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BRADENTON, FL — An international field of leading rugby 7s teams will descend on Florida this Thanksgiving weekend for the 2026 LIT Florida International Sevens, taking place on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton, Fla. [lead photo: ’25 Women’s Elite winners LIT USA 7s]
Now entering its second year, the LIT Florida International Sevens will bring together teams from across the United States and overseas for a full day of elite, open, social and youth rugby sevens.
“What makes LIT7s different is that we already have these relationships with leading international teams through the LIT Super Sevens Series,” said LIT 7s CEO Ellaine Gelman “We host the largest rugby sevens series in Europe, so when we talk about bringing European and Asian teams to the United States, we aren’t starting from scratch. These are teams that already know LIT7s, have competed at our events and understand the standard and experience we provide.”
Among the headline international entries are two of European invitational sevens’ leading programs: Monaco Impis Men’s Elite and Monaco Umusa Women’s Elite. Umusa will arrive in Florida as the reigning Emirates Dubai 7s International Open Women’s champions, while the Impis have established themselves as a leading presence on the international invitational sevens circuit.
They will be joined by a strong American contingent, including NOVA, currently ranked No. 2 nationally, alongside established sevens programs including Gorilla Rugby, St. Thomas University (STU), Apex 7s, Boston Selects, BlitzBirds, Safari Selects, Alliance Wolves and LIT Sevens. Gorilla Rugby won the inaugural Men’s Elite competition in 2025, and they will look to defend their title alongside finalists St. Thomas University.
On the Women’s Elite side, defending champions LIT USA Sevens return alongside 2025 finalists Chicago North Shore. There will also be a significant U.S. military rugby presence. The Army Rugby Union Women are confirmed, while the Bay Watchers will bring together players representing the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, with two sides expected to compete.
The Women’s Open competition will see the return of the inaugural champions, LIT Legends, who will be back in Florida to defend the title they captured in 2025.
They will face a growing field including Trash Pandas, STU and California Firehawks. Among the new additions are the California Firehawks, a team made up of firefighters from departments across California who will travel across the country to compete in Florida. Their participation reflects the diversity of teams the Florida International Sevens is attracting — from established sevens programs and university sides to military and public-service teams.
LIT Legends, Women’s Open winners
Meanwhile, Alliance Wolves, winners of the inaugural Men’s Open competition, return in 2026 to make the step up into the Men’s Elite division. Teams set to compete include Lazy Eyes, Clamdigger Select, LIT Legends, Glosvegas UK, Florida Badgers, Alliance / Parkway Patriots Rugby, Apex Black, Pelicans and SoFlo, with further entries expected ahead of November.
“It puts us in a unique position to create a genuine bridge between the American and international sevens communities,” Gellman said. “We can bring international opposition to U.S. teams while also creating opportunities for American teams to travel in the other direction and compete within our European series.
“Our ambition is for teams to see LIT7s not as a single tournament, but as an international sevens platform,” she added.
The Next Generation: U18 Rugby in FL
Youth rugby will also be an important part of the 2026 LIT Florida International Sevens, with U18 Boys and Girls competitions bringing the next generation of American rugby talent to Bradenton.
Teams set to compete across the U18 divisions include Krewe Rugby, Alliance, Red Top Lions, Faith Family Academy and Missouri Selects, alongside additional teams expected to join the field.
The U18 competitions take place alongside the Men’s and Women’s Elite, Open and Social divisions, giving young players the opportunity to experience a major sevens tournament environment alongside elite players and international programs.
The youth divisions build on the inaugural tournament in 2025, which saw Loons capture the U18 Girls championship and Krewe Rugby win the U18 Boys title.
More Than a Rugby Tournament
The LIT Florida International Sevens is designed as a full rugby festival rather than simply a day of matches. The Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch, which is conveniently located by the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and Tampa International Airport, provides a major-event setting, featuring extensive all-grass playing facilities and a stadium capable of accommodating thousands of spectators.
The tournament experience will include livestream coverage with professional commentary, professional photography, extensive social media coverage, food and drink vendors, entertainment and the Fastest Player of the Tournament Race.
And it’s tough to beat Florida in late November. The Gulf Coast lures American and international rugby teams with pleasant weather and tough competition.
Growing LIT 7s in the U.S.
The Florida International Sevens forms part of a wider expansion of LIT7s across the United States. Alongside its tournament operations, LIT7s has developed its LIT Rugby 7s Camps, giving players opportunities to train with Olympians, international players and experienced sevens coaches.
LIT7s has also established the LIT USA Ambassador Programme, creating a growing national community of rugby players and supporters and bringing them together through tournaments, camps, international matches and rugby events around the country.
Tournament Info
LIT Florida International Sevens 2026
Date: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026
Venue: Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch
Address: 5895 Post Boulevard, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211
Adult Divisions
Men’s Elite, Open & Social
Women’s Elite, Open & Social
Youth Divisions
U18 Boys & Girls
U16 Boys & Girls, subject to sufficient entries
Team registrations remain open, subject to availability.
ABOUT LIT7s
LIT7s is an international rugby sevens tournament and development organization operating in the United Kingdom and United States.
With more than 14 years of experience delivering rugby sevens events, LIT7s operates the LIT Super Sevens Series — the largest rugby sevens series in Europe — its flagship LIT7s London tournament, the LIT Florida International Sevens, LIT Rugby 7s Camps and the LIT USA Ambassador Programme.
Through its established European network and growing U.S. operations, LIT7s is building a cross-Atlantic platform connecting teams, players and rugby communities in the United States with opportunities in Europe and the wider international sevens game.
The organization creates playing and development opportunities spanning youth, club, social, military, elite and international rugby.