Rugby Here and There | Nov, 19 2007

Its time for another edition of Rugby Here & There!

• Rugby Videos?

I have emailed a couple of my friends that work at USA Rugby and they keep saying that the videos from the D1 National Club Championships will be available for download. I keep checking the site but have not seen any developments. I will keep my eyes peeled though, I want to see the matches!

• Canada Wins NAWIRA 7’s Tournament

Canada finished the NAWIRA 7’s tournament in tip top shape with an undefeated record of 6-0. In the finals, Canada defeated the USA Developmental side 19-15. Canada would have won regardless because of the points tally, but a good fight by the USA.

NAWIRA Women’s Champions: CanadaNAWIRA Women’s Runner Up: USA Dev Eagles
Women’s Caribbean Champions: Jamaica
Women’s Caribbean Runner Up: Guyana

The USA Women’s Sevens Developmental Squad named for the NAWIRA Tournament:

Kirsten Ahrendt (Keystone)
Tonya Ansel (Minn. Mankato)
Ida Bernstein (Syracuse)
Katie Dowty (Beantown)
Sydney Forestal (Univ. of New Mexico)
Kristy Lear (Minn.Valkyries)
Lauren Rosso (Penn State)
Melissa Smit (Stanford)
Stephanie Taguacta (D.C. Furies)
Sheri Villa (American Univ.)
Jessica Watkins (Stanford)
Alison Worman (Penn State)

• 2nd Invitational National All-Star Championships for U19 Players – From GoffIn 2006 four teams attended, with the Northeast defeating a Western team in the final.This year all territories, officially or unofficially, are represented, as well as a USA U20 developmental team, which is almost exclusively U17.The tournament this year will have all eight teams in one tier. The teams have been seeded and will play off in a quarterfinal/semifinal/final format. The first two games will be shortened games, and the opener will decide which teams will be in Tier I next year, when the format goes to one game a day and two for the weekend.

  The rosters:

  USA U20s Developmental (Coach Bryn Chivers)
  Candace Barley (Maryville HS, Tenn.), Jozy Gessner (Summit, Colo.), Katie Johnson (Hopkins, Minn.), Audrey Jones (West Linn, Ore.), Corinne McElroy (Berserkers, N.H.), Catherine Parkhill (Burnsville, Minn.), Maggie Reidy (Divine Savior, Wis.), Brittany Rose (West Chester East, Pa.), Adrianne Rubiaco (Budd Bay, Wash.), Rachel Sommer (Canby, Ore.), and Brittany Woodard (Hyde School, D.C.).

  Backs named to the squad include Sadie Anderson (Fort Collins, Colo.), Skyler Browder (Burlington Women, Vt.), Lauren Franzen (Divine Savior, Wis.), Brook LeGate (Maryville HS, Tenn.), Erin LeGate (Maryville HS, Tenn.), Lindsey Lough (Hart, Calif.), Sophia Nolan (Armstrong, Minn.), Seymira Salami (State College, Pa.), Kandis Ruiz (Kansas City Dragons, Mo.), and Catherine Turnerdrown (Riverton, Utah).

  Pacific Coast (Coach Natasha Bishop)
  Thania Balcorta UC Davis, Jordan Barber Redmond, Zully Camacho Cal, Bekah Coffey OR , Kylie Coleman Fortuna, Lucy Croy Cal, Echo Duplesis Budd Bay, Lynn Enzinger Riptide, Uche Esonu Lynnwood, Maddi Glainyk Budd Bay, Audie Haisch Budd Bay, Lisa Henneman Seattle, Lauren Hubbard Kent, Lindsey Hubbard Kent, Erica Legaspi Budd Bay, Cassie Powell Columbia, Ramona Prieto Chico, Kristina Puhich UVSC, Kathy Sprowles Cal, Jerica Tafiti Aloha Youth Rugby, Sarah Towne Fortuna, Mika Underwood Budd Bay, Samantha Van Harmelen Budd Bay

  Midwest (Coach Kurt Weaver)
  Ashley Alman Wing Ashland University, Toni Cattani Flyhalf Kettle Moraine High School, Sarah Chimilewski Fullback Divine Savior High School, Melanie Chiodi Center University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Kelsey Corbett Flanker Noblesville High School, Sara Czarnecki Hooker Western Michigan University, Gina Fanelli Flanker Ohio State University, Lindsey Fickau 8man University of Wisconsin , Milwaukee, Brittany Houston Scrumhalf University of Wisconsin , Milwaukee, Karen Hunt Center University of Illinois, Corin Jensen Prop University of Wisconsin , Milwaukee, Kathryn Junius Second Row Divine Savior High School, Joanna Kitlinski Prop Grand Valley State University, Alisa Ly Flanker University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Adetayo Mafe Center Michigan State University, Maude Marandet Center Indiana University, Tyra McGrady Fullback Indiana University, Katie O’Leary Second Row Indiana University, Jessica Rogawski Prop St Charles High School, Kristen Spencer Wing Ball State University, Elydia Thomas Flanker University of Kentucky, Jessica Waterfield Second Row Bowling Green State University, Jordan Berg Alternate University of Wisconsin , Madison, Abbie Donnelly Alternate Lakeview High School Rugby, Alexandra Eggers Alternate University of Kentucky, Ashton Steinke Alternate Muscatine, Pearl City Rugby, Brittany Schupbach Alternate Michigan State University

