Rugby Sevens – fast and furious
The IRB Sevens tournament rolled into Las Vegas and the crowd were treated to a great spectacle of rugby as the best international teams battled to win the title.
Without doubt, this is the largest annual rugby event in the country. Rugby is the fastest growing team sport in the US and the growing popularity of the game is evident. This year’s Las Vegas tournament saw the biggest crowds to date at a rugby event with 64,500 attending across the weekend. For the first time in the US, the 3 days of the rugby sevens tournament were broadcast live on television. The game is on…if you missed the action, see the rugby sevens video highlights below!
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The rugby sevens event showcased some of the finest Rugby Sevens players in the world. 7s is an incredibly tough sport. Watching these guys play their systems in an attempt to crack the opposition defence is like watching Kasporov take on Fischer.Hugely entertaining!
Manu Samoa overcame New Zealand in a thrilling final to take the rugby sevens crown as Las Vegas Champions 2012 with the last move of the game.
Rugby Sevens and the Stars
The stars were not only the pitch. The event saw the likes of Waisale Serevi, Jason Robinson, Michael Jones and even Troy Polamalu in attendance. It is apparent in the US, that football players have a lot of respect for rugby players. The respect is mutual, so it is fantastic to see football players in attendance at rugby games. The two sports have been and always will be intertwined.
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Rugby Sevens Fans
It was not just a chance to meet some old friends but also some new ones. The fans that attend the rugby sevens tournaments around the world are famous for the effort they put in to dressing up for the event. And this years crowds were no exception.
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Rugby Sevens in the Olympics
A lot of focus and attention will be given to rugby sevens, now that the sport is an Olympic event from 2016. Although , the last time rugby was in the Olympics, it was the full 15-man version of the game, the reigning champions are…..USA Rugby!
Highlights of the Rugby Sevens in Vegas – see you in 2013!
Day 3 Highlights
Day 2 Highlights
Day 1 Highlights
Gavin Hickie, The LineoutCoach, is a former Ireland, Leinster and Leicester rugby player now based in California and taking rugby to the USA. He writes for RugbyMag.com and other publications when not coaching for Belmont Shore and blogging on lineoutcoach.com