This weekend sees the Tennessee High School 7s championships held at Middle Tennessee State University, with eight teams vying for the title.

The two top contenders have to be the two conference champions coming into the weekend. South Doyle beat Bearden 22-12 in the final of the Smoke Mountain Athletic Conference tournament to take the top seed in Pool A. Meanwhile, Ravenwood defeated Freedom Prep out of Memphis to win their conference. 

“We had to work hard to get by the teams from Memphis,” said Ravenwood Head Coach Richard Boone. “We know South Doyle will be tough. We’re smaller this year, so I hope we’ll be quicker!”

Three experienced rugby players lead the charge for Ravenwood, with 7s hooker Brady Hu Young, flyhalf Jesse Boone, and scrumhalf Tripp Waring having played together for several years. They are key for a team that has mostly inexperience players rounding out the roster.  

South Doyle won the 2014-15 state 15s title last spring, and has won the state 7s title three times in the last five years.

Head Coach Matthew Lance said many players from that championship squad will be playing this weekend. 

“We have a strong, experienced team this season with strong senior leadership,” said lance. “This team's confidence has come from the time they have spend in the weight room this season, combined with the number of quality matches they have had the opportunity to play. The guys are excited to put a finished product on the field that reflects the time and effort they have put into 7s since mid-summer.”

South Doyle and Ravenwood met last season for both the 7s and 15s state titles.

Bearden will be tough and pushed South Doyle in the final. Freedom Prep and PCA out of the the Memphis Inner City program both have the potential to break open games. It’s been raining all week, so this promises to be a bit of a muddy encounter. 

Pool A:
South Doyle (SMAC)
Freedom Prep (Memphis Inner City Rugby)
McMinn County (SMAC)
Father Ryan (Nashville)

Pool B:
Ravenwood (Nashville)
PCA (Memphis Inner City Rugby)
Bearden (SMAC)
Sumner County