USA Sevens Rugby tournament bringing its party atmosphere to Las Vegas

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015 | 2 a.m.

One rugby fan dressed as Little Bo Peep and was joined by seven friends dressed as sheep. Another group of fans wore Muppets costumes. There was loud music, supporters waving flags, patriotic songs and record alcohol sales. The USA Sevens Rugby tournament, which returns Feb. 13-15 to Sam Boyd Stadium, is more than a sporting event. It’s a three-day party.

“The rugby is great, but you can’t beat what’s going on in the crowd,” said Rob Cornelius, vice president of business development at United World Sports, which stages the tournament. “It’s one big, dress-up party. It’s the type of atmosphere you want in a big-time event.”

Las Vegas is the fifth of nine stops in the HSBC Sevens World Series, where points are accumulated, similar to the NASCAR series, and a champion is crowned at the end of the season.

The event started in 2004 in Southern California and moved to Petco Park in San Diego before coming to Las Vegas in 2010.

Attendance has more than doubled since the event moved here, setting a record in 2014 with 68,608 fans over three days, including a single-day high of 31,644. Cornelius expects more than 70,000 people will attend this year to watch 20 matches Friday and Saturday, and championship matches Sunday.

Most of the spectators are tourists. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority projects USA Sevens will pump $22.5 million into the local economy and attract 21,500 visitors.

“It’s the same reason people come here for the National Finals Rodeo,” Cornelius said. “Fans come here to experience something they can’t in any other city in the world. These teams have a cult following.”

A lifelong rugby player and part of the Las Vegas Blackjacks club team, Cornelius was working in special events at the Hard Rock Hotel when he approached Las Vegas Events about bringing USA Sevens to town. He’d vacationed in San Diego to watch the event and sensed it could flourish here.

“In this city, I believed anything could happen,” he said.

The sevens format — seven players rather than rugby’s typical 15 — allows for fast-paced action, with athletes creating plays in a strategy similar to football. Carlin Isles, who ran a 4.22-second 40-yard dash during a workout with the Detroit Lions, has emerged as one of the most exciting players for the U.S. team.

“In American football, if you are tackled or make a tackle, the game starts over,” Cornelius said. “In rugby, you have to be ready to make the tackle again. You hear the hits. It is a full-on collision.”

Matches will be shown on NBC and NBC Sports, available in 149 countries and 390 million homes, Cornelius said.

“It’s one big advertisement for our city,” he said.

Local rugby scene thriving

The Las Vegas Blackjacks, a club team, won the USA Rugby Premier Division in 2010 (placing second in 2009 and fourth in 2006). The team is part of the Southern California Rugby Football Union, which includes teams in Arizona, California and New Mexico.

The Blackjacks formed in 1976 and are considered Southern Nevada’s top team.

In 1998, when player numbers were high, Las Vegas Irish RFC formed to give locals more opportunity to play rugby. Another club, Downtown Las Vegas Rugby, also plays at a high level.

Rugby has been called one of the fastest-growing sports nationally. And that starts with children.

The Las Vegas Rugby Academy includes more than 100 boys and girls, elementary to high school aged. UNLV also has a club team and is coached by former national team member Vaha Esikia.

Is it anything like football?

Sevens rugby, in which each side plays with seven players instead of the 15 used in traditional rugby, favors teams with speed and athleticism. The game is played on a regulation rugby field that’s between 113 and 133 yards long and 74.3 yards wide, creating constant action and attacks. The open-field play resembles football with plenty of open-field tackles.

“It’s easy to watch,” said Rob Cornelius, vice president of business development at United World Sports. “It’s fast-paced with big hits and big runs. It’s pure hell on the players. They are absolutely gassed.”

How is it played?

• Over three days, 16 national sevens teams play 44 games. Games last 14 minutes with seven-minute halves, whereas 15-player rugby uses 40-minute halves.

• The most common way of scoring is a “try,” when a player places the ball on the ground in the goal area for five points.

• That earns a two-point conversion kick from 24 yards out, attempted even with the spot where the try occurred. That’s why players with a clear path to the goal typically run to the center — for a straight conversion kick. The kick must travel through H-shaped goal posts, similar to football.

• Another way to earn points is with a drop kick on a penalty, which results in three points if successful.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21