USA Rugby Club 7s

The USA Rugby Club 7s National Championship is the top annual American rugby sevens competition organized by USA Rugby. It involves the best sixteen men's and women's clubs (32 clubs total) in the United States.

USA Rugby Club 7s
SportRugby sevens
Instituted1985; 39 years ago (1985)
Inaugural season1985
Number of teams32 (16 Men's; 16 Women's)
CountryUnited States (USA Rugby)
ChampionsNational Athletic Village (2022)
Most titlesSeattle Saracens (8)
Websiteusaclub7s.com

First played in November 1985, the tournament moved to the summer in 1986 and has been a fixture of the summer rugby season in the United States ever since. After a few years of informal women's invitationals, a formal women's competition was added to the event in 2011. The event is streamed online annually, typically on YouTube or The Rugby Channel.

Results — Men

YearChampionScoreRunner UpTournament MVPLocationRef
1985Old Mission Beach Athletic26-12Duck Brothers RugbyTucson, AZ
1986Quad City Irish25-10Denver BarbariansMilwaukee, WI
1987Duck Brothers Rugby18-10Denver BarbariansMilwaukee, WI
1988Old Puget Sound Beach Rugby19-6Denver BarbariansMilwaukee, WI
1989Maryland Old Boys26-12Northern Virginia RugbyVinny GrangerAlexandria, VA
1990Old Puget Sound Beach Rugby18-10Northern Virginia RugbyAlexandria, VA
1991Old Puget Sound Beach Rugby26-6Northern Virginia RugbyAlexandria, VA
1992Old Puget Sound Beach Rugby15-6Old Blues Rugby (CA)Alexandria, VA
1993Old Blue of New York40-22Kansas City BluesHartford, CT
1994Old Blues Rugby (CA)31-0Maryland ExilesPalo Alto, CA
1995Old Mission Beach Athletic35-19Northern Virginia RugbyMaliki DelhiPhiladelphia, PA
1996Northern Virginia Rugby26-21Old Mission Beach AthleticPrince HillPhiladelphia, PA
1997San Mateo Rugby57-7Fresno RugbyPhiladelphia, PA
1998San Mateo Rugby29-7Tempe Old DevilsPhiladelphia, PA
1999Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby26-19Northern Virginia RugbyKeith McLeanPhiladelphia, PA
2000Old Mission Beach Athletic27-17Sacramento Capitals [DQ]Philadelphia, PA
2001Old Mission Beach Athletic17-7Denver BarbariansPhiladelphia, PA
2002Old Mission Beach Athletic54-0Maryland ExilesPhiladelphia, PA
2003Riverside Rugby22-21Olympic Club RugbyLuke Waikamakawa
& Nelo Lui (co-MVPs)
Pittsburgh, PA
2004Riverside Rugby38-19Denver BarbariansPark City, UT
2005Old Blue of New York31-17Old Mission Beach AthleticSean HoranPittsburgh, PA
2006Old Mission Beach Athletic29-14Old Blue of New YorkBellingham, WA
2007Chicago Lions35-21Old Mission Beach AthleticBellingham, WA[1]
2008Gentlemen of Aspen26-24Belmont Shore RugbyMike PalefauSan Francisco, CA[2]
2009Belmont Shore Rugby34-15Gentlemen of AspenPeter SioSan Francisco, CA[3]
2010Seattle-OPSB Rugby26-17Belmont Shore RugbyFilimoni BotituSan Francisco, CA[4]
2011Belmont Shore Rugby37-14Schuylkill River ExilesShalom SuniulaSan Francisco, CA[5]
2012Belmont Shore Rugby26-12Chicago LionsMike Te'oSan Francisco, CA[6]
2013Seattle-OPSB Rugby26-5Denver BarbariansMiles CraigwellPittsburgh, PA[7]
2014Seattle-OPSB Rugby29-26Old Blue of New YorkMike PalefauSeattle, WA[8]
2015Seattle Saracens31-10Denver BarbariansAta Malifa (Denver)Des Moines, IA[9]
2016Rugby Utah Selects48-12Kansas City BluesDon PatiDenver, CO
2017Rugby Utah Selects22-21Denver BarbariansDon PatiMinneapolis, MN
2018Bulldog Rugby19-7Belmont Shore RugbyMichael NelsonNew York, NY
2019Washington Athletic24-7Life West GladiatorsPeter TiberioKansas City, MO[10]
2020Not held due to COVID-19
2021Chicago Lions17-10Westside RoninsWill ChevalierTukwila, WA
2022National Athletic Village19-0Old Blue of New YorkCorey JonesSt. Louis, MO
2023National Athletic Village12-10St. Louis BombersSimi MoalaMadison, WI

