After a five-year hiatus, the Santa Barbara Grunion Rugby Club will host Santa Barbara 7s, an amateur rugby tournament Aug. 27 in Elings Park.

The all-day event will showcase two fields of nonstop sevens rugby, a fast-paced version of the game with seven players per team.

The first game kicks off at 9 a.m. Games are scheduled on two fields at Elings Park.

The Santa Barbara 7s tournament includes men’s, women’s and youth brackets, and hosts teams from throughout southern California.

Fans will be able to see all three Santa Barbara club teams in action: The Grunion (men’s team), Mermaids (women’s team) and Stingrays (youth league). UCSB is also sending a women’s squad coached by former Olympian Kelly Griffin, captain of the 2016 USA rugby team.

“Santa Barbara Rugby has been absent from the sevens circuit for a few years,” said Joseph King, Grunion president. “This is our first step to bring back an iconic South Coast rugby event and bolster our rugby community.”

The tournament organizers hope the event will spark interest in rugby and grow the sport in Santa Barbara.

Food options at the tournament include: Judge’s sausages with vegetarian options; beer and seltzer from Rincon Brewery and cider from Balcom Canyon Cider. Red Oak BBQ & Grill will be selling tri-tip sandwiches.

Park on the Mesa. Parking inside the park is $5 on weekends.

For more, visit www.sbwomensrugby.com/schedule/santa-barbara-7s.

In Santa Barbara, organized adult rugby dates to 1978 with the founding of the Grunion Rugby Football Club. A parallel women’s team also existed in the early days but fell dormant until it was reestablished as the Mermaids in 2015.

The Grunion and Mermaids currently compete in the Southern California Rugby Football Union within USA Rugby. Both teams have found success in recent years; the Grunion won the men’s SoCal Division III championship in 2021, and the Mermaids earned first place in the women’s SoCal Division II in 2021.

The Stingray youth league includes teams for girls and boys in elementary school through high school. The rules are simplified for younger players, with a focus on building fundamental skills, practicing safe physical contact and fostering a supportive spirit.