US Teams in Havana for 2nd Annual Rugby Sevens Tournament

A scrum during the game between the Cuban National Team and the Atlantis Rugby Club. December 2, 2011.

Friday, 2 December, 2011 - The Atlantis Rugby Club and the Cuban National ‘A' teams kicked off the second annual Havana Howlers Rugby Sevens Tournament this morning with an animated game that saw many attempted tries by both sides but with a final result of 10-0 to the visitors.  Later in the day, the Santa Monica Rugby Team faced the Dog River Howlers Rugby Club from Canada, and the Atlantis Rugby Club Women's side played the Venezuelan National Women's Team.  Other teams participating in the friendly tournament include the Mexican National Team, the Trinidad and Tobago Enthusiasts, the Marista Rugby Club (from Mendoza, Argentina), and the Hanover Selects (from Germany).

The Havana Howlers Rugby Sevens Tournament is jointly organized by Cuban Rugby and Dog River Howlers Rugby Club and is an IRB-sanctioned tournament.  The inaugural 2010 Havana Howlers Rugby Sevens featured 10 men's sides from five countries, including three national teams: Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela.  The 2011 tournament sees the introduction of women's teams from several countries, including the United States and Cuba.  The Cuban women's team made up of high level athletes from other sports which only started training this year will make history when they play in their first ever tournament.

Of the two U.S. teams playing in the tournament, the Atlantis Rugby Club is an invitational side whose specialty is sevens.  Begun in 1986 as an Eastern US venture, Atlantis is now a nation-wide enterprise for both experienced players as well as novices.  Many Atlantis players have represented the United States at top international tournaments.  The Santa Monica Rugby Team, known as the Dolphins, was founded in 1972 by university graduates of UCLA rugby, USC rugby, and St. Mary's College rugby teams.  Twenty Santa Monica Rugby players have represented the United States in international competitions.

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