The Tropical 7s is set for this coming weekend and the response among touring and select teams has been impressive.

The tournament has 16 Boys U18 teams, with the Panther Rugby Academy heavily represented with four teams. Panther 7s, also part of the USA Rugby/Panther program, also has four teams. The bracket also includes the Celtic Barbarians, two teams from Hawaii (Maui and Kahuku), three teams from Texas (Gorilla Academy has two and Allen has one), one from the Mountain states (Rebel Rugby Academy), and an Alaska Youth Rugby team.

The Girls U18 bracket has 13 teams with Alaska, Maui, Rebel, Panther, and Celtic all fielding squads. ARPTC is there, as is Fallbrook out of Southern California, the Charlotte Tigress, Rogue Ridge (Michigan), Badger Selects out of Wisconsin, the Utah Cannibals, and Riverdale Rugby out of Tennessee.

There is a Men's University/U23 bracket which mixes the likes of Wheeling University, Life, and Spring Hill College with touring sides such as the Celtic Barbarians, Panther 7s, S7ormers, and more. The Women's version of this bracket has six teams including two from Life, along with Clemson, Celtic, Rogue Samurai, and Tallahassee women.

Overall, the Panthers Rugby academy program has 16 teams in Orlando: U23 Men, eight U18s Boys, three U14 Boys, and two each for U18 Girls and U16 Girls.

Return to GRR for scores and reports.