Don’t you just love being first?

This weekend, the Triangle Sports Commission and the Town of Cary will host the NACRA Sevens Championships, the first-ever North America Caribbean Rugby Association Olympic qualifying tournament for both men and women.

The top-ranked national rugby teams from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and other countries will assemble at Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park this Saturday and Sunday, to battle it out in a quest for Olympic qualification.

Then, for the first time in Olympic history, the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will feature the Rugby Sevens competition! Rugby Sevens is a fast-paced game featuring seven-person sides instead of 15 per side as in traditional rugby.

"Quite a Coup"

“To be able to host this international qualifying tournament for next year’s Rio Olympic Games is quite a coup for the region,” said Hill Carrow, CEO of the Triangle Sports Commission.

“It gives us the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of Olympic participation and competition with one of the fastest growing sports in the world. In addition, this tournament enables us to outfit WakeMed Soccer Park permanently to host major rugby events, which expands the capabilities of the park and can lead to additional long-term positive economic benefits for the area.”

The nonprofit, Cary-based Triangle Sports Commission is one of only 10 United States Olympic Committee Community Olympic Partner organizations.

Tickets for the tournament, which kicks off on Saturday at 11 a.m., and Sunday at 9 a.m., are priced at $15 to $40. For tickets and a full tournament schedule, visit usarubgy.org.

WakeMed Soccer Park is located at 200 Brooks Park Lane, Cary. For more info, see trianglesportscommission.com.