Rugby takes field in Sunshine State Games
A total of 29 Rugby “sevens” teams take the field to compete in the Sunshine State Games Rugby Champ-ionships Saturday at Pine Island Park in Plantation.
Among the 16 men’s open division teams in action are the 2009 Gold and Silver medal-winning Daytona Beach Rugby and Naples Hammerheads squads.
Daytona Beach defeated Naples 31-7 in the championship game of the 2009 open division. Daytona Beach was undefeated in four games and Naples suffered its only loss in the championship game.
Team check-in begins at 10 a.m. with competition beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing until approximately 8 p.m. This will be the fifth year the Sunshine State Games have hosted rugby competition.
It is the first year rugby has been contested away from the Summer Games Festival. From 2006-09, rugby was held in Miami and Lakeland in conjunction with the annual Sunshine State Games Summer Games Festival.
Also new this year is the introduction of the youth tackle exhibition with seven teams in ages ranging from 8-14.