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Rugby Sevens is the future for the USA


Just one look is all it took.

I had never watched a Rugby Sevens game until today's NBC Broadcast of the HSBC Las Vegas Sevens Tournament. The Sevens game will likely be the preferred method of bringing Rugby to the American masses, and I'll tell you why:

  • Sevens is played wide-open as opposed to the many pitched defensive battles that characterize the XV Union code.
  • With the emphasis on speed and passing without prolonged stoppages for rucks and mauls, Sevens is much easier to follow on TV for novices like myself.
  • With Rugby Sevens coming to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and the USA the "defending" Olympic Champion from back in 1924, Sevens will be on TV in 2016.
  • Two seven minute halves mean that several games can be condensed into hour or two hour blocs of broadcast time. It's an hour into NBC's coverage as I write, and this will be the third game I will have watched.
  • Players are lean and quick--almost like a team of XV backs, and positions 1-8 are missing for a reason--the lumbering XV locks, props and hookers likely don't have the speed to keep up. Sevens have a prop and two hookers for their miniature scrum, but none of these players would ever be mistaken for a XV's prop or hooker.
USA Rugby has got to be wondering what the future of Rugby will be in this country, but to me there is no doubt that Sevens is that future.
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