Photo: Amy McMasters
TRB contributed the Texas All Star Challenge content to USA Rugby’s recent club recap, but was unable to include all of the information culled from the event. Below are valuable outtakes. Click here for the full article.
The MIDWEST finished third in Tier 1, dropping its opener to Texas and then defeating Mid-America 10-5 in the consolation match Sunday. The Thunderbirds field active high school and U24 all-star teams, but the seniors have been slower to revive since the National All-Star Championship discontinued years ago.
“This was the first time since the re-development of the Midwest Thunderbirds that we were able to compete in this tournament, or any tournament at this elite level,” Midwest Senior Club Thunderbird head coach Jason Edsall explained. “After a strong team showing against a strong Texas team, the Thunderbirds were able to rebound against a strong Mid-America team and earn the hard-fought victory. I think in all it was a tremendously well run tournament and have heard positive feedback in all aspects from players.
“I think the tournament was a tremendous opportunity for players from all over the country, and more importantly at all levels, to come together and compete on an elevated stage where they can showcase the talent and growth of women’s rugby throughout the country,” Edsall added. “The tournament drew players ranging from college to WPL and even some current and former Eagles. This was a tremendous opportunity for the athletes to play together, and against some of the brightest and most talented players nationwide. There were ample opportunities to socialize, network and most importantly develop players especially in the sessions run by Rob Cain.”
The USA Women’s National Team coach also spoke during the Saturday night dinner and pointed to Midwest’s Charli Jacoby and Texas’ Nick James as players who worked their way up the ranks, at events like the All Star Challenge, en route to the Eagles.
KJ Abel Ruch coached MID-AMERICA alongside Jody Lawrence, and noted the inclusion of 17 new all-stars and representatives from eight clubs on the squad. Abel Ruch acknowledged outstanding performances from captain Anna Albrecht and Amy Spafford, locks Mandy Smith, Cooper Horning and Oksana Goretaya, and surprise breakout Gillian Stuart; as well as team players Hannah Reid and Essence Bell for playing unfamiliar positions. Abel Ruch also noted the number of players with collegiate experience (20 of 26) and valuable additions from Sloane Hecimovich (USCGA), Jessica Tharp (USAFA) and Emily Lessner (Virginia Tech).
“We currently don’t have any set plans in the coming season for the senior all-star team. We are working to select an U-24 team – of which seven members of this team are eligible for – to compete in Iowa Falls, Iowa, this spring [for the Midwest LAU U24 All-Star Championship],” Abel Ruch looked at the rugby calendar. “We are hoping with additional support from Mid America Rugby Football Union we will be able to provide additional opportunities throughout the year for players to play at a high level, like the TRU All-Star Challenge and our annual All-Star warm-up weekend against Lindenwood University.”
The Capital GU (CGU) was one of the first GUs to establish a senior club all-star program after the NASCs discontinued, reasserting that the opportunity for aspiring club players was still important. That commitment and visibility have seen the GU provide more competitive opportunities to the Mid-Atlantic players.
“The CGU program is pretty well known at this point in the union,” Capital veteran Bri Kim asserted. “It’s taken a few years since its inception to get the word out and refine the structure but it’s now a well supported program that players in the region take advantage of to play extra games and new competition and to develop themselves – same goes for the coaching staff. … The next set of games will certainly be something to look forward to, as we will host a round robin with USA South, Penn State and Life, playing curtain-raisers to the first Major League Rugby match ever to be played in D.C.: Old Glory vs. reigning champs Seattle Seawolves.”
Photo: Amy McMasters
Old Glory, the Capital’s team, brought players from nine clubs, including DI, DII, DIII and one collegian. There were two tryout camps but no major assembly before the tournament.
“This time around, there was not a developmental squad. Given that, combined with a tough travel ask, it was a tall task to figure out who you were playing next to and quickly build chemistry,” Kim reflected. “I think that was evident on the field, in some areas more than others, but I thought the team did a good job the first day of working hard to play for one another and keeping things simple.”
Old Glory head coach Nancy Fitz prioritized field time for travelers, and the team was able to win its Saturday game 30-19 against Mid-America and then lost the Sunday match 43-3 against Texas.
“I thought the competition was good, though widely varied in skill levels,” Kim added. “It is awesome to see these kinds of competitions get rooted again because it helps foster new competition and really push/develop from the grassroots, up. A challenge that was evident from most teams on the weekend though, was trying to quickly gel as a team in a limited time fashion, before playing two big games. Sometimes it is geographically impossible to get your squad together at home one last time to train, before traveling to these big weekends to play. But it’s so important to get these all-star teams together for more reps before stepping out on the pitch, even the most obvious reasons aside like knowing names and team chemistry.
“From there I think you’d start to see this mirror more of the NASC structure,” the NOVA scrumhalf continued. “It of course requires more time off on the players’ and coaches’ part, but a little bit of this would go a long way in driving the quality of these games higher, besides just watching the standouts make a big play here and there.”