The Rugby Tens Series kicks off this weekend with the first of four Series events to be held at the Oaks International Grand Prix Venue in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

While 10-a-side rugby is not played as much as 7s, organizers of the Rugby Tens Series are looking to change that; 10s rugby has been played for decades and combines elements of 7s and 15s—there are more 15s-familiar aspects of play (mauls, real scrums, lineout variations, and some similar tactics), but there remains a bit more open space, like in 7s, and shorter games allow teams to play more than one game in a day.

This competition came about after the World 10s tournament held in Bermuda. The Rhinos program out of Southern California played in that competition and the way the tournament was run and the positives of 10-a-side rugby struck a chord within the organization.

“We spoke with World 10s that it was a great event and we’ll help support you,” said Rugby Tens CEO Andreea Trufasu. Rhinos wanted to expand the tournament to include women, but the event in Bermuda wasn’t able to do that. So Rhinos started to work with MLR execs Thierry Daupin and Nic Benson to put on an international 10s tournament for women. Unfortunately for World 10s, the COVID pandemic undercut their plans to follow up on the 2020. 

“So we decided to take that on,” added Trufasu. “And since we came from youth rugby originally, it made sense to bring in boys and girls.”

R10C was formed, and a format that included Men, Women, Boys, and Girls was born. 

Within the format, there are regional franchises that play in a regional series. For 2024, for example, the regional series in the USA will be held October 4, 12, 18, and 26 in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano in Southern California. Global Franchises Balkans Honey Badgers, Cape Town Wild Dogs, San Clemente Rhinos, and Serengeti Elephants will be joined by an invited US-based franchise for this Series. Players and teams develop through the Series before moving on to the Championship events November 23 and 27 also held in Southern California.

The idea is not to just have a one-off event that happens and disappears, and in which players and teams don’t really learn and develop, and instead give all players and coaches time to improve.

It’s partly a pathway to high-level rugby, but it is also a development opportunity for players looking to get there.

One feature of the Rugby Tens competition is the Mixed Play. You might have two Women’s teams play each other in the first half, and then two U18 Boys teams from the same two franchises play each other for the second half. The combined score is the score, and the combined performances earn points for the entire franchise.

Todd Clever Becomes GM for RugbyTens San Clemente Franchise

“What teams found is that if they neglect one of the teams in their franchise they don’t do as well,” said Trufasu. “The Men’s and Women’s teams that mentored and worked with the U18 teams are the ones that won in Mixed Play. Two years ago the Honey Badgers figured it out and won the Mix Play championship by a lot. Last year they won it by half a point. You see games where everyone supports each other. The Men’s teams are cheering loudly for the Girls team because the points all count equally.”

That’s one manifestation of Rugby Tens, but there are others.

Playing professional-level Rugby Tens is an excellent bridge for players looking to train at a high level to get to test rugby. The Honey Badgers, based in Europe, have players from a variety of countries not always associated with rugby—Czechia, Poland, Sweden—but who want to become better professionals or become leaders of their national teams. Players who are looking at both international 7s or also professional leagues such as Major League Rugby need competition to show how they are developing. The same professional development is there for coaches.

“It’s a bridge for players and coaches who may be frustrated at not having made the selections they are hoping to get,” said Trufasu. 

Trufaso tells the story of players who were ready to give up on rugby, only to leverage Rugby Tens to get on a national team.