Premier Rugby Sevens

Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s) is the top annual American men's and women's rugby sevens competition. The competition follows a touring competition model. It involves 16 teams (8 men's and 8 women's teams) competing against each other across the country. The league was founded in 2021[2] and is officially sanctioned by USA Rugby.[3]

Premier Rugby Sevens
SportRugby sevens
Instituted2020
Inaugural season2021
Number of teams16 (8 Men's and 8 Women's Teams)
CountryUnited States (USA Rugby)
Current ChampionsHeadliners (United)
Loggerheads (Men's)
Headliners (Women's)
Websiteprsevens.com
Broadcast partner

The League initially began with 10 teams (6 men's and 4 women's teams) in 2021.[4] In 2022, the League moved to 8 teams (4 men's and 4 women's teams),[5] before doubling its size to 16 teams (8 men's and 8 women's teams) in 2023.[6]

The League is the first professional rugby union competition in North America to offer contracts to women.[7]

History

Premier Rugby Sevens was launched in 2021 by CEO and Founder Owen Scannell.[4] The league's Inaugural Championship took place at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee, on October 9, 2021.[8][9] The women's Loonies and men's Experts won the Inaugural Championships. The championship matches of the tournaments were aired live on FS2[10] in the United States, and TSN in Canada.[11] Notable players from the USA Men's and Women's Rugby Sevens included Perry Baker, Naya Tapper, Alev Kelter, Danny Barrett, Folau Niua, Stephen Tomasin, Kevon Williams and Abby Gustaitis.[12][13]

The competition scaled to a three stop circuit in 2022, with tournaments held in San Jose, California, at PayPal Park, Washington, D.C., at Audi Field, and the 2022 Championship at Q2 Stadium.[14] The Headliners were the first United Champions and won the Kathy Flores Women's Championship while the Loggerheads won the A. Jon Prusmack Men's Championship. Notable players appearing in 2022 included All Black Sevens star Brady Rush, USA Rugby Stars Alena Olsen, Martin Iosefo, Matai Leuta and Madison Hughes.[15] All matches from the 2022 Championship were aired live on Fubo Sports Network.[16]

Expansion and competitive format

The League announced in December 2022 that in 2023 it would expand into a conference structure and play a five-tournament circuit. Franchises would be split between the Eastern and Western Conferences, with tournaments alternating play each week between the two conferences. Each conference plays two weekends, with the top two men's and women's teams from each conference qualifying for the Championship weekend. Additionally, the 2023 expansion added regional names to the teams for the first time in league history.[17]

For the Eastern Conference, the Kickoff Weekend is scheduled at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas with the Conference Final being held at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Western Conference will open at TCO Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while the Conference Final is scheduled to take place at PayPal Park in San Jose. The Championship will be held at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.[18] The Pittsburgh and Minneapolis events were the

The League announced that Fox Sports and CBS Sports will televise the 2023 Championship season, with live programming on FS1, CBS Sports Network and Tubi.[19]

On May 2, New Zealand Black Ferns star Ruby Tui announced that she had signed for the 2023 competition alongside her return to the Black Ferns Sevens team.[20]

PR7s teams

Map
Premier Rugby Sevens is located in the US
New York Locals
New York Locals
Pittsburgh Steeltoes
Pittsburgh Steeltoes
Southern Headliners
Southern Headliners
Texas Team
Texas Team
Golden State Retrievers
Golden State Retrievers
Northern Loonies
Northern Loonies
Rocky Mountain Experts
Rocky Mountain Experts
SoCal Loggerheads
SoCal Loggerheads
Locations of teams in Premier Rugby Sevens
          Western Conference Teams          Eastern Conference Teams

Current teams
Conference Team Metro Area Joined
Western Golden State Retrievers San Jose, California 2023
Northern Loonies Minneapolis, Minnesota 2021
Rocky Mountain Experts Salt Lake City, Utah 2021
SoCal Loggerheads Los Angeles, California 2021
Eastern New York Locals New York, New York 2021
Pittsburgh Steeltoes Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2023
Southern Headliners Memphis, Tennessee 2021
Texas Team Austin, Texas 2021

