Seventeen schools and over 10,000 students across the Clark County School District of Las Vegas took part in the HSBC USA Sevens 'Adopt a Country' programme which culminated in a visit from some of the game’s biggest names this week.

Inspired by the international cultures of the nations participating in the fifth round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, each of the participating schools have spent the year researching their adopted country through a series of lessons in reading, writing, maths, art, music, and social studies. As wells as educating, the programme also aims to grow participation and supports a number of rugby clinics and tournaments offering students and teachers a first-hand opportunity to learn the laws and culture of rugby.

In the lead up to the tournament in Las Vegas this week, students took part in ‘rugby week’ which included a series of creative activities and contests. These range from a t-shirt design contest – inviting students to create a design that best captures the 'Adopt a Country' programme by connecting their school, their adopted nation, rugby and Las Vegas in a drawing – to an essay contest challenging students to compare and contrast their typical day with that of someone their age living in the adopted country. Each school’s essay winner will lead their adopted team down the red carpet during the Parade of Nations Ceremony on Thursday, from 18:30-20:00.

Leading his team at the parade and on the pitch this weekend is USA captain Ben Pinkelman, who today visited Vegas Verdes Elementary School as part of the 'Adopt a Country' programme. “Today was super fun, we come out to a lot of schools but I think this is the most excited we’ve ever seen a school. They were so pumped up and that got us really excited and we just had a lot of fun with it.

“I think opportunities like HSBC USA Sevens 'Adopt a Country', especially around an international tournament like the sevens are huge. These kids watch rugby, get into and even start to play and that’s the first step – when they meet teams and get to engage with players it amplifies their excitement. It’s great to see them so inspired and it’s also great for us as players to see that impact.”

Tickets for the USA Sevens are still on sale and available for purchase at www.usasevens.com/las-vegas.

HSBC USA Sevens Adopt a Country pairings:

  • Argentina – Connors Elementary School
  • Australia – Antonello Elementary School
  • Canada – Kay Carl Elementary School
  • England – Brown Academy of International Studies
  • Fiji – Treem Elementary School
  • France – Fitzgerald Elementary School
  • Kenya – Elise Wolff Elementary School
  • New Zealand – Dailey Elementary School
  • Russia – Nate Mack Elementary School
  • Samoa – Doris Reed Elementary School
  • Scotland – Myrtle Tate Elementary School
  • South Africa – Rowe Elementary School
  • Spain – Squires Elementary School
  • Uruguay – Tanaka Elementary School
  • Wales – Thurman White Academy of the Performing Arts Middle School
  • USA – Vegas Verdes Elementary School
  • Referees – Roger Bryan Elementary School