Atlantis: US Sevens Rugby

 A Summary and History

JUNE 30, 2010

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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


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