[Detroit, MI] – At the Union’s Annual General Meeting earlier this month, the Union detailed plans to redesign the Midwest 7s Series in an effort to increase participation and limit costs for both participants and the Union.
First, the Union has decided to consolidate the Series into three (3) centrally located and Union-ran events. This reduction from five (5) events and elimination of Tournament Hosts will allow the Union to control the costs of the Series and hopefully make it more affordable for participating teams. Events this year will be held on the following dates in the following locations:
- Saturday, June 28, at the Hope Sports Complex in Lansing, Michigan
- Saturday, July 12, at the Chicago Blaze Rugby Facility in Lemont, Illinois
- Saturday, July 26, at the Moose Grounds in Elkhart, Indiana (Championship)
Additionally, the Union is pleased to announce that they have expanded to competition levels available within the Series with the hopes of providing equitable competition for more Teams interested in 7s.
The
Premiership Competition will be the traditional “Qualifier” pathway meant for elite-level teams to compete and earn a spot in USA Club Rugby’s National 7s Championship in August.
The newly created “
Midwest Cup” Competition is meant to offer high quality competition to high performing 7s teams that are looking to develop into “Qualifier Level” programs. These teams will compete against one another each weekend for the Midwest Cup while occasionally crossing over into the Premiership Competition to provide additional experience to both them and the Premiership teams. Matches played against Premiership teams will not count towards the standings of the Midwest Cup.
Finally, the Union is hoping to offer
Open Competition where they are able to in an effort to offer quality competition to developing 7s programs. Not to be confused with a social bracket, this level of competition is meant only for established teams looking to play a high-quality competition in a professional environment. No touring, alumni, or otherwise unsanctioned teams will be accepted.
Not new this year, but some other highlights the Union was to emphasize are that
Teams can register for the entire Series, at a discount, but can also enter single events. If a team is looking to see what the Series is like or wants to compete week to week, they can do so if they choose. Additionally,
Teams from outside the Union can participate in both the Series or one-off Events as well assuming they receive permission from the Union, are fully sanctioned members of USA Rugby, and have paid Non-Member Series or Event Fee which is a separate fee on top of registration.
You can read more about the Series
here.
Register for the Series or Single Events
here.
