Brown 7s Squad Set for Vegas
On February 10-11, just outside the Las Vegas USA 7s stadium, Vegas will also host a Collegiate 7s CRC Qualifier, with the winner earning a spot at the CRC in Philadelphia, which will be broadcast once again on NBC.
Brown University has put its chips all in. Brown's head coach David LaFlamme has been "working the boys hard" back in Providence, RI as Brown hopes to grab that free pass to the CRC in June. "Eight out of the 12 selected Brown student athletes to attend this weekend are in the running for All-Ivy," chimed in LaFlamme in a recent interview.
The CRC has already invited 11 teams to participate, but there are still nine spots open, including one where any school can earn its way in through the LVI tournament. Brown is preparing to grab that spot.
Teams are invited to the CRC based on their ability on the field, their name recognition in American sports, their ability to organize a 7s program, and their fan following. But the qualification tournament takes only one criteria into account: winning on the field.
“If your team didn’t get invited and you think it should, you can do something about it,” said LVI Tournament Director Jon Hinkin. “Enter the CRC qualifier at the LVI and win on the field. You win and you’re in.” Brown has certainly taken up Jon's challenge.
Follow Brown's in-game tweets at www.ivyleaguerugby.com.
Brown 7s Squad for the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament
1.Danny Levine-Spound
2.Dow Travers
3.Sam Rabb
4.James McGinn
5.Greg Karwaski
6. Chaney Harrison
7. Danny Tonderys
8.Brent Zajackowski
9.Zach Long
10.Matt Leonard
11. Zahid Jethani
12.Ryan Jones
About the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament (LVI)
The Las Vegas Invitational Tournament (LVI) is the official tournament for all ages and skill levels associated with the USA Sevens International Tournament and Festival. The LVI gives you a chance to participate and play over the days preceding the HSBC USA International Rugby Sevens."
The Invitational Tournament features club teams from across the USA and Canada, as well as select sides from around the world. More than 100 teams competed in 2010, which is expected to grow for 2011 with an expansion teams playing in multiple divisions of competition for men, women and youth in both 15s and 7s.
For 2011, the LVI will be on the same grounds as last year, right next to the USA Sevens. Played on at least 14 regulation fields at the Sam Boyd Stadium Complex. Competition will run from Thursday through Saturday morning.
Please go to www.lvirugby.com for more information on the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament.