The 2026 National Youth 7s has expanded a little bit since last season and especially geographically in what promises to be a thrilling tournament.
With the event being held in Ohio (once again at Walsh University in North Canton), the number of Ohio teams has often been high. However, in this tournament there are teams that represent nine states, plus a DMV team that represents Maryland and Virginia as well as DC, and the Panther Rugby Academy, which brings in players from a wide range of states.
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This year, Panther features mostly players from Tennessee and California, with a heavy Sacramento influence. Hard-charging 15s flyhalf Trace Snellman from The Woodlands is the lone Texan. So, overall, including DC as a region and Northern California and Southern California as separate rugby regions, at least 16 states/regions are represented in this tournament,
Panther Rugby Academy hopes to repeat what was an outstanding showing in the U18 bracket, where they ran the table to win it all.
Last year the Badgers Selects out of Wisconsin beat Gorilla in overtime to take 3rd, and both will be back this year, and will be in the same pool.
That pool, Pool A, also includes Conestoga out of Pennsylvania and 4G, which is a performance training program (4G Performance) out of North Carolina that is just getting into competitions.
In Pool B, Panther Academy, under Head Coach (and former 7s Eagle) Peter Tiberio, will take on the Sandhill Sharks out of North Carolina and Cleveland Rugby Academy, which relies heavily (although not exclusively) on the St. Ignatius program out of Cleveland. Also in the pool is New Trier, which won the HS Club championship in Illinois, and it's always an interesting balance for teams that are put together from a variety of teams compared to teams that have been together all spring.
With the U16s, the playing together a lot thing worked out for Bethesda last year and the Roosters are back for another shot this year. They are in Pool B with a very good Iowa Selects side, Loudoun County, Assassins out of North Carolina, and Cleveland Rugby Academy.
Last year, Bethesda was pushed by several opponents and it was their teamwork that saw them through. Some of the teams that pushed them included Badger Selects (who lost in the semis) and Panther, who were beaten in OT.
