USA Sevens
Encyclopedia
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
tournament held in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A part of the IRB Sevens World Series
IRB Sevens World Series
The IRB Sevens World Series, known officially as the HSBC Sevens World Series as of the 2010-11 season, through sponsorship from banking group HSBC, and also sometimes called the World Sevens Series, is a series of international rugby union sevens tournaments organised for the first time in the...
, it currently takes place on Saturday and Sunday during the second weekend of February. While the Sevens World Series has been held since 1999-2000, the USA Sevens was only introduced in 2004, as part of the 2003-04 series. In 2007, the tournament had the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
Steinlager
Steinlager
Steinlager is a lager-style beer brewed by Lion Nathan in Newmarket, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It has won several prizes, notably at beer competitions in the United States, and is New Zealand's biggest export beer.- History :In 1957 the New Zealand Minister of Finance, Arnold Nordmeyer...
as its title sponsor. The 2008 event had no title sponsorship, but Steinlager remained as the presenting sponsor. The event's presenting sponsor is now Bridgestone
Bridgestone
The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese....
, a Japanese conglomerate best known as a manufacturer of tires. Effective with the 2010–11 series, the London-based global financial services company HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
became the title sponsor of the entire Sevens World Series, including all individual tournaments.
The tournament originally was held in The Home Depot Center
The Home Depot Center
The Home Depot Center is a multiple-use sports complex located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California. It is located approximately 10 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles. Its title sponsor is hardware retailer The Home Depot. The $150 million complex was...
in Carson, California
Carson, California
Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....
. From 2007
2007 USA Sevens
The 2007 Steinlager USA Sevens was a rugby union sevens tournament held on February 10 and February 11, 2007 in the United States at 44,500 capacity PETCO Park in San Diego, California. It is part of the IRB Sevens World Series...
to 2009
2009 USA Sevens
The USA Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2009 competition, which took place on February 14 and February 15 at PETCO Park in San Diego, California, was the fourth Cup trophy in the 2008-09 IRB Sevens World Series.This was the last...
, the event was held at Petco Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
in San Diego. It then moved to its current home, Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium is a football stadium located in Whitney, Nevada, an unincorporated community in the Las Vegas metropolitan area; the mailing address of the stadium is "Las Vegas". The stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a major figure in the hotel/casino industry in Las Vegas. The stadium consists...
in the Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
suburb of Whitney, Nevada
Whitney, Nevada
Whitney is an unincorporated town in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,273 at the 2000 census.-Background:...
, beginning in 2010
2010 USA Sevens
The USA Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2010 competition, which took place on February 13 and February 14 at Sam Boyd Stadium in the Las Vegas suburb of Whitney, Nevada, was the fourth Cup trophy in the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World...
.
The format
The format is currently four pools of four. The group winners and second-placed teams will progress to the Cup (places 1-4) and Plate (places 5-8) competition. The third and fourth-placed teams will progress to the Bowl (places 9-12) and Shield (places 13-16) competitions. Seeding is determined by finishes in the last six competitions in the Sevens World Series. Wins are three points, draws two, losses one, with no points being awarded for a no show.Move to San Diego
As of 10 August 2006 the contract between USA RugbyUSA Rugby
USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. It is divided into seven territorial Unions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Southern California, South, and West...
and the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
was renewed for the USA Sevens to remain in the IRB Sevens World Series. USA Sevens LLC, the operator of the event, has also signed a "long term" partnership agreement with the City of San Diego and the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
to host the USA Sevens Tournament, February 9–11, 2007 out to 2011 at PETCO Park, the Padres' home field. It was important for the event to be held there because the average high temperature in San Diego in February is 72 °F (22 °C), considerably warmer than most of the United States at that time of year.
