The club 7s national championship was renamed the Emil Signes Cup / Photo: Travis Prior for USA Rugby
Princeton University is hosting the first-ever Emperor Tournament, honoring rugby legend Emil Signes. The Tigers invite any women’s 7s team to Princeton’s Rickerson Fields on March 31, 2018, that are interested in honoring Signes’ legacy and contributions to the sport of women’s rugby.
Signes was the head coach of Princeton Women’s rugby for 9.5 years and now serves as a coaching consultant to Chris Ryan. He led Princeton to an Ivy 15s Championship in 2005 and 2013, and to the USA Rugby National Championship in 2004. Signes then helped the team begin its 7s team in 2011, win the Ivy 7s Championship in 2012 and 2013, and to third place in the U.S. in 2011 and 2012. He is a huge part of making Princeton what it is and his coaching is invaluable.
Signes, the son of Spanish and Cuban immigrants, attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He worked in the steel industry for over 30 years. Signes impact on the sport of rugby cannot be understated; he has coached at almost every level and won 14 national championships overall. Signes was both coach and manager of the USA Men’s 7s team and was the first-ever coach of the USA Women’s 7s team. He has extensive rugby connections all over the globe and has coached other international teams.
Signes was inducted into the US Rugby Foundation Hall of Fame in 2015. He is celebrated for his work developing the sport of 7s rugby worldwide and bringing it to national attention. He founded Atlantis US Sevens Rugby in 1986, which has not only fielded over 262 squads at 165 tournaments in 33 countries, but is also credited with being one of the first successful examples of bringing together men’s and women’s rugby. Signes’ part in developing international women’s 7s is widely acclaimed as one of the reasons that rugby was able to become an Olympic sport in 2016.
This is only a small part of Signes’ legacy and Princeton Women’s Rugby hopes that this tournament will show our gratitude and appreciation for all of his dedication to our sport and team. We hope that any interested teams will join us on March 31 to celebrate Emil and, of course, play some good rugby with great women.
Please contact mmcvey@princeton.edu if you have interest in the tournament or any questions.