BSG 40 - Rugby Joins the Games
One of Bay State Games' newest sports is rugby. Conversations to add the sport began in 2014 when Bill Good, president of Massachusetts Youth Rugby Organization (MYRO) reached out to Bay State Games to add the sport. At the time, rugby was a growing youth sport in Massachusetts, and MYRO was hoping to partner with Bay State Games to help grow the sport. These conversations ultimately sparked into the first BSG Rugby Sevens Tournament on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton. The event was set to wrap up the MYRO season each year as a sort of championship. Ever since, the BSG rugby has been held the same weekend each year on the last Saturday of July (with the exception on 2020).
The first tournament had 15 teams in 4 divisions. Some clubs from that very first tournament have returned year after year, including Irish Wolfhounds Mystic River, and South Shore Sharks, among others.
The tournament and the sport have grown significantly since. Due to the growth of the sport, there are more divisions, including divisions for girls. In 2022, Bay State Games will have 25 teams. In 2019, the biggest year of the tournament, BSG saw 33 unique youth rugby teams compete across all age divisions.
Image descriptions: action shots from BSG rugby throughout the years.
Bay State Games Rugby was instrumental in the proposal to add rugby as an MIAA recognized sport. In 2017, the MIAA hosted its first rugby championship for high school age teams. In 2018, the first MIAA postseason bracket was held for two boys divisions and one girls division. Now part of the MIAA spring season, high school varsity rugby teams from across the state now have an opportunity to represent their schools.
As the sport continues to grow, BSG Rugby will continue to be the sport that wraps up the annual Summer Games. The 2022 BSG Rugby tournament will take place Saturday, July 30 at Union Point Sports Complex in Weymouth.
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Previous Posts:
Week 17 - Entry Books
Week 16 - Standin' in the Hall of Fame
Week 15 - Soccer Showcase
Week 14 - Time to Showcase
Week 13 - Title IX
Week 12: BSG Summer Figure Skating
Week 11 - BSG No-No
Week 10 - BSG 10th Anniversary (1991)
Week 9 - BSG Logos
Week 8 - Bikes Only
Week 7: Seeing Double at Track & Field
Week 6 - Pat Connaughton, Baseball Star
Week 5 - 1996 Summer Games Top Shots
Week 4 - Spot the Hall of Famer
Week 3 - Let's Jump!
Week 2 - 1994 Top Shots
Week 1 - Light the Cauldron
