October 5, 2015
Stars Rugby 7s Squad For Central Coast Sevens
Photo: Central Coast Sevens
Doug Coil
The Stars Rugby 7s Women will be headed to Australia to compete in the prestigious Central Coast Sevens Tournament for the Kinesio Cup, October 24 and 25, 2015. Last year the invitational side reached the Bowl Finals and hope to improve on that performance this year. They were founded in November, 2013.
Stars Rugby 7s is part of a 16 team women’s sevens field of international, national and domestic champions. There are 4 pools, with the top two teams advancing to the Quarterfinals from each. Pool play will take place on day one, with results of pool play determining the final rankings leading into the day two.
The Stars Rugby 7s are in Pool D, with Fijiana (Fiji), Sunnybank (AUS) and Central Coast Academy of Sport (AUS).
The other Pools are as follows:
Pool A: Canada Maple leafs (CAN), Australian Developmental, Ozboks (AUS) and manly (AUS).
Pool B: New Zealand (Developmental), Rugirl 7 (Japan), Greater Sydney Rams (AUS), and Lloyd McDermott (AUS)
Pool C: Aussie Pearls (AUS), New Zealand Wasps (NZ), Nadi Blazers (Fiji), and Melbourne City (AUS)
The Central Coast Sevens tournament is one of the elite sevens tournaments in the World. It brings many national team players, teams and budding stars to this venue. That is the main motivation in competing.
There are also monetary prizes for the tournament winner, as well as for a number of the top places.
In quarterfinal and semi-final play, potential opponents would likely include the Canadian Maples Leafs, Aussie Pearls and New Zealand Wasps.
The team will meet in Brisbane, Australia to adjust from both the travel demands and to the climate. They will practice in the area, attend the Byron Bay 7s and have scrimmages with Redlands and Sunnybank. To further prepare, they will have quest coaching sessions with Paul Briggs (BrigActive, Avoca) and with Nath McMahon, Australia’s Men’s Development 7s/NSW Belles Coach. Nath McMahon is expected to be a future guest coach for Stars Rugby.
The journey to Australia would not be complete without seeing the sights in Glenworth valley, Terrigal and Avoca, as well as barbeques with mates and local teams.
As every rugby player knows, on tours there can be several roster changes due to injuries, work, family … This tour has experienced all of these changes. The squad is still in flux, but the Stars Rugby 7s will participate in the tournament with a strong side.
They also will be involved in other major events in the future in both 7s and 15s. At the Life XVs the men’s side will face the ARP Life side and the Women will challenge nationally ranked Life undergraduate women.
The Stars Rugby are known for their sevens. On Nov 28th they will enter two men’s and women’s side in the New York 7s. This will set the stage for the Tobago 7s Dec 5th and 6th, where the Women’s team were tournament winners and the men reached the Cup finals. Two sides for each will also be sent. The last scheduled is Fiji Coral Coast 7s in January before starting the new touring year with teh Las Vegas invitational in March.
The Stars Rugby 7s previous tours have included the Las Vegas Invitational, Calgary Stampede 7s, Australia Central Coast 7s, Tobago 7s, Sevevi Rugbytown 7s and the Atlanta 7s.
Stars Rugby 7s Squad: Central Coast Sevens
- Emily Chancellor (Australia 7s Pool player, Sydney U, New South Wales Rep. Side)
- Kristy Giteau (ACT Bumbies, AUS – played for Wallaroos)
- Tiara Littleton (Life West, ARPTC)
- Michele Montague (Waikato, NZ)
- Olivia Patterson (Charles Sturt U/Australian Universities)
- Georgia Page (Queensland Reds)
- Phoebe Thomas (Sunnybank,Tribe 7s, Queensland Reds)
- Lauren Turner (Scioto Valley/w1823)
- 3 players to be named will come from Canada 7s
- 2 Emergency roster reserves from Australia
Stars Rugby 7s Staff:
- Head Coach: Vaha Esikia
- Physio: Alex Flohr
- Director: Liz Entwhistle