A new sports league is set to arrive in town, and it’s bringing several Olympic athletes along with it.
The newly formed, North America-based Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s) league debuts this October with an event at AutoZone Park. The league contains both women’s and men’s teams under one umbrella, and is committed to providing equal pay for members of both teams. Rugby Sevens is a variation on union rugby in which each teams features seven players a side.
“For our inaugural event, we wanted a market that would appeal as an exciting destination for American rugby fans with a great venue and vibrant local rugby community,” said Owen Scannell, founder and CEO of Premier Rugby Sevens. “With the Downtown location of AutoZone Park steps away from the legendary Beale Street, the PR7s Inaugural Championship in Memphis will be an unbelievable festival experience worth traveling to see in person.”
The league’s initial player signings include athletes from both the USA Men’s and Women’s Olympic Rugby Sevens Teams, including Perry Baker, Danny Barrett, Abby Gustaitis, Carlin Isles, Alev Kelter, Ilona Maher, Folau Niua, Naya Tapper, Stephen Thomasin, and Kevon Williams. Six men’s teams and four women’s teams have so far been announced.
“This is a huge opportunity for Memphis to shine on a national and international stage by hosting Premier Rugby Sevens and their inaugural event,” said Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. “It’s a unique chance for our residents in the Memphis Metro area to witness this landmark tournament live. And we look forward to welcoming fans and the PR7s’ athletes from across the country to our city.”
The PR7s Inaugural Championship series will take place in Memphis on October 9th, and is scheduled to broadcast on the FOX Sports family, including FS2, the FOX Sports App, and foxsports.com. The rest of the season will play out in a single-day touring format in other cities around the United States and Canada.
The league also has plans to work closely with student-athletes of Memphis Inner City Rugby, offering access to players, a coach development clinic, professional development opportunities, and discounted tickets to the event.
