GRR: HS Girls
Iowa Youth Rugby has launched its 7s season with 29 teams playing in three divisions.
The Boys 2A and Boys 1A competitions both have 10 teams involved, while the Girls 1A has nine teams duking it out. After week 1, we're already getting a sense of of who looks strong, with Ankeny (as usual), Fort Dodge, and CR Washington all going 2-0 in Boys 2A.
Many eyes at the Tropical 7s were on the Panther Rugby Academy.
Given that the Panther program entered 16 teams in the tournament was reason enough, but there was also the fact that the PRA has earned the USA Rugby designation of National Development Academy. With that kind of stamp of approval, they beter perform well.
Alaska's young rugby players traveled 4,500 miles last week to get a game of rugby in, and they did pretty well in three brackets of the Tropical 7s in Orlando, Fla.
The girls struggled a bit more than the boys. They logged wins over Fallbrook and Rogue Ridge, but lost four in pool play and lost the 9th/10th playoff to Riverdale 22-5.
The Charlotte Tigress had only the one hiccup in a run that saw them win the Girls U18 bracket at the Tropical 7s.
The Tropical 7s is set for this coming weekend and the response among touring and select teams has been impressive.