Penn State Rugby International Sevens
Seven-a-side rugby began in Scotland in the 1880s as a fundraising event and quickly became broadly popular as a less formal variant of rugby. The wide-open game with seven-minute halves, two-minute halftimes, and numerous matches in a single day lent itself to a festival-type atmosphere that continues today. The establishment of the Hong Kong Sevens in the 1970s further established the sport internationally.
It wasn’t until 2000 that World Rugby established a structured series of international tournaments for men, followed by the introduction of a women’s competition in 2012.
At the time the Kabala Family Rugby Hall was built, Sevens rugby was still growing as a sport across college campuses, and the inclusion of a plaque honoring Penn State international Sevens players was modest. That was improved in 2022, and the Hall now features a large plaque with plates for each player that includes their years of selection and the flag of the country for which they played.
Did you play rugby at Penn State?
Help us tell more of Penn State Rugby’s history and keep our displays up-to-date! The information we’re featuring at the Kabala Family Rugby Hall is only as strong as we’re able to retell history.
If you see any errors in the display descriptions, names, or dates, please let us know. We will research, verify, and make changes. Likewise, if you have information, articles, or photos that could add important context to any element of Penn State Rugby’s history, we want to hear it! We will be aggregating new information and updating the “tour” quarterly.