Pan Am Games Pools & Schedule

In just over three weeks, the Rugby Sevens portion of the 2015 Pan Am Games will take place in Toronto. Played at Exhibition Stadium, as it will be known during the Games, the stadium is one of five competition venues that are part of CIBC Pan Am Park.

The Men’s and Women’s Sevens competitions take place July 11-12th and bring together teams from countries all throughout the Americas to challenge for bragging rights at the quadrennial competition. Played in the year before each Olympics, the Pan Am Games were first played in 1951, but have a short history with Rugby Sevens. The 2011 Pan Am Games were the first time Rugby Sevens were played as part of the competition.

In the inaugural Pan Am Games Rugby event, only the men took part with Canada taking the Gold with a 26-24 win over Argentina whom settled for Silver. The USA took home the Bronze with a 19-17 win over Uruguay.

The 2015 edition of the Pan Am Games will be the first time the women compete in the event.

The women’s competition consists of one pool of six teams. The women’s teams competing at the Pan Am Games include Canada, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico. Canada and the USA head into the tournament as heavy favorites to meet in the Gold Medal match. Both sides are among the best women’s teams in the World. The more interesting storyline to follow will be the battle for Bronze. Brazil has some experience on the Women’s World Series, but Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico could all make a run at the Bronze.

In the men’s competition, the tournament is broken into two pools of four teams apiece. In Pool A are the USA, Uruguay, Chile, and Mexico. In Pool B are Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and Guyana. The men’s tournament should be competitive. The USA, Canada, and Argentina are all consistent performers on the HSBC World Series. All three sides should challenge for medals. Brazil will be one of the teams to keep an eye on as they look to prove that they belong at the Olympic level leading up to their hosting of the 2016 Olympics. Uruguay is another side capable of throwing a wrench in the plans of one of the favorites. Mexico played decently at the recent NACRA Championships and will look to continue their progress.

Women’s Schedule

Men’s Schedule