Ardmore, Pa. —The Naval Academy has joined the ranks of teams competing at the 2016 ACRC7s in Virginia Beach at the Sportsplex, April 30-May 1.

Matches take place Saturday from 10am-4pm and Sunday from 10am-3pm. Admission is $5 per day (kids under 12 free).

Navy brings to the tournament a tradition of excellence and a strong sevens squad focused on playing top-tier opponents leading up to the Collegiate Rugby Championship in Philadelphia.

Navy has put on a good showing this spring despite injuries, including a Varsity Cup round of 16 win against Notre Dame and going 3-0 on a tour of England in March. The Midshipmen lost a tough decision to Army 22-27, and fell to Arkansas State 24-32 in the Varsity Cup quarterfinals.

"A couple key of injuries (missing our National POY candidate Nick Marmureanu) and plays kept us from having a really special 15's campaign," Navy Rugby President Woody Dewing said.  

Asked what we should expect from Navy at the ACRC7s, Dewing highlighted the team's rapidly developing abilities as a unit.

"Our sevens side is a youth movement this year," he said. "Sophomores Connor McNerney and Gardy Lebon lead the way and there will be between 0-2 seniors on the roster in Philly."

The annual #ACRC7s event features top collegiate rugby teams from around the country competing in Olympic, sevens-style rugby—the fast-paced, high scoring version of the game that will be played at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

In addition to the Naval Academy, the ACRC7s features 2015 ACRC7s champion Kutztown University, 10-time national semifinalist Penn State, perennial powerhouses Delaware, St. Joe’s, James Madison, Drexel, Lehigh and Stony Brook; and local Tidewater favorites Hampton Heat Elite and Old Dominion University.

URugby Live! 

URugby Live! comes your way from 7-9 pm. Friday, April 29 from the Eagle's Nest in Virginia Beach. This entertaining, informative rugby variety show will feature the talents of Goff Rugby Report's Alex Goff, Next Level Rugby's Ryan Ginty and ODU grad Matt Robinette. 

Broadcast on the eve of URugby Sevens-Virginia Beach, the show includes expert commentary on some of the biggest topics in collegiate sevens rugby.

URugby Live can be watched on www.URugby.Com

URugby Live: Highlights

— ACRC7s History

— Interview with ODU head coach Mike Herron

— Spring 7s Highlights: Bermuda 7s, Armory 7s, Empire 7s, Keystone 7s, etc.

— Players to watch

— Collegiate Rugby Coach interviews

— Rise of 7s rugby and the Olympics

— Rugby's prospects on the college level