It’s Friday Night 7s time in Iowa as the Iowa Youth Rugby Association runs their Boys High School league in a way that is unique in the country.

High School players in Iowa play 7s. The teams are split into single-school squads, and play a series of game nights where each team plays two games. The standings are kept and the teams are eventually seeded for a final tournament in May.

Leading the pack at the moment are the Ankeny Hawks, who sit 4-0 going into tonight’s third round of games. The Ankeny program has two teams. The school district split into two high schools, and a year later, Ankeny split into the Hawks and Ankeny Centennial. Coaches Dennis Oliver and Evan Sunde coach both teams.

“Which is weird because they are actually two very different teams that play two different styles,” said Oliver. Centennial, the newer group, is 2-2. The Hawks are 4-0, winning consistently (28-7, 21-7, 21-0, 21-7). Tonight the Hawks get to play their training partners in Ankeny Centennial, and 1-3 Urbandale.

Ankeny is still a young squad but some four-year starters such as Brad Phipps have provided key leadership. Ross Simms was an accomplished wrestler (which means a lot in Iowa), and has emerged as a versatile and effective rugby player. Derek Hickman is another wrestling convert who has emerged at hooker.

“They’re starting to understand and play for each other,” said Oliver. “The key is to be mentally focused, and when you’re in this format where you play, and you wait and then play another game, it also requires focus.”

Playing 7s in Iowa is a weird thing in that there are athletes who are better suited for 15s. Oliver said he welcomes those players, and coaches them, but is always giving them the message, that they may pan out more as a 15s player. The skills, though, translate.

The Hawks are alone at the top of Iowa at the moment, but Winterset also have not lost - they just have played one less game. Winterset has sent heir offense explode, scoring over 40 points twice.  SE Polk, led by the speedy Deion Mikesell, has won three games and tied one, and that team has a date with the Hawks on May 1.

Friday night's Iowa schedule: