The LA Invitational is almost full, with about 200 teams signed up from at least 25 different US states and several foreign countries, as well.

The Men's Elite, Premier, and Open 7s, and the Women's Elite and Open 7s feature some top-flight talent including the USA Falcons, Rugby Quebec, Lomaiviti, the Dominican Republic national team, Lindenwood University women, Stars, Chicago Lions, and Belmont Shore.

We've touched on the massive Boys HS showing.

High-Quality HS Teams Flood LA Invitational

But the Girls HS are strong, too, with Rhinos, Belmont Shore, ICEF/View Park, Arizona Bobcats, Rock Rugby, Atlantis, and Carson Colts in U18 Elite, Open, and U16 brackets, with as many as 40 teams slated to suit up.

Then there's the college brackets. This is a slight departure from previous college tournaments at the World Series invitational, because the previous tournaments were linked to the old CRC. Not the case this year and that's been an attractive prospect for teams. Now that teams from outside the US can play, American college teams see the LAI as an excellent way to warm up for the spring 7s season playing unfamiliar opposition.

So the Women's College 7s includes Notre Dame College, Lindenwood, Colorado, NSCRO Selects, and Carolina Selects, but also University of Guelph and University of Regina, both from Canada.

Similarly, Mount Royal University (Calgary, Alberta) and Brock University (St. Catharines, Ontario) augment an intriguing Men's College bracket that includes Harvard and Dartmouth, Western Michigan, Northern Colorado, Utah State, Notre Dame, and New Mexico Highlands.

Northeaster, Louisiana Tech, Alabama, William & Mary, SUNY Cortland, and Whittier College are expected to be there, too. This is a very competitive group.

But also notable is how separated the teams are. The college teams are coming from all corners of North America, showcasing how the LAI and the LA 7s isn't just a Southern California event.

For more on the LAI and LA 7s go to: https://lasevensrugby.com