  South (Coach Sheri Hunt)
  Arnold Emily Maryville HS, Booker Rebecca MTSU, Boone Lorelei Ravenwood Raptors, Boone Shannon Ravenwood Raptors, Brinkman Myra MTSU, Buford Megan UGA, Burleson Stephanie Lincoln Park Academy, Diehl Gina Hoke Hurricanes, Furman Stephanie WKU, Graves Ashley Hoke Hurricanes, Harper Chloe Ocoee HS, Isang Ima Oakridge HS, James Mallory White Station HS, James McKenzie White Station HS, Johnson Erinn MTSU, Jones Quytilya Hoke Hurricanes, Keast Becky Maryville HS, McCroskey Erin Nashville WRFC, McCroskey Rachel Maryville HS, Price Rebecca Ravenwood HS, Shelton Alyssa Maryville HS, Stone Laura Beth Maryville HS, Suarez Elizabeth Brighton HS,

  ERRFU (Coach Karl Barth)
  BrieAnna Barto (Summit HS) Halfback, Abi Bundy (Fort Collins U19) Hooker, Madeleine Child (Summit/Eckerd) Prop/Wing, Catherine Clark (Summit/CSU) Fullback, Lauren Danielsen (Summit HS) Flyhalf, Sierra Fairfield-Smith (Summit HS) Lock, Katy Hodson (Summit/UNI) Halfback, Mallory Ives (Summit/CSU) Flanker/Lock, Liz Kirby (Regis/School of Mines) Lock, Beckah Knappe (Douglas Cty/Rice) Flanker/Hooker, Ali Kosakowski (FCollins/CU) 8 captain, Mackenzie Lewis (Chaparral HS) Backrow, Chelsea Miller (CU) Prop, Julia Roher (Boulder U19/CU) Flyhalf/Centre, Maddie Robinson (Fort Collins U19) Wing, Sara Rossi (Littelton U19/CSU) Wing, Sarah Travers (FCollins/CU) Flanker/Lock, Mikaela Welch (Douglas County HS) Centre/Fullback, Becca Wezensky (CU) Centre, Erica Wheeler (Chaparral) Prop

  I am still looking for scores and results, so if you have any…leave them in the comments!

  UPDATE! Found the results via Goff:

  1. Midwest
  2. Pacific Coast
  3. Eastern Rockies & Northeast (tie 17-17)
  5. USA U17s (some say they are the U20 team too?)
  6. Mid-Atlantic
  7. South
  8. Southern California 42-17 to take 7th.

  “All these games were intense,” said Underwood. “But that final was one of the most intense games I’ve ever been in. It was great to be a part of it. I felt we were two pretty evenly-matched teams, but they did a better job of exploiting the gaps they found in our defense, and that was the difference.”

  “I thought the speed of the game and
  the intensity were something you don’t often see in women’s U19 rugby,” said Weaver. “I think the goals of this tournament were all met. We got to show the players the level they can aspire to, we put them in positions to play at a higher level, and we got talented players in front of the national team coaches. I expect this tournament to continue and I hope USA Rugby takes it on, because it can only benefit the women’s game.”

• U19 Teams, More Communication, More Everything?This link is from K-train’s blog A Ride on the K Train, its an article where she expresses her frustrations with the current MARFU U19 system and the selection processes. I don’t agree with everything she writes, but she brings up some valid points.I was texted over the weekend from an old coach asking if I knew anything about the U19 program…and I was sad to say that I don’t know much! I don’t know when tryouts are, tournaments…teams…selections anything. I do know that these programs are newer and are struggling to exist and find players.One resource we do have is this blog: U19 Girls Rugby and I try to read it regularly and pass the information on.

• Fiji form Women’s Rugby UnionWomen’s rugby in the Oceania region has long been dominated by the Black Ferns of New Zealand but, a year after Samoa took part in the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup, Fiji are now preparing to join the international ranks.A new group of executives has been selected to steer a course for the women’s game in Fiji.The new Fiji Women’s Rugby Union (FWRU) consist of journalist Vela Naucukidi (President), Fijiana playmaker Elaina McDonald (Secretary) and Veronika Talei (Treasurer).

  First on the proposed FWRU list is a coaching clinic at the Peninsula Hotel and Albert Park, with the aim being to prepare a team to compete at international events leading to involvement in the biggest of all.

  “Our aim is to take part in the Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in 2009,” Naucukidi said.

  “We don’t have much time [to prepare to qualify]. We’ve organised two sevens tournaments, one this Saturday and one next month, and are inviting teams or any individuals who want to take part.”