Tomorrow's 7s tournament in Rockaway and the Churchill Cup finals in Red Bull Arena will cap an amazing week of events in New York.

Yesterday, Thursday June 17, IRB CEO Mike Miller announced at the 21 Club in New York that NBC/Universal Sports will broadcast the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015.  And PlayRugby USA hosted a very successful and well attended benefit for it's biggest ever Mayor's Cup, which recently featured 600 of the best rugby playing kids and 1,000 people from all over the city.

Today, USA Rugby selected New Yorker Mike Petri to be USA's starting scrumhalf in tomorrow's inerntational vs France at Red Bull Arena at 5:30 pm.  Mike was just interviewed on WNBC- TV, see the great footage at:

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/station/as-seen-on/Mike_Petri_New_York.html?code=2.wn69zqwCN56XacIgZ3940A__.3600.1276884000-554330836%7Czj5rTaX8HxFcNsXynDpfF01AUkg.

Met NY president Toby Butterfield and Met NY Summer 7s Series Director and Village Lions RFC president Bret Costain with the Webb Ellis Cup at the Universal Sports/IRB press conference, New York, New York June 17, 2010.

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Tomorrow, Saturday June 19, thousands of rugby fans from across the Eastern Seaboard will converge on Red Bull Arena, easily reached by PATH train, for three international matches to be broadcast all over the world.  The fanzone features WFAN radio broadcasting, Brazilian food, a beer garden, games for kids and adults courtesy of the World Rugby Shop Challenge, music, merchandise for sale, and displays by local clubs Old Blue, New York Rugby Club, Brooklyn and Bayonne RFCs. 

"I'm so proud that New York can not only host USA Rugby, the IRB and thousands of fans, but can simultaneously support a qualifier 7s tournament for those who want to play too.  Our amazing clubs, officials and local players make the New York area a fantastic place to play and watch rugby.  Tomorrow is a great day for rugby in New York and the USA, and we won't look back.  Starting tomorrow, we are preparing rugby in the USA for the Olympics in 2016"  said Toby Butterfield on behalf of Met NY Rugby.

Rockaway 7s starts at 8 am tomorrow.  From 8 - 10:30, the Village Lions RFC host a breakfast at Biddy's Early Pub, 43 Murray Street.  Red Bull Arena fanzone opens at 10:30 am.  International matches start with Russia v Uruguay at noon; England Saxons v Canada at 2:45, and USA v. France A at 5:30.  From 8pm, the Official Afterparty is at Papillon Bistro, East 54th Street between 5th and Madison Aves, all are welcome.