The New York 7s tournament marked the official debut of the grassroots development initiative for the Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s) New York Locals Academy, which competed in the Boys U19 and Girls U19 brackets.
Emerging from the PR7s New York Locals franchise, based in the Tri-State area, the Locals Academy aims to leverage the franchise’s name and resources to nurture young 7-a-side rugby talent.
“This is the first step in a broader plan for PR7s,” said Eamonn Matthews, Locals Academy Program Director. “In many international leagues, academy systems are integral to player development. They provide a structured pathway for young men and women to transition into professional rugby.”
The PR7s academy system intends to bridge the gap between high school, college, and professional levels, potentially advancing players to international competition.
“The Locals Academy is hopefully the first of many academies we’ll see in the future,” Matthews added.
A Regional Focus
The geographic approach is a defining feature of the Locals Academy. Players are drawn from New York City, its northern suburbs, New Jersey, and Connecticut—the senior Locals franchise’s primary market. The Academy participated in this fall’s New York HS 7s season as a trial run, competing in six games, before targeting the New York 7s as their premier event.
The Locals Academy fields both a boys’ and a girls’ team.
Building Fundamentals and Team Dynamics
The Girls U19 team comprises players from various clubs and schools, including Aspetuck (CT), Doylestown (PA), Horace Mann (NYC), Knightmare (PA), Old Greenwich Youth (CT), Ridgefield (CT), Morris (NJ), and West End Secondary School (NYC).
“Our focus for this group has been on developing confidence in basic fundamentals, increasing game awareness, and fostering positive team dynamics,” said Girls Coach Karameli Faaee. “Our senior athletes impressed us with their leadership and communication skills on the field, while our younger players gained valuable experience through our emphasis on microskills and learning alongside seasoned teammates. Watching their passion for the game grow has been the most rewarding part of this journey.”
High-Level Coaching and Growth
The Locals Academy also benefits from the expertise of capped Eagle Chris Mattina, a former Xavier HS standout, who is committed to coaching young talent in his home area.
“The Academy has provided an incredible opportunity to share high-level knowledge and modern tactics with some of the region’s top players,” said Mattina. “It’s clear that these athletes are eager for more rugby, advanced coaching, and exposure to high-caliber competition. The academy brings all of that together with consistent training and a positive environment. We’re excited to see them perform on Saturday, but regardless of the tournament results, the progress since day one has been remarkable.”
A Promising Start
Launching a program like the Locals Academy is no small feat. The team faced challenges, including securing accessible practice locations and fostering a new rugby community. Yet, the effort represents the first step in a broader vision of creating a competition-wide system of 7s academies.
In the future, we may see several academy teams participating in the New York 7s, as well as in national tournaments like the NAI 7s or Tropical 7s.
For now, the Locals Academy is off to an encouraging start.
“We’ve built an amazing community of athletes and parents,” said Faaee. “Their hard work and dedication have been inspiring, and I’m excited to see them showcase what they’ve created for themselves this weekend.”