Timeline

Current Members Former Only Men's Team Former Team Names [21]

League champions

Men's Final
Year Final
Champion Score Runner-up
2021 Experts (3) 19-19 (0) Loggerheads[22]
2022 Loggerheads 32-22 Headliners[23]

Women's Final
Year Final
Champion Score Runner-up
2021 Loonies 28-14 Headliners[22]
2022 Headliners 33-7 Loonies[24]

United Championship
Year Champion
2022 Headliners[25]

See also

References
  1. "CBS SPORTS, FS1 ADD RUGBY SEVENS TO SUMMER SLATE". 13 April 2023.
  2. "New Professional Rugby Sevens League to Debut in North America". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  3. Cahill, Calder (2021-08-24). "USA Rugby announces sanctioning agreement with Premiere Rugby Sevens as highest level of domestic seven-a-side rugby. | Latest Rugby News | USA Rugby". usa.rugby. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  4. "Premier Rugby Sevens Unveils Team Names and Logos". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  5. "Audi Field Named Host Stadium for Premier Rugby Sevens in 2022". OurSports Central. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  6. "Premier Rugby Sevens unveils U.S. expansion plan". ESPN.com. 2022-12-14. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  7. Pengelly, Martin (2022-03-31). "Premier Rugby Sevens announces events in California, DC and Texas". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  8. Pengelly, Martin (2021-10-08). "Premier Rugby Sevens: Tapper and Baker lend new US league a hand". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  9. "Discover more about Premier Rugby Sevens and how it provides new horizons for rugby in North America". rugby-network. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  10. "Premier Rugby Sevens tournament to air on Fox Sports". smartseries.sportspromedia.com. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  11. "TSN PARTNERS WITH PREMIER RUGBY SEVENS TO DELIVER INAUGURAL GAMES FOR CANADIAN VIEWERS, OCTOBER 9 - Bell Media". TSN PARTNERS WITH PREMIER RUGBY SEVENS TO DELIVER INAUGURAL GAMES FOR CANADIAN VIEWERS, OCTOBER 9 - Bell Media. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  12. "Two More Olympians Join Premier Rugby Sevens | Goff Rugby Report". www.goffrugbyreport.com. 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  13. Pengelly, Martin (2021-05-19). "Baker and Tapper among rugby stars set to play for equal pay in US sevens league". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  14. "San Jose to host new rugby league tournament featuring men's and women's games". The Mercury News. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  15. "PR 7s to Hold Open Trials Through Winter | Goff Rugby Report". www.goffrugbyreport.com. 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  16. "Premier Rugby Sevens Adds Fubo Sports Network as Its Newest Distribution Partner | Premier Rugby Sevens". www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  17. Caron, Emily (2022-12-13). "Premier Rugby Sevens League Adding Eight Teams for 2023". Sportico.com. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  18. "Washington, DC and Audi Field to Host Premier Rugby Sevens 2023 Championship Tournament | Events DC". eventsdc.com. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  19. "CBS Sports, FS1 Add Rugby Sevens to Summer Slate". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  20. "Black Ferns' Tui joins US-based 7s competition". ESPN.com. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  21. "'Golden State Retrievers;' Premier Rugby Sevens league expands to San Jose PayPal Park". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  22. "Premier Rugby Sevens crowns inaugural champions". Americas Rugby News. 2021-10-10. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  23. "Loggerheads Take Premier Rugby Men's Championship". TTL Sports Media. 2022-07-30. Retrieved 2023-02-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. "Headliners Take Premier Rugby Sevens Women's Championship". TTL Sports Media. 2022-07-30. Retrieved 2023-02-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. admin (2023-01-31). "Steeltoes Represent Pittsburgh in 2023 Premier Rugby 7s - The Rugby Breakdown". Retrieved 2023-02-20.
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