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Writer's picturekatherine gorham
Jul 88 min read

Lakefront 7s 2024

Ahh Lakefront 7s.


Talk about a well oiled machine. They clearly know what they're doing.


Rules, maps, costs, directions, instructions all laid out way in advance...down to the social theme. Very responsive if you miss anything or have any questions.


Also, the tournament is at an absolutely gorgeous location!


We've enjoyed it so much two years in a row now that I'm almost hesitant to talk about how great it is...because I almost don't want the best kept secret in tournament rugby getting out.


The game schedules always made sense. Even though we had an 8am kickoff this year, which was astronomically early for some of us, there was never too long or too short of a break in between games. Even with a major on field injury they did their best to stay on schedule. All of the fields were within walking distance of each other, which sounds like it should be a given but that most certainly is NOT! There was plenty of space to warm up, which also sounds like should be a given but definitely is NOT [I'm looking at you, Fort Adams Park lol].


The swag from Booshie is on point. 👍🏻

HOWEVER, if you want your choice of swag, I learned this the hard way - get in that frickin' line as soon as possible and wait your turn. The longer you wait, the higher chances are that the cool thing you want is gonna be sold out in your size or sold out entirely. I kept telling myself "meh, I'll get in the line when it's shorter...I don't have time right now, I need to update our line up for the next game...I'd rather have a snack in the shade than stand in that line..." NOPE, first chance you get to go buy some merch get after it!! I was lucky and still got a cool singlet, but the singlet and sweatshirt I initially wanted were completely sold out by the time I finally got there.


Same goes for the color changing stadium cups. I was lucky this year that I was able to get a stadium cup, but last year I missed out!


Overall, you can just tell that there is an intricate level of detail and preparation that goes into this tournament. It's not surprising since it's been successful for over 40 years!


This year, there was even some pretty wild weather at a few points - windy torrential downpours. This caused us to come up with the idea of packing a "team suitcase" filled with essentials for tournament day specifically. Remember that for the cost of some of these items, it could even be worth it to split the cost among players to invest in a better option. Here are some team tournament day essentials I would consider packing for Lakefront 7s.


Lakefront 7s Packing List

Pop Up Tent or Canopy - absolutely essential. We didn't fly one over from Massachusetts but the investment in a $50 tent at WalMart was beyond worth it (especially since we've gotten to use it two years in a row, thanks FABA!). I also saw some pretty wild tent variations at this year's tournament. Veterans Park has tons of space to set up camp but not many trees for natural shade options. Here are a couple of options from Amazon (all associate links) to explore:

  • COOSHADE Lightweight Backpack Canopy ($70) - cheaper option, weighs 22 pounds so looks like it could still fit in a checked bag. 6'x6' could pose a challenge for some taller players again, but not the end of the world. Some reviews mention it's not the sturdiest option. Having a drop down wall option built right into it is a big perk in my opinion.

  • Yaheetech Canopy Pop Up ($70) - weighs 29 pounds but description says you can carry it like a backpack. The storage bag is 41.3" tall which could be a problem for packing it in a suitcase. Overall looks like a good option for the price, especially since it comes with a built in drop down wall, but some reviews mention issues with sturdiness.

  • ADesign Windproof Sun Tent ($80) - weighs 11 pounds, another good travel option. From the reviews it also looks pretty wide, however...height could be a challenge. Our good ol' locks might only be able to crouch under this one 😅

  • YENGIAM Beach Tent ($89) - weighs 12 pounds and it is TINY to carry around. Could fit in a carry on bag if the photo of the size [when it's packed up] is accurate. It takes up a wide amount of space (11'x11') but looks short in height again. If it could legitimately fit in a carry on bag then I think sacrificing some of the height is worth it. Definitely does not look like a good rain option though.

  • WEKAPO Beach Tent Sun Shelter ($90) - only weighs 13 pounds, and reviews say it's easy to transport. This seems like a good option especially if you're traveling by plane to a tournament, however I don't know how horizontal-rain-weather proof it is. Reviews say it's like a heavy bathing suit material, so it's probably water proof but might somehow need a tarp attached to a side if it's rough weather.

