BERKELEY – As the Golden Bears make the switch from Olympic 7s rugby to the full, 15-a-side game in preparation for their spring 2019 regular season, data on the 2018 PAC Rugby 7s Championship held on Witter Rugby Field show the event set new records for viewership of the conference tournament.
 
Seen nationally and regionally Nov. 3-4 on Pac-12 Networks, and streamed live worldwide, the 2018 PAC 7s received seven hours of broadcast television coverage, the most ever in the four years of coverage by the network. With viewing numbers that increased nearly 200% over the previous year, the 2018 PAC 7s was also the most-streamed rugby event in the history of the network.
 
"The PAC 7s Rugby Championship is a fun and fast-paced display," read a statement released by Pac-12 Networks. "We look forward to continued exposure for the sport."
 
PAC Rugby Conference administrator and UCLA head coach Scott Stewart added, "The venue, organization and broadcast made for a highly competitive and visible weekend of rugby for the conference."
 
The festive atmosphere at the PAC 7s that carried participating teams through the weekend was made possible by a hardworking facilities crew who made the venue sparkle along with other campus units activated to raise awareness of the event.
 
"We were pleased with the event," said Cal head coach Jack Clark. "There is a bit of responsibility as event hosts and we are thankful for the campus resources that assisted. Finally, the rugby standard was solid. All the teams were buttoned-up and competitive, which is a good conference statement."
 
Overall, results from the PAC 7s show the sport of rugby and the particular brand of rugby 7s both continue to gain in popularity as the next Summer Olympics approaches in Tokyo 2020.
 
Following their 17-0 fall 7s season and sixth conference title in the last seven years, the Bears continue their 137th year in January as the oldest Intercollegiate Athletics program at the University. Witter Rugby Field is the site of an exciting spring schedule starting with the home opener vs. UC Davis on Jan. 26. Other events include Parents Weekend on Feb. 2 vs. San Diego State, British Columbia on Feb. 23 and Homecoming March 16 vs. Utah. The regular season culminates in Strawberry Canyon March 30 vs. Saint Mary's before the Bears enter the national collegiate postseason.