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CRC 7s
http://usasevenscrc.com/
SUPPORT NAVY RUGBY - CLICK HERE
to PURCHASE DISCOUNT TICKETS for the JUNE 2 and 3, 2012
COLLEGIATE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 7s at PPL STADIUM in
PHILADELPHIA
USA Sevens LLC has
named the 15 collegiate 7s programs invited to the third
annual USA 7s Collegiate Rugby Championship Invitational,
scheduled for June 2012 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa., just
outside Philadelphia.
In keeping with the tournament’s historical approach, the
teams invited have been chosen for their quality of rugby,
fan following, and the potential for exciting rivalries.
Seven teams make their third straight appearance at the CRC,
including 2011 champions Dartmouth, and 2011 runners-up
Army. Local favorites Penn State, Army’s rivals Navy, 2010
runners-up Cal, as well as Notre Dame and Arizona, all
return for a third go-round.
Florida returns to the CRC after a one-year hiatus, while
2010 champions Utah are not on the list and will have to
qualify if they want to be there again.
Three teams will make a repeat engagement after making their
debuts in 2011: rivals Texas and Oklahoma, and locals
Temple.
Meanwhile Maryland, North Carolina State, Wisconsin and
Delaware will compete in the CRC for the first time.
This leaves one more spot open for a qualifier. This year’s
qualification tournament, held at the Las Vegas Invitational
in Las Vegas just before the USA 7s, featured almost 30
teams. The semifinals and final were held in Sam Boyd
Stadium, and Central Washington won, going on to finish 4th
in the CRC that June.
In 2012, the CRC Qualifier is again at the Las Vegas
Invitational presented by Stations Casinos, with the Final
held again in Sam Boyd Stadium. This time, however, the
final will be held during a break in action of the USA 7s,
meaning the players will be competing in front of 25,000 or
more fans (last year the USA 7s averaged just below 25,000
per day).
“USA Sevens and NBC Sports are excited to offer, for the
second year in succession, a place at the 2012 Collegiate
Rugby Championship Invitational to the winner of the Men’s
CRC Bracket at the 2012 Las Vegas Invitational,” said Donal
Walsh, Senior Vice President of USA Sevens Rugby. “Due to
the overwhelming success of the event in its first two
years, the demand for places is extremely high. We are
delighted that the Las Vegas Invitational organizing team
has agreed once again to host the only qualifying tournament
with the champion gaining entry to the final place in
Philadelphia. We expect this competition to again attract
all eligible rugby programs from across the nation, to
battle it out to gain entry to this premier collegiate
sevens event in the USA.”
The 2012 CRC will once again be broadcast live on NBC and
affiliated networks.
The development of the first CRC event in 2010 in Columbus
sparked a mini revolution in college rugby. Within a few
short months many college rugby programs had refocused their
priorities to include 7s. Leagues and conferences started
hosting regional college 7s tournaments, and in February,
2011, 28 teams traveled to Las Vegas to play for that one
single qualifier spot. This fall has been full of collegiate
7s tournaments, including a newly-created USA Rugby national
tournament.
“When I initially presented the vision of competing in the
CRC our alumni and coaches were hesitant,” said Texas
University Coach Jacob Liberman. “Most felt that we could
not raise the travel funds and/or compete with the best
rugby clubs in the country on a national stage. Not only did
we sell our entire allotment of tickets, but we finished in
the top eight on the field, losing to Army in a competitive
quarterfinal match that was tied at halftime.
“We accomplished all of this despite being one of the last
four teams named to the event,” Liberman continued. “Given a
longer runway I anticipate we could sell more tickets and do
an even better job on the field. Since the CRC we have
raised an additional $10,000 from alumni, landed a new
apparel sponsor, and have been contacted by 90 students
(including two DBs from the football team) who want to play
rugby. Texas attended both the LVI and CRC last year and
hope to do so again next year. Both experiences were
amazing. Thanks to the CRC, American fans are recognizing
rugby players as legitimate athletes. My personal feeling is
that the CRC is the pinnacle of American rugby and we were
proud to take part.”
The 15 teams invited to the 2012 USA 7s Collegiate Rugby
Championship:
Army
Arizona
California
Dartmouth
Delaware
Florida
Maryland
NC State
Navy
Notre Dame
Penn State
Temple
Texas
Oklahoma
Wisconsin
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