The following release was provided by the Northbrook Park District.

One of the largest international sporting events – the World Maccabiah Games – will hold national rugby tryouts in Northbrook over the Labor Day weekend. Players throughout the United States are coming to Northbrook, vying for a spot on the Open team, which typically consists of players over age 19. There will also be tryouts for a youth team, open to people born between 1995 and 1996.

Spectators in Northbrook can enjoy high-level rugby games on Monday, Sept. 3 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. There also will be training sessions on Saturday, Sept.1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, Sept. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The action takes place on the field at , 1820 Western Ave.

The Maccabi USA Rugby Team has a proud history – winning medals in every Maccabiah Games since rugby was introduced in 1985, including a Gold Medal performance in 1997, coached by Jeff Simon, Northbrook Park District Commissioner. Simon is working with rugby legend Shawn Lipman, head coach for the 2013 team, and another USA rugby alumnus, Gregory Schor-Haskin, to recruit a world-class squad to represent the U.S. at the 19th Maccabiah Games.

“As a Northbrook Park District Commissioner, I am very excited that Northbrook is hosting this national tryoutto showcase our facilities. In the past, we also hosted tryouts for Men’s and Women’s Softball,” Simon said.

In the last Maccabiah Games, in 2009, more than 7,500 athletes from 51 countries competed in 31 sports. Team USA captured 284 medals, and the USA Rugby Team won the Bronze Medal.

For more information, visit www.maccabiusa.com or emailmaccabiahrugbyusa@comcast.net.

This article originally appeared on Patch.