  • EzFast Pop Up Canopy Tent ($100) - weighs 25 pounds, good height. Another option with a drop down wall built into it and reviews mention it's easy to assemble. Pricier option but a lot of positive reviews. However, the description literally says "do not use in rain" 😬

  • LANMOUNTAIN Canopy Tent ($109) - definitely the best width:height option, but also one of the heaviest (36.5 pounds). Packed up it's 36.2 inches long, so it would obviously need a pretty hefty sized checked bag. Reviews say it's thin but comes with a lot of mechanisms to tie it down [ropes, sand bags]. You can also either expand it for more width or collapse into side walls which is pretty cool.


Carabiner - this is half an inside joke and half legit. There was someone from another team walking around bartering hardcore for a carabiner. And with good reason!! They've got such a variety of uses, and you pretty much always don't realize you need one until it's too late. Pack one for yourself or to lend to another team in need!!

Waterproof Tarp - I don't know if there's another kind of tarp that isn't waterproof, but that's the benefit of having the tarp: providing water coverage. You can use it to provide siding on a canopy, cover a bunch of bags from being rained on, or lay on the ground as something to sit on. Once your stuff is soaked, it can make for a long(er) day in the rain. Easy and cheap way to come prepared!


Cooling Towels - liquid-free ice pack/cooling option. The tournament itself provides a medical tent with ice, but obviously not everyone needs a full bag of ice and could be a good option just for cooling down on a hot day.

  • Sukeen 4 pack Cooling Towels ($19) - compact, lightweight, and each one comes with a carabiner.

  • IceeNOW Cooling & Compression Athletic Tape ($16) - more so an option for icing rather than cooling off, but still super useful for anyone playing in a tournament. No prep required, it freezes on its own! Especially for those traveling, there's no liquid involved and it's compact so it's very travel friendly. Use my coupon code "THERUGBYDIARIES" for 15% off all orders!


Rugby Ball - seems obvious...but we didn't bring one and ended up having to ask around for one. I don't know why I decided we didn't need to bring our own and that it would just sort itself out...somehow...one would fall from the sky??? 🙃 Just deflate a practice ball and pack it. Here's some options for a ball pump, although there's probably someone at the tournament who can lend you one as well.

  • TONUNI Ball Pump ($7) - cheap good ol' fashioned pump. A bajillion good reviews.

  • Tandem Sport Store Pocket Pump ($10) - I appreciate how compact this ball pump is...but might also be quite the grip workout haha. Reviews are generally okay but some mention that it leaks air.

  • Fanttik Electric Pump ($50) - obviously seems like a ridiculous amount to spend on a ball pump for a tournament, but actually looks like a really good investment overall. Looks super compact - includes needle storage space right inside it. Rechargable battery (comes with a charger), just make sure it's charged or else it's obviously useless!! 🤣


Spare Mouthguard - read my figurative lips: someone-will-forget-their-mouthguard [lol]. You could argue that it's on the player to buy one on their own, but there are also many times that people don't realize they forgot it until right before a game when they reach into a random pocket and have that "oh no" moment.

  • Frienda 10 pack Mouth Guards ($9) - again, you probably don't need 9 mouthguards but they're pretty colors 😊🌈. I also just quite simply appreciate that the name of the item includes the word "rugby" lol. Reviews say they're not very comfortable or moldable, but I say you forgot your dang mouthguard and you pay the price!

  • SAFEJAWZ Mouth Guard ($10) - I just appreciate that they specifically identify a mouthguard as an "adult" size so you can be sure it's not made for baby teeth


Cooler Bag - good for keeping those cooling towels or anything perishable. Another thing you don't realize you need until you need it...especially when traveling far. There's also just something special about water that's actually cold during a super hot rugby tournament.

  • BALEINE 2 pack Cooler Bags ($19) - two bags could be good to have so you can keep food and drinks separate (nobody likes a squished PB&J). These bags are lightweight and can be folded flat to make them more travel friendly.

  • BRONZY Portable Ice Chest Bag ($34) - seems almost like a weird thing to pack a bag of ice...especially in this kinda bag when ziploc bags exist...but the compactness and durability look pretty worthwhile. It's also leakproof and can be used for more than just ice.


Speaker - definitely not necessary and can be easily delegated to another teammate, but a happy rugby team is a prepared rugby team!



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