NAI 7s Set for This Weekend

Salt Lake City plays host to the North American Invitational 7s this weekend, with 45 teams expected in five different brackets.

The Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex will play host to U14 boys, U18 Boys Open and Girls Open, and U18 Boys Elite and Girls Elite. The event is sponsored in part by Atavus and Canterbury, and supports Operation Underground Railroad, an organization that combats human trafficking. 

The event will have five food trucks and ten other vendors, and will feature some of the best HS-age 7s teams in the country.

The key job for tournament organizer Michael Cressler is to attend to player welfare. Utah is hot and dry in any summer weekend, but this coming weekend promises to be hotter than normal, and so hydration and keeping players cool is a huge part of the plan.

Teams have their own tent in a special tent city set up by the tournament. 

“We have a whole heat management plan,” said Cressler.

In addition, the tournament has flown in some high-level referees to make sure that a) the games are officiated well, and b) ensure there are enough officials so they don’t get worn out by the end of the weekend.

The players and coaches get some perks, too, including huge discounts the entry fee to a local water park and a local amusement park. The coaches get a break from one of the big time commitments during tournament time - laundry - as tournament hotels will be doing teams’ laundry.

All games at the tournament will be filmed, with the main field live-streamed. Check back with Goff Rugby Report for the stream link when it is active.

Here is the Friday, July 29 schedule: