Five teams competed in the 2021 Utah Youth Rugby girls’ high school 15s season this spring, and the field was really competitive. Longtime powerhouse United wasn’t the heavy favorite, especially after graduating 15 seniors and dropping a couple of matches during the regular season. But like all good teams, the squad grew from those losses and put in its best performance when it mattered most: at the state championship. [All photos: C Moore @timpanogosphoto]
“But then we were able to play summer 7s and that was really awesome,” the current Sky Ridge High School senior continued. “It let us just play for the fun of it and to just enjoy the game without the pressure of national and state titles.”
That summer season also allowed United’s 15 seniors – the majority of the starting team – have some closure and say goodbye to the high school part of their lives. Utah then mobilized for a fall 7s season in 2020, and after captaining the JV squad her junior year, Thomas joined the veteran leadership group alongside Kiani Akina, Ane Vakapuna and Cat Moore.
Thomas off the tee / Photo: C Moore @timpanogosphoto
“Yes, it was,” Thomas said of pressure as an incoming captain. “I had really big shoes to fill because all of the seniors [who had graduated] were really good players. They were All-Americans and went to top colleges. So there was going to be a big transition, but there were still a lot of expectations with United and everyone was counting on us.”
Utah provided a fall 7s season that allowed the new and younger players to learn the game and build chemistry with the larger squad. The team leaders then organized an active off-season, replete with workouts, touch sessions and team-bonding activities like disco skating. Five teams committed to the spring 15s, and another two settled on 10s due to numbers. United started the season with a 20-5 loss to the Majestics.
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“In the beginning our game lacked a lot of structure. A lot of gaps with just basics – missed tackles and things like that,” Thomas said. “We were playing really hard competition as well. Our first game was a hard loss against the Majestics. That kinda stung and going into practices the next few weeks, everyone pushed the pace and really committed to learning the game more.”
Teuila Nawahine / Photo: C Moore @timpanogosphoto
United had some success in the subsequent weeks, but then took another regular-season loss to the Majestics.
“I got injured and so did another senior, so we lacked some leaders on the field and that had a big effect on the game,” Thomas said of the 36-31 loss. “And we didn’t push until the end of the game. That was the last straw. After that, we realized that if we don’t work really hard, then we’re not going to beat these teams.”
United was third in the regular-season standings, and lined up against #2 Provo in the May 1 semifinals.
“Provo came out really strong and did a very good job of holding the rucks. We were down 17-0 at half,” Thomas said. “[During halftime] we got together and talked as a team. ‘We have to flip a switch. We can’t be thinking about the score. We need to be working on the little things to achieve the bigger things.’”
Jordis Lomu / Photo: C Moore @timpanogosphoto
United surged and with the game winding down, the teams were knotted at 22 points apiece.
“We knew how it felt to lose and how bad we wanted to be in the state final,” the scrumhalf said of the turn-around. “But there were a few select players who really turned the game around and pushed to the end.
“Our 10, Teuila Nawahine, turned the ball over multiple times,” Thomas said of the junior who transferred from Idaho this season. “She assisted a score and then also ran the ball probably 50 meters to score again. She really flipped a switch and turned it on for the team. She didn’t want to lose to Provo.
“Also, our fullback, Jordis Lomu,” Thomas said of the sophomore. “Truthfully, I’ve never seen her play so well. She really stepped up to the occasion.”
In the closing moments of the game, United scored the go-ahead try for the 27-22 win and berth to the final.
Millie Gibson / Photo: C Moore @timpanogosphoto
“We knew that game wasn’t just given to us, and the girls gained so much confidence from it,” Thomas said of the win’s impact. “You could tell as they were walking off the field, they looked really accomplished. ‘We took that game and turned it around.’”
Meanwhile, the Majestics defeated Brighton-Wasatch 41-24 in their semifinal, and head coach Angela Tuiaki also used that match to empower the players. The coaching staff remained silent from the sidelines and put the outcome of that playoff in the players’ hands. The Majestics, too, were feeling confident and determined heading into the state final.
United was glad to see the Majestics for a third time this spring.
“The first game against the Majestics was in terrible weather with snow,” Thomas said. “The second game we had injuries. So we felt really ready to finally give our best face to the Majestics. It stung to lose those last two times so we wanted to play our game all the way until the end.”
Ana Lomu / Photo: C Moore @timpanogosphoto
The team talked about “emptying the tank” for the final, and Thomas was impressed with how her teammates responded.
“The Majestics are a heavier team and have really hard hitters, so we had to adjust to that,” Thomas said. “But right off the bat, we came out really strong and carried that confidence from the week before into the final. Everyone was confident in their passing, confident in their tackling, and played with all they had.”
Thomas praised the scrum for not only holding up but also stealing some put-ins. The team also did well to recognize space and then utilized different strategies to exploit them. United established the first lead of the game, and never relinquished it.
MarLee Neiufi / Photo: C Moore @timpanogosphoto
“Ana Lomu had her best performance of the season,” Thomas said of the try-scorer. “She really pushed the pace and gained 20-30 meters each time she touched the ball. And she was making fantastic tackles at the ruck the whole game.”
Freshman No. 8 MarLee Neiufi scored four tries in the final, while Jordis Lomu and Nawahine added five points apiece. Thomas kicked two conversions in the 39-29 win.
“When we finished the game, I said, ‘During the season, we set the table, and during our last game, we had our feast,’” Thomas said. “We built up progressively and got better and better each practice and each game, and the state final was our best game. That’s all you can ask for.
“This title does have a different feel,” the senior added. “This is my third state championship with United. My freshman and sophomore years, it felt great to walk off the field knowing we had played well and that we won. But this year was different because truthfully any team could have been in the final. We weren’t expected to win. A lot of people were doubting us, but we just had to work hard and play smarter. And it felt good.”
Thomas in the final / Photo: C Moore @timpanogosphoto
The title run was a first for the freshmen and sophomores, and a truly important experience as the future of the team is handed to them. Thomas pointed to sophomore Jordis Lomu, freshman Elsa Lavulavu and freshman Neiufi as young players who have already made a ton of progress and have the potential to do great things.
“Playing with United was probably the best part of my high school experience,” Thomas reflected on the previous four years. “It gave me a sense of community and a sense of family. I’m really grateful. Although wins are great, you know, I think the best part of playing rugby this season was getting to know each girl and playing with teammates who are my sisters. Spending time with the coaches, and being able to be coached by my dad [Benjamin, an assistant coach], that’s really special, too.”
Photo: C Moore @timpanogosphoto
Thomas, also, had her epiphanies this past year, and it means that her rugby story will continue beyond high school. The graduating senior has verbally committed to Central Washington University, but the prospect of becoming a DI Elite Wildcat didn’t ignite until Covid-19.
“I wasn’t sure what opportunities I had [for college rugby] before. And I don’t want to say that I doubted myself but I didn’t see myself in the position [to be recruited] considering where I was my freshman and sophomore years,” Thomas said. “But at the end of my junior year, when everything was getting canceled, I realized how hard it was without rugby in my life. I decided I wanted to continue playing and was committed to getting recruited.”
Utah Youth Rugby will likely have summer programming, and Girls High School Commission Carson Mellott indicated that the middle school girls might be the focus the next few months. For more more information, visit utahyouthrugby.org.