A field of dreams in a different sport
All the participating athletes will be excited to play in the Rugby World Cup Sevens this weekend at AT&T Park, but Danny Barrett may be just a little more excited than most.
The United States prop — nicknamed “The Beast” — grew up in Pacifica, an avid fan of both the 49ers and the Giants. When his father retired in 2009, his mother presented him with a gift of season tickets to the Giants, which was a pretty good time to decide to invest in baseball. The Barrett family has seen playoff games and World Series victories.
“I always wanted to play for the Giants,” said Barrett, who played rugby at Sacred Heart
Cathedral and Cal. “Now it feels like things are coming full circle, getting to play where the Giants play, in their storied stadium.
“This is as good as it gets. I can’t really put into words what this means to me.”
This weekend the Giants will travel across the bay to play the A’s at the Coliseum. Their home ballpark will be invaded by the world championship for both men’s and women’s Rugby Sevens — featuring 40 of the best teams from around the world — and the contrast between the visitors and the regular tenants will be stark.
While baseball tries to figure up how to speed up its game and appeal to today’s distracted younger generation, Rugby Sevens seems to be the perfect solution. The games are like speed-dating for sports: 15 minute games, made up of two seven-minute halves. Lightning fast athletes, seven per team, with breathtaking, end-to-end action.
“In the ADD culture of our country, it’s kind of a perfect fit,” Barrett said.
The game has been growing fast around the world. Though some rugby purists who prefer the traditional 15-a-side may object to this new version of rugby, most advocates for the game are thrilled to see any form of rugby gain traction. Sevens was introduced in the Rio Olympics two summers ago, the first time rugby had been in the summer games since 1924, to good reviews.
“It really does feel like the perfect sport for the millennial generation,” said Rosie Spaulding, the general manager of the event. “Our demographics show that. See a game for fifteen minutes, take a break, come back and see another one of your favorite teams play.”
Another cool thing about this World Cup is that it brings together the best men’s and women’s teams in one venue. There will be 16 women’s teams and 24 men’s teams (both the U.S. women and men are seeded fifth). Fans who attend Friday and Saturday will see both the women and men battle. (The women’s competition concludes Saturday, so Sunday’s schedule will only be the men’s final matches.)
“It is very unique and something that attracted me to this event,” Spaulding said. “The matches are interwoven, not separated, so you can see both the men’s and women’s games. That’s inspirational. Both girls and boys can see an Olympic sport that can inspire them.”
The atmosphere around AT&T Park will be festive: after all, there’s no party like a rugby party. All 40 teams are staying in the same hotel in San Francisco, training at nearby facilities. And plenty of fans from around the world will be in town.
“I hope we get the festive full Bay-to-Breakers-esque vibe going,” Barrett said. “It will be a bit of a party atmosphere — maybe different from what average American fans are used to seeing.”
Barrett and his teammates hope that the pro-USA atmosphere — and the passionate Bay Area rugby culture — will be a bonus. The Eagles won the Las Vegas tournament in March, the American-based entry in the 10 tournament circuit that determines worldwide rankings.
“We’ve never had a World Cup on home soil,” Barrett said. “If Vegas is an indication, we play pretty well at home.”
Barrett grew up playing traditional rugby, following in the footsteps of both his older brother Jim and Neil, who also went from Sacred Heart Cathedral to Cal to Golden Gate Rugby club.
“I just like the game, it offers so much to so many people,” Barrett said. “Now I’ve made my name playing sevens and I played in Rio. I hope to make it to Tokyo (for the 2020 Olympics). I’m playing in the World Cup at home.
“It’s not a bad time to be involved.”