Tropical 7s (April 2-3, Orlando) is happening, and the tournament is a response to an expressed demand: Teams want to and can play, but need a platform. Organizers explain that the event will look different during the Covid-19 era, but that the 2021 Rugby Re-Boot edition will allow teams to customize their visits based on the playing or training experiences they want to have.
“Last year, we were going into our best year ever,” Tropical 7s tournament director John Siner reflected on 2020. “We had 130-plus teams from all over the world – Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the Canadians always come out in force. It really was too bad to cancel but everyone was in the same boat. … We immediately pivoted to this year, when we were hoping the world would be in a better position [with the pandemic] than we are now, but it’s been slow.”
Siner and staff canvassed the rugby community and gauged its ability to potentially participate in a 2021 event.
“We got enough of a response, and a segment of teams said, ‘Yes, we’re returning to play and hoping you can do Tropical 7s, because we want to come back,’” Siner said. “So we said, ‘Let’s at least offer something to the rugby community that has an appetite for it.’ We know it’s not going to look like the normal event – with a full tournament, and a wait list, and Open and Elite divisions – but let’s do what we can to offer a platform to play some rugby and be as flexible as possible.”
Flexibility means making sure that everyone that wants to attend, can attend. That’s one reason why the registration deadline was extended. It also means that teams can participate in a manner with which they’re comfortable. For example, if a team wanted to hold a week-long training camp at the Omni Orlando Championsgate Resort pitches, scrimmage another team, but abstain from the tournament itself, then the staff help realize that request. Siner indicated that most teams are asking for some sort of competition, but even that ask could come with caveats. With teams traveling from thousands of miles away, there’s bound to be some variance in Covid-19 precautions.
“There are some teams that have more stringent requirements in terms of testing and traveling than, say, the state of Florida,” Siner said. “So there will be some individual cases where we ask: Do you want to play a team that isn’t testing its players?”
The tournament will release its Covid-19 protocols closer to the tournament date, but Siner asserted that the event will follow all state and local health mandates for mask-wearing, social distancing, etc. Expect to see teams from all over the South and Southeast, where Return to Play restrictions are low, as well as Hawaii, Alaska and several USA South Panthers sides. There will be no international squads, but Siner indicated that the numbers currently support competitive brackets in each division.
There are draws beyond the opportunity to compete, as well. The player combine returns and will be held Thursday, April 1.
“USA Rugby will have an official talent I.D. session the same day, side-by-side with the combine,” Siner said. “So players can run through the combine and interface with USA Rugby and get into their system, and then those high performance people will watch them play over the weekend.
“I’ve also had quite a few colleges reach out,” he continued. “They’re coming down to scout because it’s the only thing happening. So players will definitely get exposure.”
Additionally, Siner has also been receiving inquiries from individuals whose teams aren’t planning on attending and is connecting them with teams looking for numbers.
“We’re doing everything we can to offer a platform for a good rugby experience, whether you want to play in a competitive bracket, or set up a training camp with scrimmages, or are an individual looking for a team,” Siner said. “It’s not normal, but it’s healthy in the context of the times we’re in. There’s an appetite for it.”
For more information, visit www.tropical7s.com or contact John Siner at john@tropical7s.com or (321) 305-0330.