Atlantis: US Sevens Rugby
A Summary and History
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.
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
more than 700 Atlantis
players since 1986 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: 155 Eagles (99 men and 56 women) have played for
Atlantis. 81 of these represented
Atlantis prior to the US.
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 is currently the coach of the 57-19-4 US National Women’s
Sevens Team
(4-time runners-up to New Zealand
in Hong Kong).
History and Successes. Atlantis
has competed in 112 tournaments,
including 70 in 23 locations outside the US, i.e. 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 and Singapore.
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)
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)
The Atlantis
men’s most recent championships were the 2000 Santa Teresa Sevens in Venezuela
and the first-ever Havana Sevens in Cuba. In 1997 we won the Fin del Mundo Sevens (Argentina),
and in 1995 we were champions of both the Sofia (Bulgaria)
and Benidorm (Spain)
Sevens, and finalists at the Caribbean Sevens in Trinidad. Domestically, we have won the US’s
most prestigious tournament, the Cape Fear 7s, in both 1994 and 1996.
Since 1992
the
Atlantis women have won eleven overseas tournaments in Spain
(3), Hong Kong, Ireland,
Holland, Venezuela,
and Trinidad & Tobago (4). Most
recently we won the 2004 Caribbean Sevens. 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. 2005-01-01