T7s Alums feature heavily across North American Next Gen pathways

TAMPA, FL: TROPICAL 7s continues to play a growing role in the North American rugby pathway, with alumni appearing across recent USA Rugby and Rugby Canada age-grade, development and

representative university squads.

As national programmes across the United States and Canada continue to identify the next generation of rugby talent, TROPICAL 7s is proud to see so many former players progressing into high-performance environments. Across recent USA Rugby U18 and U20 pathway squads, as well as Rugby Canada U18, U20 and university development programmes, TROPICAL 7s alumni have been strongly represented — underlining the tournament’s role as a key stage for emerging players to test themselves, be seen, and accelerate their rugby journeys.

USA Rugby pathway recognition

USA Rugby’s recent pathway activity has included U18 and U20 camps and international competition opportunities over the summer, with players identified through high-performance pathways, talent ID camps, domestic competitions and scouting activity. USA Rugby has also formally listed TROPICAL 7s as one of its Talent ID / scouting opportunities for aspiring Eagles.

In the USA Women’s U18 Sevens Summer Camp, USA Rugby selected 29 players through pathway scouting and development activity. TROPICAL 7s’ review of its player database found that 25 of those 29 players had previously played TROPICAL 7s, including 18 who competed at the 2026 event.

Canadian development pathway impact

Across the Canadian Men’s U18 National Development Camp, Women’s U18 East & West Development Camps, and Men’s U20 Preparation Camp, we identified a total of 75 players who had played at TROPICAL 7s and had been selected for these camps, including:

🏉 22 players from the Canada Men’s U18 National Development Camp

🏉 44 players from the Canada Women’s U18 East & West Development Camps

🏉 9 players from the Canada Men’s U20 Preparation Camp

Those players have represented various clubs, academies and provincial programmes at Tropical 7s from across the country, including Oakville Crusaders, Aurora Barbarians, Toronto Rugby Reds, EORU, Upright Rugby Rogues, Rugby Québec, BC Bears 7s, Salish Sea Warriors, MacDowell Rugby, Halifax RFC, Crimson Tide, Canada Misfits, Oshawa Vikings, Rugby Quebec, NB Spruce, Tsunami Toronto Reds and more.

Canada Success at World University 7s

The pathway connection continued onto the university sevens stage. Canada selected 12 university women’s players for the 2026 FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens in Stellenbosch, South Africa. TROPICAL 7s identified 6 players from that squad who had previously played in the tournament: Megan Allard, Rachel Cullum, Grace Dingwall, ShonDreya Smardon, Ava Ference and Ava Van Santen. Canada went on to be crowned women’s FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens champions, completing an undefeated campaign in Stellenbosch and adding another major milestone for the Canadian university pathway.

TROPICAL 7s - a platform for the next generation

From U18 development camps to U20 preparation squads, university sevens and senior national-team pathways, the evidence is clear: players who compete at TROPICAL 7s are continuing to appear in some of the most important talent environments in North American rugby. For athletes, coaches, academies and clubs, Tropical 7s remains more than a tournament. It is a competitive proving ground, a scouting opportunity and a platform where future national-team players can take the next step.

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