By John Broker 

The 59th annual New York Sevens returns to Randall’s Island in New York City this Saturday to continue its tradition of excellence in hosting the largest single-day sevens tournament in the Western Hemisphere.

Watch the New York Sevens LIVE on FloRugby

I have been to the NY Sevens as a player, coach, and now as a broadcaster and (weather aside) can’t recall a poor experience. So I’d like to take this opportunity point out what makes the tournament so remarkable, share some quick memories and thoughts, and encourage you to do the same on FloRugby’s social media pages. 

A Superior Sevens Experience

First off, it’s New York City, and 140 teams across numerous divisions competing for championship trophies in a growing Olympic sport makes for some excellent viewing. The New York Rugby Club should be applauded for its continuous efforts to improve and really key in on giving the teams a great experience. 

We have all been to longstanding tournaments that act as a huge fundraiser for the hosts. In such cases, the pursuit of the higher dollar has pushed them to treat the teams like a commodity rather than their most important audience.  

At the New York Sevens, there is always staff acting professionally and providing the information, assistance, or guidance you need. This doesn’t happen by accident — it is a result of proper planning and execution by the hosts. And attention to detail matters: You can feel the difference between an event like the New York Sevens and the creaking tournaments that provide as little as possible. So hats off to New York for being able to run this tournament this well for 59 years. 

Tomorrow’s Sevens Starts Today

At the New York Sevens, you have to see it to know who’s turned up, whether it’s a big-name international star or an up-and-coming player that will have his or her name in the lights in the near future. 

One of the great memories I have is of Eric Rush and Glen Osborne, two All Blacks sevens stars, tearing it up with the New York Aliens, an invitational side gone by. In the final in Central Park (yes, it was that long ago), Rush hunted down an opposing player on a sure break, catching him at the try line, and seemingly reaching over his shoulder to cherry-pick the ball before turning and going the distance for the Aliens. 

That play will stick with me forever. What a stunning moment of individual brilliance and intent, which the crowd absolutely loved.

As a coach with Bulldog Rugby in recent years, I have had the opportunity to coach against national teams, Olympic academies, and other top opponents from across the globe, reaching the Premier Finals on one great occasion. During the course of this, we got to compete against current big names such as Nate Augspurger, Nate Brakeley, and Rick Kirkland, among many others. 

Events like the NY Sevens allow you to see tomorrow’s star players today. It's been equally exciting to watch some of the stars in the Women’s Premier division and witness the incredible rise in quality and athleticism in the High School Elite division. This Saturday you will be able to catch the start of a young player’s drive towards the Olympic dream. That alone is worth checking out. 

Share Your Memories

Enough with my ramblings, we’d like to hear your memories from the New York Sevens as we head into the weekend. Whether you’re a greying rugby guy like me, a player, fan, or sponsor, go to FloRugby’s social media sites to chime in!

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See you Saturday! Go here to sign up to see the New York Sevens live.

— John Broker is a longtime rugby commentator and coach. He has been the man behind the mic on international and championship games throughout the rugby world, and last worked with FloRugby on the Liberty Challenge matches.