SacPAL Amazons and Pleasanton are heading to NAI 7s / Photo: Jackie Finlan (TRB)
There are two major fixtures this weekend: North American Invitational 7s for high schoolers and the Midwest Club 7s Championship for senior players. Stay tuned for post-event coverage.
The NAI is the biggest tournament this year for girls’ high schools, and its place on the calendar means those states that had later return dates to the pitch (like California) have been able to bank some game time in advance of the Salt Lake City tournament. Remember: NAIs is a Friday-Saturday event. Expect the U.S. and collegiate scouts to be out in force.
Twenty-two U18 sides will compete in Salt Lake City, and most hail from the western portion of the U.S. Notable exceptions include USA South Panthers (one of three National Development Program [NDP] sides in attendance alongside ARPTC and Rhinos Academy); fellow southerners Charlotte Tigress, which has played all year and won Tropical 7s; and Badgers Select, a Midwestern program that has brought two teams to Utah.
There’s a good mix of select sides with stand-alone clubs, which is always a fun match-up. An all-star team might have better talent top to bottom, but a stand-alone club – like NAI participants Scottsdale (Ariz.), Eagle (Idaho) and Bitterroot (Mont.) – have game time together and chemistry.
United and Majestics / Photo: C Moore @timpanogosphoto
Local teams have an advantage, of course, in terms of logistics and playing in elevation, so watch for Utah state finalists United and Majestics, the Utah Lions and new select team Pioneer, which may feature some Kahuku players, to do well.
Pool play occurs on Friday, and then Saturday breaks into Cup Invitational, Cup and Challenge brackets.
The girls’ U16 division has 11 teams, and the U14s have 10. There are several programs that have sides in multiple age groups, including the SacPal Amazons, Belmont Shore, Rocky Mountain, Rhinos Academy, Maui, Celtic Barbarians, Panthers, Arizona Bobcats, Majestics and TOA. The Amazons and Rhinos have teams in all three age groups. Click here for all division schedules, results and standings.
Chicago Lions’ MVP of Legacy 7s qualifier / Graphic courtesy @chicagolionsrugby
The Midwest is holding its club championships this Saturday in Cincinnati, and six teams are vying for the title. Chicago North Shore takes the top seed, having won two of three qualifiers. The Chicago Lions are ranked second after three runner-up finishes, the third of which came to a visiting ARPTC team, which will feature at nationals. Of the eight-team standings, two are not reporting to Cincinnati: Metropolis (Minn.) and Columbus (Ohio).
Midwest 7s Series – Final Standings
1. Chicago North Shore (35 pts)
2. Chicago Lions (34 pts)
3. Legacy Rugby Academy (23 pts)
4. Metropolis (20 pts)
5. Cleveland Rugby Coalition (10 pts)
6. Cincinnati (9 pts)
7. Dayton Area (8 pts)
8. Columbus (7 pts)
Midwest Championship Pools
A: Chicago North Shore, Legacy Rugby Academy, Cincinnati
B: Chicago Lions, Cleveland Rugby Coalition, Dayton Area
In previous years, the Midwest championship would afford spots to nationals, but now teams can pre-register and depending on their performance be placed in either a championship or Silver Cup bracket. This process will mean more in the future, when the full breadth of women’s clubs are at full strength.