WORCESTER, Mass. - Some rain early Saturday didn’t keep fans and players from turning out for Worcester’s annual rugby sevens tournament. The competition, which is hosted by the Worcester Rugby Community, is held annually at Green Hill Park and features 29 teams from around New England and New York playing against one another.

Teams of either men or women play seven on seven for seven-minute halves. The day ends in championship matches. 

Organizers of the tournament say the sport is a unique, social sport that is gaining in popularity.

"I think it's a combination of things, said Quinn Griffin, captain of the Worcester Men's Rugby Club. "I think it's the camaraderie around the sport and the sport is a mix of a lot of things Americans like." 

"I think it's a mix of football, basketball and soccer, it flows very well, Griffin said "There's an element of being a little rough and being a little cheeky and a little brute force that football fans would enjoy." 

Griffin says that despite the sport being most popular in the Southern Hemisphere and Northern Europe, U.S. Rugby has seen an increase in registration to play the sport.  

With Saturday’s rain, many of the players say they prefer playing in the rain on the fresh grass as it keeps things cool.  

Rugby sevens at Green Hill Park continues on Sunday with its first-ever youth tournament.