(TORONTO, ON) – Rugby Ontario is pleased to announce that the historic Magnificent Sevens tournament will be making its long-awaited return this upcoming summer.

Once considered one of North America’s most prestigious rugby sevens competitions, the Magnificent Sevens was a perennial highlight on the Ontario rugby calendar, running annually from 1954 until 2003. What began as a competition solely for senior men’s sevens teams, the tournament evolved to become a multi-divisional rugby festival, featuring senior women’s, junior men’s and junior women’s sides. As the tournament grew throughout the 1960s, it was not uncommon to see entrants travel from across Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand to participate.

Fast-forward to 2015 - a little more than a decade after the competition was last played - and the Magnificent Sevens has emerged from hibernation to return as one of the marquee events of the Ontario rugby season.

“As the popularity of rugby sevens continues to grow exponentially across Ontario and all of Canada, Rugby Ontario is incredibly excited to be welcoming the return of the Magnificent Sevens,” said Rugby Ontario CEO Andrew Backer. “This competition embodies the unique brand of Ontario rugby, and we’re looking forward to adding a new chapter to the tournament’s storied history.”

Operating over the weekend of July 25-26, 2015, the Magnificent Sevens will feature nine divisions: Senior Men (Elite, Recreational), Senior Women, U18 Men, U18 Women, U16 Men, U16 Women, U14 Men, and U14 Women.

“While the senior divisions make up a major component of the Magnificent Sevens tournament, we’re especially pleased to offer six junior divisions in the tournament’s revival year,” added Backer. “As we seek to continue growing the game at the grassroots level, offering increased opportunities for Ontario’s junior sides to learn and compete is vital for this growth. The timing for the tournament couldn't be better, as the appeal for rugby sevens will still be sky-high after being showcased at the Pan Am Games just two weeks earlier.”

In keeping with the tradition of the tournament’s past, Rugby Ontario senior and junior league fifteens schedules will receive a bye week for the weekend of the Magnificent Sevens tournament, thus eliminating scheduling conflicts and allowing interested clubs the opportunity to enter teams into the competition.

Each of the Magnificent Sevens’ senior divisions will feature a significant cash prize awarded to winners, while all junior division champions will receive exclusive Magnificent Sevens-branded kit.

Entry fees per team are $400 for senior sides and $150 for junior sides, however, if teams register before the early-bird deadline (May. 15, 2015), the cost per senior and junior side drops to $300 and $120, respectively.

Club and non-club teams are welcome to register for the tournament, as well as out-of-province and international touring sides, and registrants will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis. Each division will be capped at 16 teams, so interested teams are encouraged to register as quickly as possible.

To register a team, please contact Rugby Development Manager Greg Haley-Williams (gwilliams@rugbyontario.com).

Further tournament details, including location and prizing information, will be released in the coming weeks.

About Rugby Ontario:

Rugby Ontario is the provincial sports governing body responsible for the organization of rugby in Ontario. Our mission is to promote, govern, and develop rugby at all levels in a safe, affordable and enjoyable environment within the province of Ontario.

For more information, visit http://www.rugbyontario.com/

About the Magnificent Sevens:

Once considered one of North America’s foremost rugby sevens competitions, the Magnificent Sevens tournament is Ontario’s largest senior and junior rugby sevens competition, featuring nine divisions and more than 100 teams.

Running annually from 1954-2003, the Magnificent Sevens competition is returning in 2015, and will be played over the weekend of July 25-26.

For more information, please contact:

Brock Smith
Communications Coordinator
Rugby Ontario
Office: 416 426-7049
bsmith@rugbyontario.com

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