May 15, 2012 Philadelphia, Pa. - – For the first time ever, USA Sevens LLC, organizers of the two largest rugby tournaments in North America, the USA Sevens Las Vegas tournament and the Collegiate Rugby Championship, has organized the High School Rugby Challenge (HSRC) which will feature sixteen High School Boys teams and eight High School Girls teams from around the country

Twenty-four high schools, 16 boys teams and eight girls teams, will help kick-start the next stage in America’s Olympic rugby dream June 1-3 as the USA 7s High School Rugby Challenge (HSRC) in Philadelphia.

The HSRC will be held in conjunction with the USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC), June 1-3 in Philadelphia. Now in its third year, the CRC has built on the 2009 announcement that Rugby 7s will be part of the 2016 Olympic Games --  pitting some of the top college rugby programs in the country against each other in the 7-a-side rugby tournament format.

The CRC helped create an explosion in the interest in Rugby 7s among college rugby teams, and organizers expect the same for the high schools.

“By giving these High School teams great venues at Drexel University and PPL Park, we hope to bring more kids to the game of rugby through the fast-paced, and exciting format of Rugby 7s,” said HSRC and CRC Tournament Director Donal Walsh. “High School rugby teams don’t think about Olympic Rugby as much as they do the traditional 15-a-side game. But we know this is a terrific way to introduce people of all kinds to the sport.”

Sixteen boys teams will compete in four pools of four, with the top two from each pool going on to the Cup Quarterfinals. All teams get a chance to play in the big stadium at PPL Park, as the final pool games are slated to be held there, interspersed around the games for the CRC.

Headlining the tournament is Gonzaga Prep out of Washington, DC. Currently ranked #1 among high schools by RUGBYMag.com, as well as Burrell HS from Western Pennsylvania, West Shore United, one of the leading HS clubs in the state, and New York Rugby Club.

Among the girls, two pools of four will compete, with the top two going to the semis. Leading the field of eight is Fallbrook out of Southern California, which just finished 1^st in USA Rugby’s National Invitational, and Divine Savior Holy Angels out of Milwaukee, which finished 3^rd.

New York and West Shore both will enter teams for both Boys and Girls.

The HSRC begins June 1 at the Vidas Athletic Complex at Drexel University. The first kickoff is at 1pm.

Pool play runs until 5pm, and then continues Saturday, June 2 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa., and knockout rounds will be held at PPL Park Sunday, June 3.

For more information, go to www.usasevenscrc.com.