2017 Hong Kong Sevens- April 7th - 9th

What is the next big Rugby event......

The Hong Kong Seven Series is always the grand daddy of them all. This will be the 42 edition and the Seventh World Rugby Seven Series.

This series not only has the top 16 nations play but there is also the promotion/regulation groups of  World Series qualifiers of 12 other nations. This year Germany, Spain, Uruguay and Hong Kong are the favorites to join the top group next year.  
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The USA has 2 great series in Las Vegas and Canada and now sit in 5th place chasing New Zealand. The problem looking ahead is that you have Australia on their heals.

Shake up in the Americas Ranking

This was a successful tournament. No one wanted to see the Argentina XV win for a 7th consecutive time. We also wanted to see the tournament grow and become more competitive. I do not about grow but it certainly got more competitive. 

First there is a new champion in this tournament....the USA Eagles. They went undefeated and showed they are a force in the region for Rugby. After losing to both Brazil and Uruguay last year the Eagles did not overlook anyone. 

Uruguay placed 3rd and gave the USA fits playing in the states. Uruguay did beat Canada. Uruguay has now taken over Canada in the standing for the first time ever. Uruguay now make 4 quality teams in the Americas.

Brazil also beat their Northern Rival-Canada in a squeaker. Canada was always been ranked above Brazil in Rugby. These victories has had an effect on the Americas Rugby Ranking. 

Paraguay quality is lacking behind the top 6 and hopefully they can challenge next year and make promotion/regulation a reality.

USA Sevens leapfrogs from 8th place to 5th

The USA had their best result for for in the 2016-17 World rugby Seven Series.  They placed 3rd after beating Argentine in the quarterfinals and nipping New Zealand 19-15 for 3rd place. This victory moves the USA up  8th place to 5th. 

The USA was in a 3 way tie with Argentina and France with 35 points. This victory put a little distance between France who are now 10th and Argentina who have 52 points in 8th. 

The USA leapfrogged Scotland who were in 5th, and Wales who were tied for 6th with Australia. 

The European teams are expected to do well in the last two legs which are in Paris and London but we see how Scotland, Wales and France faltered here in North America.

The good news for the Eagles is the are playing with confidence and next weekend the games are in Vancouver. Their group is Australia, France and Japan. They are all beatable. 

USA wins their first Rugby Championship

All the USA Eagles (15 per side) needed was a win (or a tie w/ bonus points) against the favorite Argentina XV in Argentina and that is just what they got. The USA tied Argentina 27-27 and got an extra bonus points to beat Argentina in the standing . The USA claimed the Championship because they scored 4 tries in the match. This Earned them extra point 22 to finally beat the dominant Rugby nation of the Americas.

This is the first time any nation besides Argentina has won the Americas Championship. This is the 7th competition of the top teams in the Americas. 

This is the first time the USA has won a major Rugby Union tournament. This is great news not only for the USA but also the other countries in the Americas. Rugby seems to be getting better in the Americas. Last year Brazil and Uruguay beat the USA. This year Uruguay and Brazil both beat Canada.   

USA v Argentina for Rugby Championship today

 USA v Argentina Priview preview

The Americas Rugby Championship will be determined in the Estadio Municipal de Comodoro Rivadavia. The stadium holds 10,000 which is perfect for Rugby attendance.


This link will do a much better job of the players that i ever could. IT sounds like the Argentina is still a much better team and they hardly lost at home. The Argentine coach is changing his players just because he can. The subs are as good as the starters.  It seem like his is just getting them quality playing time and seeing who can make the jump to their top team.


This game is for the Championship so the stakes are high. The USA know that Argentina has won every Americas championship dating back to 2009, which is 6 in a row. This tournament would make 7.

The USA sure has gotten better over the years however every other country has also gotten better. Hopefully the top USA team (the Eagles) can beat the B team from Argentina. I think all American teams (Canada, Uruguay, Chili and Brazil) would want the USA to win. Who wants a B team slapping other countries best around.

Go Eagles

Americas Rugby Championship

        I am happy with the way the tournament is progressing and so are the promoters. The USA has the biggest market and the most potential of any team in the tournament. I believe the promoters wanted the tournament to still be " alive"  until the last week. So what do you do, well schedule the 2 best teams (USA v Argentina) to play last and hope they have tied records.  Bravo---mission accomplished.

    We all knew Argentina would be there but the USA was in question. So lets take a look at tournament so far. Week 1 the USA played Uruguay at home. The Eagles beat the determined Uruguay by only 5 points. Uruguay beat the USA in last year tournament. Week 2 USA got rolling and pounded a weak Brazil team 51-3. Brazil know knows how I feel when the Samba Kings dominate my yanks on the soccer field. Week 3 was a showdown against USA Eagles arch rival Canada.

USA v Canada
 Canada owns a 38-17-1 all-time record against the USA.  Canada rugby has been as dominant as CAnada hockey against USA hockey. But times have changes. It is safe to say the USA has now over taken Canada in Rugby. The USA has won the last 6 test games in a row. The last time Canada beat the USA was in 2013. 
   The USA pounded their arch rivals in the Am Rugby Championship 51-34 and the game was on Canada soil. 
    This rivalry is not over. To his summer these 2 team square off for the most important game every 4 years. These two games will determine who will represent American North in the next Rugby World Cup. 

 USA vs Chile:
Chile sits at the bottom however they have played 2 away games and their home game was against the all powerful Argentina. The Eagles could get tripped up in Chile if they get caught looking ahead to Argentina.

Here is hoping the Eagles dominate Chile this weekend...

Go Eagles
     

Americans Rugby Championship

Week 2: Well it looks like Argentina has beaten two of the top teams in the tournament. Their only other challenger will be the USA. They will be playing the Eagles in Argentina. Argentina's B team soundly beat Uruguay 57-12 in Argentina. Uruguay is about USA's equal almost beating the Eagles last week (23-29).

Argentina has won every tournament since 2009. So that is 6 in a row and unless there is a big upset, they already have one hand on the trophy.

The USA EAgles had 7 changes to their line up after the Uruguay game. They pounded poor Brazil 51-3. The Eagles are a cut above Brazil and the talent showed in the second half. USA coach Mitchell is trying to develope more players and he is doing a great job so far, getting results and playing many different players.
     

Canada also had a great game in week 2, taking their frustration out on Chile winning 35-15.


Argentina is the top team here. Then we have Canada, Uruguay and the USA all competing for 2nd place. The USA did get 2nd last year but just bearly.

Canada v USA ( location Canada): Canada use to be beat the USA all the time in Rugby. Then Rugby got a little popular and the Eagles ahve the upper hand now. These 2 nations are arch rivals since they are the 2 teams to play for the all important Rugby World Cup spot.
    Last year the Eagles beat Canada in (USA), this year the game will be held in Canada's British Colombia. Canada will be looking for payback. The USA is coming off dominating Brazil (who they lost to last year) and will be very difficult to beat.

  The USA at 2-0