Written By: Brittany Smith
Source: KGW
PORTLAND, Ore. — American rugby player Alex “Spiff” Sedrick made the game-winning score for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, stunning the rugby world. It was the first rugby medal for the United States in 100 years and the first-ever U.S. medal in rugby sevens.
KGW caught up with Sedrick on Thursday, ahead of Providence Park hosting the United States men’s and women’s national rugby teams on Nov. 17 for the 2024 Premier Rugby Sevens All-Star Rugby tournament.
The U.S. women’s rugby team defeated Australia 14-12 in the final seconds of the bronze medal match. Reliving what she calls the best moment of her life, Sedrick said she could feel the fingertips of the Australian players pulling her as she broke away for the amazing score.
“Going into that point of contact, I knew that there were a lot of bodies around me. I wasn’t really expecting to break the line,” Sedrick said. “So when I slipped out of it, like, thanks to my super skin tight jersey, I was really surprised, and as I got moving a little, I was like, oh, wow, I did! I didn’t think that was gonna work but grateful that it did.”
Sedrick and her team are back competing in the U.S. for the first time since Paris. USA Women and the Men’s national teams will compete against the Premier Rugby Sevens All-Stars, which include Olympians, legends and top players of the sport. The U.S. women will also play the silver medal-winning Canadian women.
Fans can expect fast-paced, 14-minute games in a tournament style format on Sunday.
“If you’ve never watched rugby before, if you’re new to the game and just expect some big hits, some fast runs, everything that you get out of football in terms of physicality and speed, but mixed with a little bit of a finesse … really impressive strategies and just moving balls into space, and it gets really easy to watch when it’s done really well,” Sedrick said.
The tournament starts at 1 p.m. You can purchase tickets from SeatGeek and find more information at PRSevens.com.Close Ad
