Fall HS Action Boosts Numbers Across The US
Fall HS Action Boosts Numbers Across The US
Fall is not free of high school rugby.
Girls rugby, especially, gets a boost in the fall, both in 7s and (in some small examples) 15s.
This is not an exhaustive list, but it does give you an idea of what's going on this fall.
Interestingly, it's worth noticing that several of the states with fall 7s rate quite high when it comes to membership compared to youth population. In the Top 20 we listed here: Youth and HS Membership Numbers and Analysis—half of them have robust fall schedules.
Oregon:
Their fall 7s include both boys and girls teams. They didn't have a lot of teams last year, but they can grow.
Idaho:
Idaho is #1 in terms of members as a proportion of the youth population. The Idaho girls 7s competition is split into West ADA (Boise) and the rest of the state. It's one of the best leagues in the nation.
Utah:
While girls rugby takes something of a center stage in 7s in the fall, the boys also play a fairly robust series of games. They start on September 16 and play a few weeks.
Colorado:
The CIRA season is building back into a solid group of teams and will play a girls 7s season this fall. Summit, Regis Jesuit, Monarch, East, Eagle Valley and, we expect, Palmer, will be in this league.
Iowa:
The girls league is the central thing in the fall with 12 school teams playing throughout the fall. By playing on a Monday evening, the league allows teams to find field space and also allow athletes to perhaps play two sports during the fall. First tournament is Monday, September 18.
Indiana:
Boys and girls have a robust schedule that kicks off September 17 and goes each successive Sunday into the middle of October. By out count there are 11 HS teams in boys and 11 HS teams in girls (several of these teams have more than one side fielded). Also in the USA Youth & HS numbers we saw that Indiana has a solid showing in relation to their youth population. Indiana is
Wisconsin:
The girls 15s league is held each fall with about 10 teams.
Michigan:
A seven-team 15s league kicks off later this month.
Ohio:
Ohio's membership density is high, and in total numbers, too, as they rate 3rd in total members behind Southern California and Northern California. A really strong 7s competition is part of that, as it's a great way for teams (school teams and HS clubs) to introduce the game to new players during the fall.
Their league kicks off September 24 and they move on through to a finals around the end of October.
New Jersey:
Rugby New Jersey has a strong fall 7s season planned with a boys 7s season that finishes off with the New York 7s in New York City on November 26. September 17 at Cranford opened the season with tournaments also on September 24 (Lincroft), October 8 (location TBD), October 15 (Denville), and October 22 (Lincroft). Three weekends in November are turned over to All-Star development leading into the NY7s.
All tournaments except for the October 22 event welcome teams from outside New Jersey. Email here to get your team involved>>
New York:
As they did last year, Rugby NY will bring in some teams from outside the region. Five tournaments this year with a points system will start September 30 and end at Memorial Stadium in Mt. Vernon on November 18 (Memorial is the stadium where the NY Ironworkers play). For the girls Aspetuck (Connecticut) competes alongside the likes of PlayRugby and NYRFC. For the boys, Pelham (champs six years in a row) will field two teams as will PlayRugby, while NYRFC and New Rochelle will also compete.
Pennsylvania:
Another big membership state, RugbyPA runs fall 7s for both boys and girls, with a big final at the end. The entire season is seven weeks long starting September 17 (a Sunday) and every Sunday after that (except Columbus Day Weekend) up until November 5.
North Carolina:
Fall 7s for both boys and girls has helped fuel a strong and growing league in the spring.
South Carolina:
Things cap off in Greer, SC December 9-10 in a 7s tournament that is open to everyone. Go here to register>>. It's a two-day tournament and one that is sponsored by the City of Greer, which helps with its consistency and local support. It's held on two really nice lit fields. Last year teams came from six states.
