Schedule, initial matchups set for USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby championship at PPL Park

The tentative pool and corresponding match schedules were released yesterday in advance of the USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby championship.

The event, to be held Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5, at PPL Park in Chester, features 16 men's clubs and eight women's teams, each vying to become a national champion.

Of local interest, Temple and Penn State both have teams in the men's and women's divisions.

On the men's side, the Owls will play three games on the opening day. They will play Arizona at 12:10 p.m., then take on Texas at 3:16 p.m. and close out against Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m.

Penn State's men will open the event against Louisiana State at 9:58 a.m. The Nittany Lions will then play Ohio State at 12:54 p.m. and close with California at 4:06 p.m.

Competition for the first day of the women's tournament will be at Drexel's Vidas Field. The playoff rounds on Day 2 will be held at PPL Park.

Day 2 for the men's competition will feature single-elimination rounds in both the main and consolation brackets. The final is scheduled for 5:20 p.m., following a consolation final at 4:17 p.m. and a bronze-medal game at 4:49.

There is no consolation bracket for the women's competiton. The women's final is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Sevens rugby is different from a traditional 15-player team. In this event, teams feature seven players a side, with a pair of 7-minute halves. The field is smaller, but the rules are the same as traditional rugby: no forward throws and no blocking. The ball can progress by only a kick or by being run forward.

A highlight of the first day will be a free concert by the Dropkick Murphys.

NBC will broadcast live from 4 to 6 p.m. on both days. *