Written By: Nick Krupke
Source: Our Community Now
PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – The Premier Rugby Sevens All-Star Tournament brought more than two dozen current and former Olympians to the Rose City on Sunday.
From Paris to Portland, some of the globe’s best rugby stars put on a show at Providence Park.
Sammy Sullivan is a Team USA Olympic rugby bronze medalist and fell in love with the sport while in college at West Point.
“It just fills my heart. I get emotional thinking about how many girls and boys are joining rugby at such a young age and building the sport up,” Sullivan said. “We’re used to traveling to places like Dubai, Cape Town, so it’s really nice when we can have a North American home stop and really showcase rugby to the local fans.”
Sunday’s showcase was the first on American soil for USA rugby after the summer games for the bronze-winning women from the States and the silver medalists out of Canada.
“It’s a fast game but it’s a heavy-hitting, aggressive game so I think it combines a lot of things that Americans love about sports, hard hits and fast pace so I hope people just fall in love with it,” Sullivan said.
The PR7 women and men even shared the stage with regional teams from the Pacific Northwest.
Scales plays for ORSU – Oregon Sports Union – Portland’s top club in season 50.
“It’s crazy. I can’t believe we get to have this here in Portland,” Scales said. “It’s just an event where we have so many big people but also high schoolers here who are just getting into it and learning the sport.”
Those Olympians spent time in the growing rugby community too.
Maggie Jones is a senior at St. Mary’s High School.
“I’ve met like three of the bronze medalists at separate events in the community and really just like building up women’s rugby,” Maggie said.
The new generation is underway with youth teams like the East County Grackles or the Pacific Northwest Loggers who played on the same field as the 25 Olympians who came to town.
