Atlantis: US Sevens Rugby
A Summary and History
JUNE 30, 2010
A history and
description of the invitational sevens team Atlantis follows.
In
addition, Atlantis data is given
in tabular form in the following locations:
List
of
Tournaments in which Atlantis has participated
List
of Atlantis Squads
Results
of
Atlantis Games
List
of
Atlantis Players
List
of
Atlantis Staff
Links to Articles on
Specific Atlantis Tours, etc.
Atlantis. Atlantis is a rugby
invitational side whose specialty is sevens.
Begun in 1986 as
an Eastern US venture, Atlantis quickly became
a
nation-wide enterprise. Our color
(aquamarine), our logo, and the Roman numerals on our jerseys were all
inspired
by the Atlantis legend. (And, yes, we were playing sevens long before
the Atlantis hotels in Nassau and Dubai were constructed.)
Goals
and Personnel. Atlantis has
multifaceted goals. At the domestic level,
we are trying to
improve the level of sevens in the US
by mixing sides of experienced players and novices.
For top
international tournaments, we are able to assemble teams representing
the best
the US
has to
offer. Occasionally we include top
players from other countries.
The 871
Atlantis
players since 1986 (541 men and 330 women) represent all 7 US
territories. We are particularly proud of the many US national team
players
(Eagles) that have played for us and of Atlanteans that have gone on to
represent the US: 177 Eagles (109 men and 68 women) have played for
Atlantis. 97 of these represented
Atlantis prior to the US.
Several Atlantis players have represented other countries' national
teams as well.
Atlantis'
coach
Emil Signes was US National Men’s Sevens Coach from 1987-90. During this time the US
had a winning record, defeating Wales,
Canada,
and Argentina,
and
won the Hong Kong Plate Championship.
He was US National Women's Sevens Coach from 1996-2005.
During this time the US had a record of 57-19-4 (4-time runners-up to New
Zealand
in Hong Kong).
History and Successes. Atlantis
has
competed in 132 tournaments,
including 82 in 28 locations outside the US, i.e. (chronologically)
England, Scotland,
Spain, New
Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Bulgaria,
Dubai,
Trinidad, Fiji, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, Argentina, Canada,
Holland,
Portugal, Venezuela, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Singapore,
Thailand, Paraguay, Malaysia (Borneo), Italy and French Polynesia
(Tahiti).
The
Atlantis men have defeated the following international selections and
invitational sides:
o Scottish Saltires (1988:
Celtic Classic, Bethlehem, PA)
o France
(1992: Aer Lingus Limerick Sevens, Ireland)
o Welsh President's VII (1992:
Aer Lingus Limerick Sevens, Ireland,
1994:
Benidorm Sevens, Spain)
o Irish Wolfhounds (1992 and
1993: Aer Lingus Limerick Sevens, Ireland,
1995:
Dubai Sevens)
o English Penguins (1993: Aer
Lingus Limerick Sevens, Ireland)
o Wellington,
NZ (1993: Smithwick Sevens, Belfast, Ireland)
o Latvia (1994: Benidorm Sevens, Spain)
o
Uruguay (1995: Punta del Este Sevens, Uruguay)
o
Ukraine
(1995:
Benidorm Sevens, Spain)
o Welsh Wizards (1995: Benidorm
Sevens, Spain)
o Scottish Border Reivers (1995,
2000 & 2001: Caribbean Sevens, Trinidad
&
Tobago)
o Chile (1996: Punta del Este Sevens,
Uruguay)
o
Switzerland
(1996: Benidorm Sevens, Spain)
o Trinidad & Tobago (1996: Cape
Fear Sevens, NC and 2000
&
2001: Caribbean Sevens, T&T)
o Queensland
(1997: Adelaide Sevens, Australia)
o Malaysia
(1997: Fiji
International Sevens, Fiji)
o Portugal
(1998: Benidorm Sevens, Spain)
o Belgium
(2000: Benidorm Sevens, Spain)
o Hungary
(2000: Benidorm Sevens, Spain)
o Cuba (2000: Havana Sevens, Cuba and
2010 Habana Howlers Sevens, Cuba)
o
Jamaica
(2000: Miami
Sevens and 2001: Cayman Island
Sevens, Cayman Islands)
o West Indies
(2001: Cayman Island
Sevens, Cayman Islands)
o Samurai (2001: Cayman
Island Sevens, Cayman
Islands)
o Guyana (2004: Caribbean Sevens, Trinidad &
Tobago)
o Barbados (2008: Caribbean Sevens, Trinidad & Tobago)
o Martinique (2008: Caribbean Sevens, Trinidad &
Tobago)
o French Froggies (2009: Rome Sevens, Italy)
o Australia Indigenous (2009: Tahiti Sevens, Tahiti)
o Mexico (2010: Habana Howlers Sevens, Cuba)
o Venezuela (2010: Habana Howlers Sevens, Cuba)
Since 1992
the
Atlantis women have won 15 overseas tournaments in Trinidad
and Tobago (6), Spain
(3), Hong Kong, Ireland,
Holland, Venezuela,
Brazil,
and Thailand. We
have also
won the Magnificent Sevens (Toronto)
4
times, the New York Sevens 3 times and the Cape Fear Sevens twice.
Growth. Atlantis continues to expand its efforts and
we look forward to more success in the future.
To this end, we would like to participate in top sevens
tournaments
throughout the world.
Rev. 2010-06-30