The West Coast 7s kicks off this weekend at Treasure Island, and this is a tournament that has plenty of meaning for everyone.

Some of the participants are lower division, with coaches looking to show their players what the level of performance is in D1. 

Watch The West Coast 7s LIVE on FloRugby All Weekend October 20-21

Cal Maritime

Among those is Cal Maritime, a varsity D2 program out of California at a school that educates those going into the Merchant Marine, civilian nautical, and Naval/Coast Guard world (hence the name Cal Maritime). They are a tough breed and used to playing against teams with more funding, more players, and more experience.

Yes the Keelhaulers back down from no one, and will take this tournament as solid training into the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) playoffs, and into the CRC NSCRO bracket, where the team took sixth last spring.

Some teams, meanwhile, have big fish to try, but maybe are easing into it.

Arizona

Arizona, meanwhile, is planning to make several changes to the lineup that played in San Luis Obispo (the October 6 warmup). This is a program that is thinking major championships, but head coach Sean Duffy also wants to get his players time — hence sending his reserve-grade players to face Notre Dame last weekend.

But many would say that this is all a partial smokescreen to obscure the fact that the Wildcats have a ton of talent, and especially sevens talent. 

Some teams are looking to get there ... eventually.

USC

USC is, like Cal Maritime, thrust into a world where the Trojans are surrounded by programs that are a little bigger, a little better funded. But Dominic Riebli's Southern Cal squad knows you don't get better by floating around with the minnows. 

Already the Trojans have been in scrimmage games with UCLA. It's all part of the long climb upward. 

For some teams, it's us who have to learn, not them.

Utah

Utah is a team no one is sure of. After coaching changes and player turnover, the Utes are somewhat in a rebuilding phase. At the same time, they have access to some excellent talent in the Beehive State, and could be ready to perform in sevens now.

And maybe some have no idea what they're getting into.

Nevada-Reno

Nevada Reno has enjoyed some stability under Nelo Lui, and that's important. With the Wolf Pack playing regularly and effectively in the Pac West, and showing well in sevens. This is a very young UNR team, with a solid Class of 2018 graduating.

So we will see a mostly inexperienced team that has had some 15s experience ...

... but in sevens they are less experienced. This event will be about seeing the new world of seven-a-side rugby for some of them.

Is that a bad thing? Not at all. It will certainly be a test, just as the West Coast 7s is a test for everyone.

Watch The West Coast 7s LIVE on FloRugby All Weekend October 20-21