At the Dignity Health Sports Park Concourse, a group of men sat in their drinks, laughing and inhaling. Their trip from Cornwall to Carson in the southwest of England spanned 5,408 miles for the sole purpose of cheering for the UK.
Wearing custom button-up shirts with matching shorts, they proudly pointed out the home symbols by an emblem pressed against the kit. Their outfit featured Union Jack, a classic Cornish Mining Engine House, first scones topped with jam, and then cream. Next is the cream.
The escape to LA was a series of calls between seven childhood friends, and was subject to approval from his wife, so it wasn’t a much planned field trip. Unfortunately, the group was greeted on a boring, cloudy, back-to-back afternoon, instead of California’s trademark sunlight. Still, the weather didn’t dampen the fun.
“That’s what we love about Sevens – it goes all day,” Jason Penprase said. “It’s good to be able to actually see countries that don’t necessarily tie to rugby… you can see other countries coming forward and playing… that’s good (for the game).
At its heart, Rugby Sevens combines the atmosphere of European music festivals and Halloween with the shocking and enthusiastic energy of the NFL on Sunday. Fans from far away, as New Zealand gathered at Carson’s 27,000-seat stadium, just as matches were run at the same time. The result is a vibrant, melting culture, and the two-day tournament will provide a preview of what to expect when rugby is in the spotlight.
It was the first time the championship was held in American soil, featuring New Zealand winning the women’s title and South Africa’s men’s crown. The event served not only as an Olympic preview for fans, but also as a player’s experience.
For our female national athlete, who grew up just a few miles from Carson in southern Los Angeles, the opportunity to compete for a bronze medal near her hometown allowed her mother, siblings and friends to witness her journey.
“I played rugby in Japan for a few years and they couldn’t see me coming out there, so finally they got them to come in the game and that makes a lot of sense for the World Championship,” Toliver said.
Toliver and her teammates are at the forefront of the Rugby Sevens’ national exposure in the US. Toliver, who has witnessed the growth of the sport since it began in high school more than a decade ago, was excited by the 2028 weekend vote and the potential for a larger crowd.
“I imagine you’ll be like this like 100 times,” Toliver said with a smile. “When people showed up in Paris, it was ridiculous, so I imagine LA just spilling.
Fighting for a bronze medal against Canada, the US was short in a 27-7 defeat and Toriver settled. However, she is determined to compete for medals at the Olympics. She was named Rookie of the Year after the season-ending tournament and could be lined up to lead the national team for three years.
“At a time at a time, it’s going to be a perfect circle for me,” Toliver said of his prospects for playing at the Olympics.
Just like the Olympic games, simply being there meant everything in some countries, and there was no place more obvious than Kenya and its fans. Hundreds of supporters, featuring African drums and miniature flags decorated with black, red and green, became the loudest group in the tournament, claiming part of the bowl below. Their chant “Kenya, I!” from “Let’s Go Kenya!” Kiswahili filled the stadium with vibrant energy.
“It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about happiness,” said Ng’ang’a Njenga, who traveled from Seattle. “We come directly from a third world country and when we come and gather together like this, have fun and enjoy ourselves.”
Armed with drums at his side, Njenga was dressed in leopard print Kenyan clothing. Kenya Mazere is depicted in half white and half black in honor of Lwanda Magre, a Kenyan folk hero lying in the shadows.
Njenga was one of many people who led the drum section, spilled out of the stands and participated by male national players Denis Abukuse and Vincent Onyala. Together they guided Charge and danced in circles towards the rhythm of the drums.
“We love this,” Njenga added. “These emotions can do good things like life. Be happy. It’s not about winning or losing in life.”
Players who enjoyed the festival and mixed along the aisles were a common sight. Fans asked Kenya female captain Grace Adianbo Oklu for selfies and autographs while cheering for the men’s national team.
“We really worked so hard to come to LA and the experience you’re getting from everyone. It’s a blessing,” Okle said. “If Kenyans aren’t here, rugby will be fine. It’s amazing that Kenyans are here, and they definitely support Kenyans, not only do they support Kenya, but they support the teams they are playing.”
The event wasn’t without criticism from fans like PenPlays, who stayed in Long Beach with his peers. He pointed out the difficulty of avoiding LA. This requires constant Uber rides due to the city’s limited public transport options.
Additionally, some US fans had problems with their setup. The fan featured two pitches. One is located in the stadium and the other is located in the suburbs. Fans noted that they missed a male matchup on the second pitch for the setup. Multiple pitches will be used during the Olympics, in contrast to the single stadium setup at Stade de France last year.
Officials said that just over 27,000 fans came over the weekend despite some twists that may need to be ironed. With excitement among participants, many are already looking forward to the 2028 game.
After attending the Paris match, Cornishman has, of course, been potentially looking at his return flight to LAX in three years, withholding approval for a better half.
“Never say – you never know,” Penplais said, hoping that the next trip will bring more sunlight.
