The News Press Releases Lakefront 7s rugby tournament in Milwaukee showcasing hopeful olympic sport
| Lakefront 7s rugby tournament in Milwaukee showcasing hopeful olympic sport |
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| Written by Vic Drover | |
| Tuesday, 23 June 2009 | |
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On Saturday, June 27, the Lakefront 7s Rugby Tournament will be held at Veteran’s Park along the shores of Lake Michigan. Held every year during Summerfest, the Lakefront 7s tournament highlights the seven-a-side variation of rugby that is currently being considered for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Rugby is often compared to American football, but the seven-a-side variation is truly unique with tournament matches consisting of about 20 minutes. This fast-paced style of rugby is exhilarating to watch as it has all the physicality of football but the and continuos play and quick, exciting scoring that is more akin to basketball. In a typical 7s rugby tournament, the winning teams may play as many as 6 matches. Thus, ‘sevens’ is not just a game of speed and power, but also of endurance. These qualities make it an ideal candidate for an Olympic bid. The United States is the current defending champion of rugby at the Olympics after defeating France in 1924 at the Paris games. Rugby has not been played at the Olympics since that time, so the inclusion of the sport in 2016 is expected to raise the profile of the game around the world. Over 80 teams from the Midwest and Canada will descend upon Milwaukee for a full day of competition at the Lakefront 7s. Rugby has traditionally been dominated by men, but women’s rugby is currently the fastest growing sport in America. At the Lakefront 7s, 18 women’s and girls teams will compete in addition to the 62 men’s and boys teams. Matches will be played continuously between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM on five fields. Food and beverages will be available for all attendees. Admission to the tournament is free for spectators, and parking is $5 per vehicle. Find full details and breaking news at Lakefront7s.com . #30 |
