Czaplicki and Alyssa Porter all made their national team debuts. Porter has gone on to impress on the HSBC SVNS Series, which included a try in the comeback win over Australia at last weekend’s stop in Cape Town, South Africa.

“This tournament was invaluable for our team, especially as we integrate young and emerging players,” USA Women’s national team coach, Emilie Bydwell, explained.

“Events like these provide critical opportunities for athletes to battle-test themselves against top-tier competition while preparing for what lies ahead.

“Our partnership with PR7s allows players to showcase their abilities in a big-time environment where the lights are bright.”

The PR7s All-Star Tournament also included a few amateur matches to showcase regional and collegiate talent, including the Oregon Rugby Sport Union and the University of Oregon. 15 local rugby clubs were involved in the event.

There was also a youth game between the Pacific Northwest Loggers and TOA Idaho which highlights the emerging generation in American rugby.

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f
fl 1 hour ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

176 Go to comments
J
JW 5 hours ago
French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

9 Go to comments
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