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The Las Vegas Invitational is now only a few months away and more brackets are already close to being full. Based on the information on the USA Sevens website the field already looks to be strong in the CRC qualifier, Men's Elite, Men's Aces, Women's Elite, and Boy's Elite brackets. It should be stressed that none of these brackets are official and other teams will join over the next month.
Men's Elite
The Men's Elite bracket has traditionally offered some of the best 7s competition in the country alongside the Serevi RugbyTown Sevens and the Elite City 7s. This year looks to be no different. Once again the U.S. and Canada will be sending their developmental sides, as will France. Last year's champions Serevi Selects, who beat the USA Falcons in the final, will once again be back as will the national team of Germany. The division will also feature other select sides, including the Northeast ODA, Lionheart 7s from Canada who took third last year, Ronin 7s, The Selects, the Stars, and the Arizona ODA.
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U.S. clubs will also be represented. The Kansas City Blues will look to build off their very successful run at the National Club 7s. Atlanta Old White and the Austin Blacks will also be there. The military will once again have a big presence with an All-Armed Forces side, and teams from the 7th Airborne, and the Air Force. According to the website only one spot remains open in the 20 team division.
Men's Aces
The Men's Aces division is looking like an all-invitational side. The Selects, the Northeast ODA, the Air Force, and the Stars will all submit second sides while Atlantis and the Upright Rugby Rogues will join the the College Selects. There is still one spot available.
CRC Qualifier
The return of the CRC qualifier means that several teams that want to get into the tournament are turning up. However, while the likes of AIC, Air Force, Kutztown, and Arkansas State are represented aside from those top teams the division doesn't have a lot of names that make you stand up and take notice. Of the remaining teams only Miami (OH), Bowling Green, and Stony Brook have done much to grab attention. The likes of St. Joseph's, James Madison, Creighton, Lewis and Clark, and Notre Dame College will have their ambitions but will likely struggle.
With only four spots left in the tournament it will be interesting to see if the likes of Utah, Arizona State, St. Mary's, or others elect to participate. If not some of the luster that surrounded the bracket in year's past will diminish. Arizona, Cal, Kutztown, Life, Dartmouth, Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas, Michigan, and Virginia Tech have already been invited. Why Kutztown is competing in the bracket despite being invited is a puzzler.
Additionally, the presence of the qualifier has diminished the Men's College bracket where only the University of Regina, Kings College, Regis, Bermuda, and the University of British Columbia have signed up. Last year it was UBC and the University of Victoria playing in the final but with most of the top teams elsewhere a team like UVic may not decide to participate. There is still room for things to shake out so hopefully the top teams attend making both brackets robust.
Women's Elite
With both the U.S. and Canada now hosting legs of the Sevens Series the Women's Elite bracket has turned into a development tournament, albeit a very good one. Canada will be submitting two teams in the form of the Maple Leafs and Maple Leafs 2. The Stars, Atlantis, and the Serevi Selects will also field teams. Les Bleues, a Canadian team from Quebec that was runner-up at the New York 7s, will also be there. Two spots remain open in the bracket and it's still to be determined if the U.S. will utilize the Stars and Serevi Selects for development or go another route.
Boy's Elite
One of the best brackets year in and year out at the tournament is the Boy's Elite. Once again the bracket will have a number of star studded teams. The High School All-Americans, who won the tournament last year, are sending two teams. Both Utah and Washington are sending their all-star squads while Atlantis and the Raptor Academy will also have sides. Canada will once again have strong representation with a team from British Columbia, two from Ontario, and the Upright Rugby Rogues. With two spots left it's a good bet that there will be more strong all-star sides participating.
15s
OMBAC, Texas, and the Northern California Pelicans are currently signed up to play Men's Club 15s while Life, Grand Canyon University, Arizona, San Diego State, Santa Barbara Academy, and Wyoming are playing College 15s. Expect both of those brackets to have more teams as the tournament approaches.