With the completion of the recent FIFA World Cup, another international World Cup starts this weekend.

For the first time in Rugby World Cup history, the tournament will be hosted in the United States, at AT& T Ballpark, home of the San Francisco Giants, with over 40 men’s’ and women’s teams competing for the Sevens World Cup title July 20-22. The U.S. men’s team is ranked fifth, with tremendous athletes like Carlin Isles, Perry Baker and Danny Barnett leading the team. Coverage of the tournament will be on one of the family members of the NBC sports network.

Rugby is a worldwide sport that has existed for 195 years. It’s very popular in Europe, Austrailia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Pacific Islands. Rugby takes two forms — 7’s is the summer version of rugby; a quicker, less physical version played with less players, less time, but on the same field. Regular Rugby Union (15’s) is played in the spring for high school — fall and spring for colleges — features 15 players a side playing 80 minutes on a football-sized field.

Here in the U.S., 7’s is commonly played in the summer and is the version played in the Olympics. The Rugby World Cup (for 15’s) will be held in 2019 in Japan.

Locally, Rugby is slowly growing in our area. Rugby coaches have helped teach shoulder-leverage tackling — also known as “HAWK” tackling as promoted by the Seattle Seahawks — as well as with the Bellwood-Antis, Tyrone and Hollidaysburg football programs. It promotes taking the head out of the tackle and reducing concussions in contact.

Students from Altoona, Bishop Guilfoyle, and Hollidaysburg play on a local club team — Hollidaysburg/Blair United Rugby — against teams from Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia in spring high school rugby. Local players, such as Gus Dellinger, Sam Haines and Ian DiPangrazio recently represented Pennsylvania in regional play in June. Dellinger is traveling to Ontario in late July to represent the USA Eagles in Under-18 play versus Canada. This is his second appearance.

On the college level, you have USA Rugby. There, the game has taken a serious turn since the 1980s. The social aspect of the game has been reduced or eliminated to attract serious athletes. Programs at colleges like Penn State, Kutztown, St Joseph’s, Army, Navy and many others have full-time coaches, funding for financial assistance for players, as well as access to varsity strength and conditioning programs.

While not an NCAA sport, colleges are recognizing the benefit of developing solid programs to attract new students and grow enrollment. International professional teams are coming to the U.S. to tap into our incredible athletic bank and recruit for their developmental programs. Professional rugby, while abundant international, is now in place in the U.S.

With all that progress, our most important goal of promoting rugby is the world rugby goals — integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect. They are the defining character-building characteristics. Watch the 7’s this weekend, watch players respect their country, sport and opponents. No flopping, no disrespect to the referee, no taking the knee during their anthem. Enjoy the tournament and look for more news about local rugby.

For more information about the local rugby team, visit www.hollidaysburgrugby.com or on Facebook at Hollidaysburg Rugby.

Andy Haines, who coaches the local team in Blair County, can be reached at ahaines@gatesburgroaddevelopment.com