Premier Rugby Sevens crowns inaugural champions

The inaugural Premier Rugby Sevens tournament saw 18 matches completed on Saturday in Memphis, with two teams crowned champions. Experts captured the Men’s title with Loonies taking the Women’s draw. USA Eagles stars Perry Baker and Alev Kelter were the respective winning captains.

Experts proved a class apart in their first three games with the playmaking skills of Naima Fuala’au on full display and a surprise performance from Utah Warriors back Logan Tago. Playing in his first sevens tournament, the former football player powered his way to seven tries in four games to earn tournament MVP honors in the Men’s bracket.

The Men’s Final was in fact a tie at full-time with Tago’s second of the game, converted by Fuala’au, making it 19-all against the Loggerheads. In an unusual move the tournament opted to determine the winner through drop goals rather than playing on for a golden try.

Kelter was a key figure for Loonies along with Canadian international Delaney Aikens, the latter named MVP in the Women’s bracket. After falling to a determined Headliners team led by Naya Tapper in the pool stage, Kelter’s charges redeemed themselves with a convincing performance in the Final.

MEN’S POOL RESULTS
Loonies 19 – 35 Headliners
Loggerheads 19 – 12 Locals
Loonies 12 – 19 The Team
Loggerheads 21 – 29 Experts
Headliners 0 – 26 The Team
Locals 5 – 26 Experts

WOMEN’S POOL RESULTS
Loggerheads 5 – 12 Headliners
Experts 10 – 24 Loonies
Loonies 19 – 5 Loggerheads
Headliners 22 – 5 Experts
Experts 26 – 5 Loggerheads
Loonies 10 – 22 Headliners

MEN’S SEMI FINALS
The Team 12 – 26 Loggerheads
Experts 40 – 12 Headliners

WOMEN’S CONSOLATION FINAL
Experts 5 – 30 Loggerheads

MEN’S CONSOLATION FINAL
Loonies 10 – 24 Locals

WOMEN’S FINAL
Loonies 28 – 14 Headliners

MEN’S FINAL
Loggerheads (0) 19 – 19 (3) Experts