(WASHINGTON, DC, Aug. 6, 2023) Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s) crowned its 2023 Champions on Sunday night at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Led by two-time U.S. Olympian Alev Kelter, the women’s Northern Loonies defeated the New York Locals in the Championship Final, 21-10. On the men’s side, U.S. Olympian Matai Leuta led the SoCal Rhinos x Loggerheads over the Pittsburgh Steeltoes.
The path to winning the Kathy Flores Cup, the top women’s prize, included a semifinal victory for the Loonies over the Rocky Mountain Experts earlier in the night by a score of 21-14. The men’s Rhinos x Loggerheads took home the A. Jon Prusmack Cup after their night began with a 21-14 victory over the men’s Experts in the semifinal.
Kelter was awarded the women’s Most Valuable Player, while Branco Du Preez from the Rhinos x Loggerheads earned the men’s MVP.
The Experts clinched the United Championship, which combines the men’s and women’s season-long results for all five tournaments. The Experts were the only franchise to have both the men’s and women’s team qualify for DC. The Loonies finished in second place in the United Championship standings and finished the year with a 7-3 combined record. The Headliners finished third.
PR7s is the first league with women’s and men’s teams competing under one umbrella with equal pay. The 2023 PR7s Championship aired live on FS1 and was the culmination of a season-long competition with eight franchises and 16 teams competing in 32 regular season games since June. Half of the teams from the Western Conference and half from the Eastern Conference earned a spot to compete at Audi Field. Tonight’s semifinal matches can be rewatched HERE via YouTube.
WOMEN’S SCORES FROM THE 2023 PR7s CHAMPIONSHIP
PR7s Women’s Semifinals
- New York Locals (17) defeated Southern Headliners (14)
- Northern Loonies (21) defeated Rocky Mountain Experts (14)
PR7s Women’s Championship Final
- Northern Loonies (21) defeated New York Locals (10)
PR7s Women’s 3rd Place Match
- Rocky Mountain Experts (10) defeated Southern Headliners (7)
MEN’S SCORES FROM THE 2023 PR7s CHAMPIONSHIP
PR7s Men’s Semifinals
- SoCal Rhinos x Loggerheads (21) defeated Rocky Mountain Experts (14)
- Pittsburgh Steeltoes (19) defeated Texas Team (12)
PR7s Men’s Championship Final
- SoCal Rhinos x Loggerheads (10) defeated Pittsburgh Steeltoes (5)
PR7s Men’s 3rd Place Match
- Texas Team (19) defeated Rocky Mountain Experts (17)
The party-like atmosphere included a one-hour intermission when fans witnessed a marriage proposal and a performance by internationally acclaimed musician Paul Russell, who is currently trending on TikTok with a sample of his unreleased track “Lil Boo Thang.” The event also included a 1-hour weather delay due to lightning in the area.
About Premier Rugby Sevens
Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s), the highest professional level of rugby sevens in the United States and a proud partner of USA Rugby, is a revolutionary circuit showcasing the most electric men’s and women’s athletes on the planet. PR7s brings the global excitement of rugby through a fast-paced, high-scoring on-field experience, complemented by engaging fan festivals throughout North America. As a traveling circuit with a focus on North America, PR7s is the fastest, toughest, and most electrifying game on the planet and the first sports organization of its kind, with men’s and women’s teams competing under one umbrella with equal pay. To learn more about Premier Rugby Sevens, go to PRSevens.com and follow the league on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