Results — Women

YearChampionScoreRunner UpTournament MVPLocationRef
2011Berkeley All Blues36-0Boston BellesKelly GriffinSan Francisco, CA[11]
2012San Diego Surfers33-12Seattle BreakersEmilie BydwellSan Francisco, CA[12]
2013Berkeley All Blues22-5Northern Virginia RugbyIrene GardnerPittsburgh, PA[13]
2014San Diego Surfers45-0Old Blue of New YorkNia WilliamsSeattle, WA[14]
2015American Rugby Pro Training Center21-17Seattle SaracensJess WoodenDes Moines, IA[15]
2016Scion Sirens38-0Old Blue of New YorkKiki MorganDenver, CO
2017Seattle Atavus26-14San Diego SurfersMegan SandersMinneapolis, MN
2018San Diego Surfers19-12Scion SirensStephanie RovettiNew York, NY
2019San Diego Surfers21-12Berkeley All BluesTeigan MacDonaldKansas City, KS
2020Not held due to COVID-19
2021Scion Rugby40-0Life West GladiatrixJade McGrathTukwila, WA

Performance by club

Men

Updated to include results for 2023:

ClubWinnersWinning Years
Seattle Saracens (includes Seattle-OPSB and OPSB*)81988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015
Old Mission Beach Athletic61985, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002
Belmont Shore Rugby32009, 2011, 2012
Old Blue of New York21993, 2005
Riverside Rugby22003, 2004
Rugby Utah Selects22016, 2017
San Mateo Rugby21997, 1998
Chicago Lions22007, 2021
National Athletic Village22022, 2023
Bulldog Rugby12018
Duck Brothers Rugby11987
Gentlemen of Aspen12008
Maryland Old Boys11989
Northern Virginia Rugby11996
Old Blues Rugby (CA)11994
Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby11999
Quad City Irish11986
Washington Athletic12019
  • USA Rugby officially considers titles won by OPSB, Seattle-OPSB, and Seattle Saracens to be from the same club.[16]

Women

Updated to include results for 2019:

ClubWinnersWinning Years
San Diego Surfers42012, 2014, 2018, 2019
Berkeley All Blues22011, 2013
American Rugby Pro Training Center12015
Seattle Atavus12017
Scion Sirens22016, 2022

Records

Men's Records (as of 2017)

  • Most Cup Championships: 8, by the Seattle Saracens (history includes results as OPSB Rugby and Seattle-OPSB Rugby)
  • Most Cup Finals: 9, by Old Mission Beach Athletic
  • Highest Medal Count: 13, by the Denver Barbarians (0 gold, 8 silver, 5 bronze)
  • Most Cup Semi-Finals: 17, by the Denver Barbarians
  • Most Cup Quarter-Finals: 24, by the Denver Barbarians
  • Best Winning Percentage (Minimum 30 games played): 72.94%, by the Seattle Saracens (history includes results as OPSB Rugby and Seattle-OPSB Rugby)
  • Most Matches Won: 83, by the Denver Barbarians
  • Most Appearances: 23, by the Denver Barbarians
  • Most Consecutive Appearances: 15, by the Denver Barbarians (2001-2015)

Women's Records (as of 2017)

  • Most Cup Championships: 2, by the Berkeley All Blues and San Diego Surfers
  • Most Cup Finals: 3, by the San Diego Surfers and Seattle Atavus (history includes results as Seattle Breakers and Saracens)
  • Highest Medal Count: 5, by the San Diego Surfers (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)
  • Most Cup Semi-Finals: 5, by the San Diego Surfers
  • Most Cup Quarter-Finals: 7, by the San Diego Surfers and Northern Virginia Rugby
  • Most Matches Won: 33, by the San Diego Surfers
  • Most Appearances (Overall and Consecutive): 7, by Northern Virginia Rugby and the San Diego Surfers

Event Records

  • Highest Attendance: 6,000 (2014 Club 7s)
  • Largest margin of victory in a Cup Final: 54, by Old Mission Beach Athletic (54-0; 2002 Club 7s)

References