World RFC NYC Sevens New Rugby Event in US Landscape
World RFC NYC Sevens New Rugby Event in US Landscape
A new rugby 7s competition is being launched for this summer.
Rugby fans will remember that a certain Bill Tatham has been paying USA Rugby a licensing fee for a 7s event for many years now. The event has had many different blueprints and chased many different ideas, has not actually been help ... but this year it appears very much that this new idea will take the field.
The World Rugby Football League will start with the New York City Sevens held at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. Teams will play for prize money, with prize money for specific wins and for a tournament win—the purse is $1 million.
Nations projected to participate at NYC Sevens include New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, and the USA, with sanctioning by USA Rugby.
Investors are reportedly on board, with major money already put up (as we understand it, the venue has already been paid and the prize money is already in an escrow account). Messages coming to GRR indicates this is a serious effort to produce an international 7s tournament in the middle of the summer, serving as warmup for teams looking to the 2023-24 Sevens World Series season, or Olympic qualification tournaments, or both.
New York City will be the feature host city of this tournament, looking to attract fans to the location as well as the rugby.
"NYC Sevens is not just fast-paced, hard-hitting rugby that features the best teams in the world; it’s an all-day festival showcasing the energy and passion of international rugby sevens through music and sport," said Rob Cornelius, President of 44FiftyFive Sports & Entertainment and Head of Operations for NYC Sevens, speaking in the NYC Sevens launch announcement. "As a leading promoter of the Las Vegas USA Sevens, the most successful rugby sevens event in the United States, we are excited to be a part of The World RFL’s premiere kick-off event by introducing Olympic-caliber rugby sevens to New York City.”
“This event will bring a unique sports experience to both avid and new rugby fans,” said Sean Verity, The World RFL's Executive Producer. “We are developing creative solutions and identifying venue and broadcast innovation that presents rugby sevens in the most dynamic way possible across the modern landscape of live and televised sports. We have an incredible opportunity to bring the world's best rugby sevens players to the Big Apple, and we intend to build a strong foundation to expand The World RFL as a major league sport.”
Ross Young, CEO of USA Rugby, said, “Rugby sevens is a unique experience in so many ways, the festival and entertainment atmosphere are unlike any other. NYC Sevens aims to enhance that with a blend of top-level rugby, music, and culture. With some of the world’s best men’s teams descending on Red Bull Arena this summer, it will take things to another level here in the USA.”
The World RFL Founder and Commissioner William Tatham noted that, “Rugby is the world’s contact sport and the ‘father of American football.’ I am committed to making The World RFL the next major U.S. league and the first new American professional sports league in 50 years to truly prosper.”
The World RFL is reportedly looking to work with PR 7s and MLR to find a way for these events to all avoid working at cross purposes.
