The Top High School Boys & Girls Rugby 7s Teams From Across the USA Will Compete in the High School Championship During the 2018 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship

PHILADELPHIA, May 23, 2018 (Newswire.com) - Over three dozen of the nation’s top boys and girls high school and club rugby 7s teams will be competing in the High School Championship during the 2018 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship, which returns to Philadelphia and Talen Energy Stadium for the eighth consecutive year, from Friday, June 1 through Sunday, June 4, bringing national and International attention to the Philadelphia region through the live broadcasts on ESPN2, ESPNews, and ESPN+.

The three-day rugby festival is one of the largest annual gatherings of collegiate and high school rugby teams in the world, with over 30,000 fans anticipated to be in attendance. Penn Mutual is in the fourth year of a title sponsorship for the event.

Reserved and field level tickets to the 2018 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship are available online at sevensrugby.com. Single-day reserved tickets are $90 and field level tickets are $63, and full weekend reserved tickets are $132 and field level tickets are $79.

While the featured attractions are the top 24 men’s and top 16 women’s college rugby 7s teams in the United States, the cream of the crop of the nation’s top high school and club rugby 7s squads have been invited to Philadelphia this June.

The 11 states represented in this year’s high school and club tournament field include California; Connecticut; Delaware; Maryland; Mississippi; New Jersey; Pennsylvania; Tennessee; Texas; Utah and Virginia.

The 18-team field competing in the Boys Open Division includes:  Bishop Shanahan (PA); Blackthorn (PA); Burrell (PA); Downingtown (PA); Hempfield (PA); Kiski Valley (PA); Loudon (PA); Malvern Prep (PA); Media (PA); North Bay (MD); Rock Rugby (TX); St. Augustine (CT); Salesianum (DE); Simon Gratz (PA); Tennessee Tri-Star (TN); Unionville Indians (PA); Vienna Youth (VA) and West Carrol Marauders (MS).

The 8-team field competing in the Boys Elite Division includes:  Atlantis Teal (PA); Atlantis Black (PA); Greenwich Central (CT); Maryland Exiles (MD); Rhino Rugby Academy Black (CA); Rhino Rugby Academy White (CA); Tennessee Tri Star (TN) and Utah Cannibals (UT).

The 12-team field competing in the Girls Open Division includes:  D-Town 1 (PA); D-Town 2 (PA); Fallbrook (CA);

Kiski Valley (PA); NJ Blaze (NJ); North Bay (MD); PA United (PA); Penn Legacy Knightmares (PA); Tennessee Tri Star A (TN); Tennessee Tri Star B (TN); Utah Cannibals (UT) and West Shore United (PA).

Pool play begins Friday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Knock-out rounds are Saturday, June 2, while the semi-finals and finals are set for Sunday, June 3.

Earlier this year, United World Sports, the owner and operator of the largest annual rugby events in the United States (including the Penn Mutual CRC), announced that the opening round games in this year’s boys and girls high school championship tournament in the 2018 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship will be hosted in Chester County’s Brandywine Valley.

Friday’s competition includes play-in games and recruiting opportunities at the Greater Chester Valley Soccer Association Complex located at 137 Line Road in Malvern. Saturday and Sunday, the competition moves to the Talen Energy Stadium complex, with the championship matches taking place in the stadium.

The 2018 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship features the nation’s top 24 men’s collegiate rugby 7s teams, the top 16 women’s teams, a regional competition with a six-team field vying for a spot in next year’s main bracket; and the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) national championship.

The 24 team men’s field features America’s best teams, including: Air Force, Arizona, Arkansas State, Army, Boston College, Dartmouth, Delaware, Eastern Washington, Indiana, Iona, Kutztown, Life, Lindenwood, Maryland, Mount Saint Mary’s, Navy, Notre Dame, Penn State, Saint Joseph’s, South Carolina, Temple, UCLA, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin.

The 2018 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship men’s winner will once again receive the Pete Dawkins Trophy, named after the All-American football standout at West Point won the Heisman Trophy in 1958.  Dawkins was a Rhodes Scholar and attended Oxford, where he used his outstanding football skills to make him a star on the Oxford Varsity rugby team, revolutionizing the game in the process. 

This year, former National Security Advisor, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster will present the Pete Dawkins Trophy to the winner of the 2018 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship.  McMaster, one of the most decorated and respected military leaders of the past century, also played collegiate rugby at West Point and club rugby for many years.  He is a native of Philadelphia.

The men’s most valuable player will receive the Mark Dombroski Most Valuable Player Trophy, named in honor of the late Saint Joseph’s rugby player who passed away in March.

The 16-team women’s national championship field includes two-time defending champion Life University, as well as Bloomsburg, Boston University, Clemson, Delaware, Drexel, East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Lindenwood, Navy, Notre Dame, Penn State, Temple, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and the NSCRO Selects squad, an all-star team chosen from the best of NSCRO’s women’s rugby 7s teams.

The six-team men’s rugby 7s field in the Freedom Cup – Drexel, Fordham, Harvard, Rowan, Villanova and West Chester -- is competing for a spot in next year’s 24-team field in the men’s Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship. 

In the NSCRO Powered by Penn Mutual Rugby 7s National Championship, the field includes California Maritime Academy; Christendom College; The Claremont Colleges; Endicott College; Iowa Central Community College; defending champion New Mexico Highlands; Salve Regina University and Susquehanna University.

The interest in Rugby Sevens (also known as Sevens Rugby) continues to grow after the return to the Olympic Games in 2016, following a 92-year hiatus. The Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship is America’s national sevens championship and serves as the centerpiece of a nationwide effort to build American rugby talent for competition on the International stage. Over the past eight years, the event has produced over 31 players who have gone on to play for the U.S. National teams.

About United World Sports: 

United World Sports (UWS) is the largest commercial rugby entity in the United States, and the owner and operator of a growing portfolio of dynamic sports, media and apparel brands including, the USA Sevens Rugby international tournament, the largest professional rugby event in North America and the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship, the premier college 7s rugby championship. Through its apparel division, UWS owns the exclusive North and South American license for Rhino Rugby, one of the world's leading rugby apparel and equipment brands. UWS also owns and operates RugbyToday.com, the largest and most widely read media destination dedicated to American rugby. Additional information is available at http://www.unitedworldsports.com.

About Penn Mutual: 

Since 1847, Penn Mutual has been committed to helping people live life with confidence. At the heart of this purpose is the belief that life insurance is central to a sound financial plan. Through our network of trusted advisers, we are dedicated to helping individuals, families, and businesses achieve their dreams. Penn Mutual supports its advisors with retirement and investment services through Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc. Registered Investment Advisor and wholly owned subsidiary. Member FINRA/SIPC.  We are proud to work together in a values-driven and relationship-based culture. Visit Penn Mutual at www.pennmutual.com.

Source: Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship