New Haven Olympic Rugby 7s To Take Place in Cheshire

The New Haven Rugby Club will host the New Haven Rugby 7s featuring Olympic Style Rugby on Saturday, July 13 at Quinnipiac Park in Cheshire. 

The event will showcase the newly minted Olympic 7s style of rugby, a fast-paced, high scoring game that is growing rapidly around the world.

The tournament will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring 40 teams in four divisions. There is no fee for entry, and concessions and vendors will be on hand to keep the action moving. The venue is located at 1325 Cheshire St.

Fans will get to see multiple players that have been accepted into newly founded Olympic Rugby Development Academies(ODA) in New York and New England. Players will represent their home club under the watch of selectors as they raise their hands to make Olympic Trials and their teams vie for a spot at Nationals. Ninth ranked New York Old Blue will lead a field stacked with ODA players, competing with strong squads from Boston, New York Athletic Club, and up and comer Middlesex.

High School Boys & Girls Divisions

The High Schools Boys & Girls Divisions will be highlighted by visiting teams from New York's Groundbreaking Play Rugby USA (PRUSA) program. PRUSA provides values based rugby programs to at-risk children throughout NYC, and has sparked similar programs in Connecticut. 

Local hosts Cheshire will provide boys and girls teams, with teams from MA, NY, and NJ competing as well. High School rugby is the fastest growing sport in the USA.

Youth Exhibition

At 1 p.m., a youth rugby showcase will take place between DRIVE 2 Succeed New Haven, Cheshire, and Wethersfield. Youth between the ages of 7-13 will compete in flag rugby. DRIVE 2 Succeed is a one-year old program in New Haven that provides youth services similar to Play Rugby USA, adding education, mentoring, and values to the lessons of sport.

There will also be a Men's Open Division featuring host club New Haven and sides from across the Northeast competing for the New Haven Cup