Air Force, Central Washington and South Carolina Complete the 24-Team Men's Rugby Sevens Field for the 2018 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship, June 1st to 3rd in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, May 1, 2018 (Newswire.com) - Today, the final three teams – Air Force, Central Washington and South Carolina – have been announced for the 24-team men’s rugby sevens field in the 2018 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championships, set for Friday, June 1st through Sunday, June 3rd at Talen Energy Stadium in suburban Philadelphia.

Both Air Force and South Carolina return to the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship while Central Washington is making its second appearance in the national championship tournament after winning the West Coast 7s earlier in the regular season. The championship will be televised live by the ESPN family of networks and will feature the most television and digital coverage in the tournament’s history.

The three college programs complete the 24-team men’s field which features America’s best teams, including: Arizona (PAC 7s champion), Arkansas State, Army, Boston College, Dartmouth, Delaware, Indiana, Iona, Kutztown, Life, Lindenwood, Maryland, Mount Saint Mary’s, Navy, Notre Dame, Penn State, Saint Joseph’s, Temple, UCLA, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin.

The 2018 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship will mark the eighth consecutive year that the event has been held in Philadelphia and at Talen Energy Stadium. The annual event features the nation’s top 24 men’s collegiate rugby 7s teams, the top 16 women’s teams, a regional competition with a six-team field vying for a spot in next year’s main bracket; the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) national championship; and a national high school tournament with both boys’ and girls’ teams.

The three-day rugby event is one of the largest gatherings of collegiate and high school rugby teams in the world. Penn Mutual is in the fourth year of a title sponsorship for the event.

Leading the women’s national championship field this summer is defending women’s champion Life University, which captured the crown last June with a 17-12 victory over Lindenwood University. Lindenwood also returns for the 2018 competition, along with Philadelphia-area favorites Drexel, Delaware, Penn State and Temple, as well as the women’s rugby 7s squads from Bloomsburg, Boston University, Clemson, Dartmouth, Kutztown, Navy, Notre Dame, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, and the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) Selects squad, an all-star team chosen from the best of NSCRO’s 7s teams.

The interest in Rugby Sevens (also known as Sevens Rugby) continues to grow after the return to the Olympic Games in 2016, following a 92-year hiatus. The Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship is America’s national sevens championship and serves as the centerpiece of a nationwide effort to build American rugby talent for competition on the International stage. Over the past eight years, the event has produced over 31 players who have gone on to play for the U.S. National teams.

Reserved and field Level tickets to the “World’s Largest Collegiate Rugby Festival” are available online at sevensrugby.com. Single-day reserved tickets are $90 and field level tickets are $63, and full weekend reserved tickets are $132 and field level tickets are $79.  

About United World Sports:

United World Sports (UWS) is the largest commercial rugby entity in the United States, and the owner and operator of a growing portfolio of dynamic sports, media and apparel brands including, the USA Sevens Rugby international tournament, the largest professional rugby event in North America, the Silicon Valley Sevens, an elite international championship, and the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship, the premier college 7s rugby championship. Through its apparel division, UWS owns the exclusive North and South American license for Rhino Rugby, one of the world’s leading rugby apparel and equipment brands. UWS also owns and operates RugbyToday.com, the largest and most widely read media destination dedicated to American rugby. Additional information is available at http://www.unitedworldsports.com.

About Penn Mutual:

Since 1847, Penn Mutual has been committed to helping people live life with confidence. At the heart of this purpose is the belief that life insurance is central to a sound financial plan. Through our network of trusted advisers, we are dedicated to helping individuals, families and businesses achieve their dreams. Penn Mutual supports its advisers with retirement and investment services through Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc. Registered Investment Advisor and wholly owned subsidiary. Member FINRA/SIPC. We are proud to work together in a values-driven and relationship-based culture. Visit Penn Mutual at www.pennmutual.com.

Media Contacts:

Joe Favorito, 201-746-0005, [email protected]

Jim DeLorenzo, 215-266-5943, [email protected]

Source: Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship