"Ta Ta 7's" in The State Newspaper!!!!!

This is a well written article on our most recent summer 7's tourney in Columbia, SC. Check it out....http://www.thestate.com/local/story/844259.html

Rugby players sweat for charity
Players brave the heat to raise money for breast cancer research
By JOEY HOLLEMAN - jholleman@thestate.com

Rugby players have a reputation for being tough and a bit crazy.
The Ta-Tas 7s Rugby Tournament on Saturday showed they also can be sensitive and sensible.

Nearly 200 players churned up the turf at Columbia’s Owens Field complex, braving the oppressive heat to have a little fun and raise a little money for charity.

For nearly two decades, the Olde Grey Rugby Football Club has been staging a 7-on-7 tournament on an early summer weekend. The event was called Lucky 7s until last year.

“We wanted to do something more charity-related,” said Olde Grey member Mike Gellatly. “So last year we worked with Save the Ta-Tas.”

This year, a portion of the proceeds go to a different group battling the same disease — the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. But they kept the “ta-tas” in the tournament title.

“I don’t think there’s a woman who doesn’t know somebody who has been affected in some way, shape or form by breast cancer,” said Columbia Bombshells player Julie Freese, who thinks the fundraising connection helps draw more women to the tournament.

This year’s Ta-Tas event attracted 12 male teams and eight female teams. They persevered throughout the day as temperatures hit 100 degrees and the heat index rose to 105 degrees.

That’s where even crazy ruggers let the sensible side take over. The summer tournament circuit cuts the size of the teams — from 15 players to seven — and the length of games — from two 40-minute halves to two seven-minute halves. Both changes are aimed at making the games less grueling.

On Saturday, teams went all-out in games that took less than 20 minutes, then retired to canopies or the few shade trees surrounding the field to “water up.” A little nutrition and a lot of hydration later, they would go out for another game. Most teams played four or five games during the day.

“The heat’s not unusual,” Gellatly said. “We were playing in Charlotte last week, and the heat index was 105.”

That goes back to the tough-and-crazy reputation.

“We play no matter what — snow, rain, heat,” Freese said. “That’s the spirit of the sport.”

Reach Holleman at (803) 771-8366.