The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will include both men’s and women’s rugby.

Olympic rugby will feature a 7-on-7 format that has already begun to take root in programs across the nation.

Richard Moser, the associate athletic director at Eastern, is working with Eastern head coach Frank Graziano and Quinnipiac head coach Becky Carlson to bring rugby sevens to the NCAA full-time.

“The NCAA is looking at adding another element to women’s collegiate rugby to stay in line with the changing landscape of the sport,” Moser said. “They would keep the traditional 15 vs. 15, but also add the seven vs. seven as an option for teams to play in the spring, much like women’s volleyball has added the spring sand-volleyball element.”

As a result, Eastern’s matchup against the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Monday marked the first NCAA women’s rugby match played with rugby sevens.

Graziano and Carlson continue to pioneer the movement from the traditional 15-on-15 to a 7-on-7 format.

Seven-on-7 rugby features a different match format than a 15-on-15 match would provide. Players traditionally play rugby sevens over the course of three games and the team that takes the series is the victor.

All three games have two seven-minute halves with a short halftime in between.

Players must utilize a drop kick on all kickoffs and scoring conversions as opposed to place kicking in fifteens. In addition to the rule changes, all of the positions change as well.

The new format features only three forwards in the scrum, with the rest of the players as backs.

The main difference between rugby sevens and ruby fifteens though, is the space in the open field.

Scoring is abundant in sevens because of more space on the pitch from only having seven players.

Head coach Frank Graziano said he realizes the potential that this form of the sport has and is excited about the opportunities it can provide.

“This is what rugby’s future is, especially with it entering the Olympics,” Graziano said. “It got started here and it is kind of neat to be a part of that.”

If there was any notion that the rugby program was in danger of elimination, there should be none now.

Eastern’s athletic director Barbara Burke is in full support of the team and is proud to start a revolution in the NCAA.

“We are proud of our women’s program, and are happy with all the great support,” Burke said. “We are continuing to support the program and are excited about the competitive opportunities ahead.”

The Panthers will incorporate rugby sevens next week against the Wisconsin All-Stars, but also plan to switch back to the regular 15-on-15 format for the rest of the season.

Nicholas Ruffolo can be reached at 581-2812 or nfruffolo@eiu.edu