Media coverage
Before its demise in the United States, Setanta SportsSetanta Sports
Setanta Sports is an international sports broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events...
held the cable rights to the USA Sevens, with highlights of the American side's performance being shown on ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
one week after the tournament's conclusion. From the 2009–10 season, ESPN3 holds Internet streaming rights to the entire IRB Sevens World Series; it streamed live all 44 matches of the 2010 USA Sevens, as well as all trophy finals in all other legs of the series. Previously, it was covered on the America One
America One
America One is an over-the-air television network in the United States. The network serves over 170 LPTV, Class A, Full Power, Cable and Satellite affiliate stations...
network.
NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
and Universal Sports
Universal Sports
Universal Sports is an American television network that airs various sports, primarily those contested in the Olympic Games, including swimming, gymnastics, cycling, track and field, figure skating, skiing, bobsledding and triathlon.-Programming:...
will broadcast eight hours of live coverage of the 2011 HSBC Sevens World Series event in Las Vegas the weekend of February 12-13. This marks the first time that the tournament has had live television coverage in the United States. The HSBC Sevens World Series is played throughout the world at seven other venues: Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, London and Scotland.
History
The USA Sevens debuted at The Home Depot Center in the Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
suburb of Carson
Carson, California
Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in February 2004. This competition marked the first time the United States ever hosted an official IRB event of international importance. The USA Sevens is also arguably the largest rugby competition in the United States, with sixteen countries participating in 44 matches over two days.
Past results
| Year | Host | Cup Final | Plate Final | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Score | Runner-up | Winner | Score | Runner-up | ||||
| 2004 Details |
Carson Carson, California Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city.... , California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
21 - 12 | 55 - 0 | ||||||
| 2005 Details |
Carson Carson, California Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city.... , California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
34 - 5 | 24 - 21 | ||||||
| 2006 Details |
Carson Carson, California Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city.... , California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
38 - 5 | 21 - 5 | ||||||
| 2007 Details 2007 USA Sevens The 2007 Steinlager USA Sevens was a rugby union sevens tournament held on February 10 and February 11, 2007 in the United States at 44,500 capacity PETCO Park in San Diego, California. It is part of the IRB Sevens World Series... |
San Diego, California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
38 - 24 | 28 - 19 | ||||||
| 2008 Details 2008 USA Sevens The USA Sevens, with the New Zealand brewery Steinlager as the presenting sponsor, is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens... |
San Diego, California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
27 - 12 | 26 - 21 (aet) |
||||||
| 2009 Details 2009 USA Sevens The USA Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2009 competition, which took place on February 14 and February 15 at PETCO Park in San Diego, California, was the fourth Cup trophy in the 2008-09 IRB Sevens World Series.This was the last... |
San Diego, California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
19 - 14 |
22 - 7 |
||||||
| 2010 Details 2010 USA Sevens The USA Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2010 competition, which took place on February 13 and February 14 at Sam Boyd Stadium in the Las Vegas suburb of Whitney, Nevada, was the fourth Cup trophy in the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World... |
Whitney Whitney, Nevada Whitney is an unincorporated town in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,273 at the 2000 census.-Background:... , Nevada Nevada Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its... |
33 - 12 |
12 - 7 |
||||||
| 2011 Details 2011 USA Sevens The USA Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2011 competition was held on February 12 and February 13 at Sam Boyd Stadium in the Las Vegas suburb of Whitney, Nevada.It was the fourth of eight events in the 2010–11 IRB Sevens World... |
Whitney Whitney, Nevada Whitney is an unincorporated town in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,273 at the 2000 census.-Background:... , Nevada Nevada Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its... |
24 - 14 |
26 - 17 |
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See also
- United States national rugby union teamUnited States national rugby union teamUSA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
- North America 4North America 4North America 4, also known as IRB North America 4 often abbreviated to NA4, was a North American rugby union competition launched in 2006...
and its successor, the Americas Rugby ChampionshipAmericas Rugby ChampionshipThe Americas Rugby Championship is a rugby union competition contested by national and regional teams from North and South America. The league has replaced the IRB's previous North American competition, the North America 4....