Friday, June 12, 2015

USA Rugby In Virginia

Last week, James Madison University hosted the largest assembly of rugby players in the history of USA rugby. The National All-Star Competition, held in Harrisonburg VA, pooled the best Women's Rugby players in the country from the High School age range to the oldsters at the Senior Women's level.

The players were selected based on their past performance at the National level and/or their performance at various regional camps, and then drafted by WNT coaches onto eight teams. Four Senior Women's teams competed, along with two college sides and two high school sides.

The competition was fierce across the board. All four of the Senior Women's matches were decided by two tries or less, with one nail-biter that ended 8-7.

This National All-Star Competition was the springboard for the Senior Women's Super Series Tour at the end of the month, in Canada, as well as the selections filter for that tour. The squad that will represent the USA against Canada, England and New Zealand is full of young, blossoming talent. Only five players, who competed in the 2014 World Cup are on the roster, and an additional five capped players make up the "experience" on the team (see below for the full squad).

The Super Series kicks off on Saturday, June 27 with the Eagles playing England in Calgary, Canada.

Women's Eagles Super Series Squad:
Kathryn Augustyn
Catherine Benson
Stacey Bridges
Elizabeth Cairns
Sarah Chobot
Bianca Dalal
Cheta Emba
Tiffany Faaee
Jordan Gray
Nicole Heavirland
Molly Kinsella
Joanna Kitlinski
Jennifer Lui
Samantha Luther
Laura Miller
Deven Owsiany
Jane Paar
Samantha Pankey
Sara Parsons
Lauren Rhode
Hope Rogers
Kimberly Rozier
Jennifer Sever
Kelsi Stockert
Alycia Washington
Jessica Wooden