West Coast Sevens Kicks Off 2026 in Style at Dignity Health Sports Park
Updated: 4 days ago
Carson, Calif.: The 2026 West Coast Sevens tour is officially underway, and what a start it was. Under clear skies and perfect Southern California sunshine, 28 matches across three divisions filled the day at Dignity Health Sports Park, with fast, physical, high-quality sevens that set the tone for the season ahead.
A Competitive Men's Collegiate Division
If opening weekend proved anything, it's that the gap at the top of the collegiate sevens game is closing. The Champion Division delivered tight, hard-fought rugby from the first whistle, with four of its matches decided by 10 points or fewer.
Saint Mary's College and USD set the tone early with one of the best games of the day, a back-and-forth battle that Saint Mary's edged 19–17. Saint Mary's then held off a strong Indiana side 28–19. In the semifinals, they outlasted GCU 21–14 in a physical, end-to-end contest. GCU had already shown their quality in pool play, pushing Cal hard before the Bears pulled away 24–14. Indiana, playing in its first West Coast Sevens event, made Cal earn every point in a 19–7 semifinal.
Cal went on to claim the Champion Division title with a 22–7 win over Saint Mary's in the Championship Match. But the story of the division was its depth. Nearly every team left Carson with a result it could build on, and the chasing pack looks ready to make the next two stops even more competitive.
The Challenger Division brought the same intensity. USD 2 opened the day with a 21–19 thriller over Long Beach State 2, and later took third place in a tense 22–17 win over Mexico ANUIES. Cal 2 took the Challenger title, beating Saint Mary's College 2 27–5 in the final. It was a fitting end to a day that showed the strength of the next wave of talent coming through these programs.
New Faces Make an Immediate Impact
This season brings three exciting additions to the tour, and all three made their mark in Los Angeles.
Saint Mary's College was the standout newcomer, the only program to reach both championship finals. Their top side battled all the way to the Champion Division final. Saint Mary's 2 opened with a 55–0 win over Claremont and followed it with wins over Mexico ANUIES (31–10) and USD 2 (26–10) on the way to the Challenger final.
Indiana University made the trip west count. The Hoosiers opened with a statement 26–7 win over USD, reached the Champion Division semifinals, and closed their debut with a 35–12 win over GCU to take third place.
Mexico ANUIES brought an international flair and an attacking style that fans loved. They opened with a 36–0 win over Claremont and battled their way into the Challenger semifinals.
They join a strong group of returning programs, including USD, GCU, Cal, Long Beach State and Claremont Colleges. Long Beach State finished strong, beating USD 28–10 to take fifth in the Champion Division.
Carmichael Hawks Take the High School Boys Crown
The Carmichael Hawks were outstanding in the High School Boys Division. They opened with a 37–7 win over Cathedral Catholic 2 and followed it with a 52–0 result against OMBAC, setting up a decisive clash with an unbeaten Cathedral Catholic side that had cruised through its own games. Carmichael rose to the moment with a 28–14 win to finish the day a perfect 3–0 and claim the title.
They join a strong group of returning programs, including USD, GCU, Cal, Long Beach State and Claremont Colleges. Long Beach State finished strong with a 28–10 win over USD to take fifth in the Champion Division, and USD 2 claimed third in the Challenger bracket after a narrow 21–19 opening win over Long Beach State 2.
Missed It? Watch Every Game on YouTube
If you couldn't make it out to LA, don't worry. Every match is available to rewatch on our YouTube channel, @westcoastsevens, brought to you by TVX Video.
Catch Cal's championship runs, Carmichael's title game, Saint Mary's thrilling semifinal and every try you missed.
What's Next
The tour now heads north to Stanford University's Steuber Rugby Stadium on October 10, followed by the season finale in Oceanside on October 17–18.
If opening weekend is any indication, 2026 is shaping up to be a special year for the West Coast Sevens. See you at Stanford!
Comments