Aloha World 7s

The annual Aloha World Sevens rugby tournament brings 24 junior (under 20 years old) teams from 24 nations to Hawaii to compete in a three-day event that includes cultural showcases from participating countries. The tournament is sanctioned by USA Rugby. Sevens, which is also referred to as seven-a-side rugby, rugby Sevens, rugby 7’s, and rugby VIIs, is rapidly gaining worldwide participation, making it one of the fastest growing sports in the world. From its beginnings at the Melrose Club in the Scottish Borders in 1883, Sevens has grown to where the International Rugby Board now has 117 Unions in membership and it is expected to grow into the 205 countries that make up the Olympic movement as Sevens becomes an official competitive part of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Part of the appeal of Sevens is the spreading of the players on the field that takes place as fewer players cover the same size field[4] covered by 15 players in traditional rugby and shorter time periods, which makes the game proceed at a much quicker pace. Indeed, noted Sports Historian Jack Pollard noted that "Sevens matches are unpredictable tests of stamina, ball-handling expertise and blistering pace".