Salt Lake City, UT (Rugby Utah Release) —Rugby Utah and Utah Youth Rugby (UYR) are teaming up to host an elite-level Fall 7s Rugby Championship Series for the high school and men’s divisions.

The program will commence on September 16th and will culminate with a series championship October 31st. The RU/UYR Fall 7s Series will feature hundreds of high school and men’s division players vying for coveted state championship honors.

Rugby Utah, the governing body for the senior division in the state and the sponsor of the USA Rugby-sanctioned regional Olympic Development Academy, will field this important assemblage of men’s club teams during the series with the intent of reinvigorating the Men's Division while also unifying the development pathway for all levels of rugby play within the state.

"This new 7’s Series lays the essential ground work of rebuilding the senior division here in Utah,” said Rugby Utah Director Kimball Kjar, “And the Series will help continue to forge important ties between Rugby Utah and Utah Youth Rugby as our ODA strategy continues its path to launch while seeking to attract the top men’s talent and eventually the top high school and youth talent here in the region.”

Each of the series legs will feature High School Boys, Girls and 9/10 divisions with the Men’s division making its re-emergence in state championship competition after a five-year absence.

Also featured in the RU/UYR 7s Series will be a first-of-its-kind training camp opportunity for all RU/UYR Fall 7s Series participants via RU's partnership with ATAVUS, the country’s leading rugby and contact sport training company.

The RU 1Team ATAVUS camp will be held in conjunction with the October 24th leg of the RU/UYR 7s Series at Granite High School. Players will have the rare opportunity to work with ATAVUS and RU ODA coaches in an innovative immersive experience during the actual tournament for players, coaches and referees.

The RU 1Team ATAVUS camp will also feature a Friday night pre-tournament training camp with 7s rugby icon Waisale Serevi for players, coaches and referees in delivery on the RU/ATAVUS 1Team development methodology, built to grow the game in all areas of play.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of Rugby Utah’s innovative event. Integrating our camp experience into the tournament format enhances the value for players, coaches and referees ” said Ross Young, CEO of ATAVUS, “In the process, we hope to benefit the thousands of rugby enthusiasts in Utah. We’re excited to be in Utah for the long haul.”

With rugby now the fastest-growing team sport in America and with Utah out-pacing the national growth average events like the RU/UYR 7s Series, coupled with the RU 1Team ATAVUS camp, are becoming of more demand as players and coaches look for on-going opportunities to play and train in their sport-of-choice.

“We have seen a dramatic rise is participation over the last 5 years,” said UYR President Owen Power, “This series and the 1Team ATAVUS camp offers unique opportunities for our teams and their players and coaches to be involved with more high-quality rugby throughout the year. We’re very excited to partner with Rugby Utah and ATAVUS to deliver this series and the camp to the youth and high school rugby community.”

Cost for the Rugby Utah 1Team ATAVUS Camp is only $20 per player, coach or referee.

Rugby Utah & Utah Youth Rugby Fall 7s Championship Series details:
• Leg 1—September 19th: Clearfield, UT—Fisher Park
• Leg 2—September 26th: Salt Lake City, UT—Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex
• Leg 3—October 24th: South Salt Lake, UT—Granite High School***
• Series Championship—October 31st: St. George, UT—The Fields at Little Valley

***Rugby Utah & ATAVUS to host a Friday (October 23rd) “1Team” Training Camp for high school players, coaches and referees. To register for the October 23rd Rugby Utah/ATAVUS 1Team Training Camp go to: www.RugbyUtah.com/register/1TeamATAVUSCamp.