If 2024 was a comeback year, 2025 was a statement.
This summer’s Lakefront 7s felt bigger, louder, and more electric than ever. From first kick to final whistle, Milwaukee’s lakefront was packed with players, families, alumni, and fans who turned a single Saturday of rugby into a full-on festival of sport and community.
A record-breaking crowd
We welcomed 116 teams to this year’s tournament – 76 adult sides and 40 youth teams across competitive, social, and flag rugby divisions. That translated into 209 matches played over the course of the day, with pitches rolling non-stop and scoreboards barely getting a moment’s rest.
In total, 1,371 participants laced up their boots, pulled on a jersey, or grabbed a flag belt. Add coaches, supporters, referees, medical staff, vendors, and volunteers and you start to understand just how many people it takes to bring Lakefront 7s to life.
Fast, free-flowing rugby
On the field, 2025 stayed true to the spirit of sevens: quick, attacking rugby with room for big plays and daring offloads.
Across all divisions, the average winning score came in at 26.1 points, while the average losing score was 7.5 points. That mix gave us everything from nail-biters to runaway tries down the touchline—and plenty of moments for teams to learn, regroup, and come back stronger in their next match.
Crowning our champions
After a long day of pool play and knock-out rounds, we handed out hardware to an incredible slate of champions:
- Men’s Competitive: Lions – Chicago, IL
- Women’s Social: Metropolis – Minneapolis, MN
- Men’s Social: Erie Hawaiians – Buffalo, NY
- Women’s Super Social: Hamilton Alumni – Sussex, WI
On the social and youth side, the energy was just as high:
- Men’s Super Social: Drinkin’ Park – Chicago, IL
- High School Girls: Cedar Falls – Cedar Falls, IA
- High School Boys: Jesters – Appleton, WI
- HIPPOs Division: Milwaukee RFC – Milwaukee, WI
And in our flag rugby brackets, one club put an impressive stamp on the day:
- 7th–9th Grade Flag: Silver Eagles – Monona Grove, WI
- 5th–6th Grade Flag: Silver Eagles – Monona Grove, WI
- 3rd–4th Grade Flag: Silver Eagles – Monona Grove, WI
Watching so many young players race onto the field, celebrate tries, and cheer each other on might have been the best “highlight reel” of the tournament. The future of Midwest rugby looks bright.
Looking ahead to 2026
As we close the book on this year’s numbers, we’re already looking forward to the next chapter: the next Lakefront 7s kicks off on June 27, 2026.
Team registration started early this year with one division already sold out and 36% of tickets already sold (see current teams here).
To every player, coach, referee, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter who helped make 2025 such a success—thank you. Lakefront 7s doesn’t just happen; it’s built by a community that shows up, pitches in, and believes that rugby belongs on the Milwaukee lakefront.
See you on the shoreline in 2026.
