Defending Champion Lindenwood and Finalist Penn State Lead the 16-Team Women's Field in the 2019 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship May 31-June 2 in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, May 3, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​​The nation’s top 16 women’s college rugby 7s teams are set to compete in the 2019 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championships at Talen Energy Stadium in suburban Philadelphia during the weekend of Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2.

For the first time, the women’s championship field will be competing for the A. Jon Prusmack Cup. Prusmack, who passed away in December 2018, was an innovative visionary who, for more than 50 years, devoted his life to expand rugby in the United States. He established the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship in 2010, which was the first-ever college 7s championship in the United States.

This year’s 16-team women’s field features defending champion Lindenwood University, which won the championship match last June over Penn State, 21-12, to capture their first women’s title. Penn State also returns this year and is joined by the women’s sides from Army, Bloomsburg, Delaware, Drexel, Kutztown, Life, Navy, Northeastern, Notre Dame, Queens University, Saint Joseph’s, Temple, Virginia Tech, as well as the National Small College Rugby Organization Selects Squad.

The 2019 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship will mark the ninth consecutive year that the event has been held in Philadelphia and at Talen Energy Stadium, bringing national and international attention to the region. This year’s event will mark the second year that the competition will be televised live by the ESPN family of networks with the most television and digital coverage in the tournament’s history. The weekend-long rugby event is one of the largest gatherings of collegiate and high school rugby teams in the world.

The annual event also features the 24-team men’s championship field competing for the Pete Dawkins Trophy and the Freedom Cup Championship, featuring a six-team men’s field vying for a spot in next year’s main bracket. Also featured is the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) national championship competition, as well as a national high school tournament with both boys’ and girls’ teams.​​​ 

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 Las Vegas Invitational, the largest amateur rugby event in the western hemisphere; the International Silicon Valley 7s; 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.

About the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company:

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 of 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