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Chester Soccer Stadium Will Host Collegiate Rugby Tourney

CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) -- Fresh from its first season of hosting major league soccer, PPL Park in Chester, Pa. next June will be the site of a national collegiate rugby tournament.

The 2011 USA Sevens Collegiate Championship (the second year for the tourney) will be June 4th and 5th, 2011.

Temple and Penn State are among the sides already invited for games of what might be called "speed rugby."

Donal Walsh, VP of USA Sevens (at right in photo), explains:

"The 16 elite universities and rugby sevens from across the States will take part in the event.  It's going to be two days, 18 hours of hard, fast, physical rugby.  Thirty-eight games, twenty minutes in duration each game, high-scoring, engaging, and really electrifying."

Chester mayor Wendell Butler (at left in photo) says residents have adjusted to the crowds brought in by the Philadelphia Union soccer team, and will welcome rugby, too -- especially since the plan is to make PPL Park the permanent home of this event.

Reported by John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio 1060.

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