Well, Rugby isn't a big deal in general here "in the states." Whether its 15s, 13s, 7s, womens'.... we just don't get it here. Our own brand of Football evolved from it - we had Walter Camp, Teddy Roosevelt, and John Heisman and never looked back. But if Australia has taught me anything it's that one nation can have 4 different styles of Football live side by side. Lol
7s is actually getting Americans more excited about Rugby every year, especially with its inclusion in the Olympic games, which is gaining support for our 15s programs. And for a lot of the reasons you listed,
@fnordcircle , which I think will help not only our national team - if in the long run - but also the sport here in general. Personally, I prefer RFU style (15s) but would rather 7s than RFL style (13s); but I will support 7s where possible for me if it means uplifting Rugby in general in the good ol USA.
Iirc there's a 7s competition in LA right now. I will have to look what the attendances are and viewership for both the 7s competition, the recent World Cup, and the Vegas showcase games tonight. I've been reading up on the growth of the sport here. It's been slow but from what I understand a very hefty growth in comparison to any decade in the last 100 or so years.
Every Rugby Football league we've had thus far has folded due to lack of support (because everyone is watching up 5 other sports lol). I would like to see this one stay afloat with the help of our national team. This is its 3rd year and its actually expanding. They're doing it very carefully and not spending a whole lot so it isn't dependent on being successful like some other Football leagues we've seen popping up in the last couple decades (looking at you AAF). If they do this just right, we could be looking at the next MLS only better. I think honestly, if it ever gets big enough - it should compete directly with MLS. It has shorter games, more scoring, more ways to score, and above all it's a contact sport! In my mind, there's no way it could lose to MLS if they can properly build a foundation around it.