January 21, 2016
Wil Snape & Brandon Sparks Named USA Rugby Women’s All-American Head Coaches
Photo: Atatus – Wil Snape & Brandon Sparks
View Brandon Sparks by DJCoil Rugby after the article.
USA Rugby: Jan. 19, 2016 – “Wil Snape and Brandon Sparks were hired as AIG Women’s Junior All-American Head Coach and AIG Women’s Collegiate All-American Sevens Head Coach, respectively.
The two led their teams to undefeated tours in 2015 with ‘interim’ tags as the age-grade programs helped begin the post-Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 cycle, and applied for the permanent positions as they opened in the fall. Snape and Sparks join Girls High School All-Americans powered by ATAVUS Head Coach Farrah Douglas and AIG Women’s Collegiate All-Americans Head Coach Sue Whitwell in the Women’s National Team Pathway.”
The National Team Pathway utilizes the National All-Star Competition, and focuses on the development both 15s and sevens players. This competition minimizes geographical barriers.
Snape has coached the New York Rugby Club’s Women’s Premier League team to the National Championship Semifinals in 2015 and his WJAAs defeated Canada’s under-20 women twice in two matches.
Will Snape discussed with USA Rugby that”it’s an exciting time to be a part of the Women’s National Team Pathway.” “Last year was an incredible experience and the new pathway has already shown that it is effective. Working with passionate and talented players is inspiring and fun, but comes with huge responsibility to make sure you have a positive impact on their development.
“We’re already working with players that we hope will be playing in the 2017 World Cup. We’ll continue the work that has already been done on improving player development and exposure throughout the pathway, with an emphasis on identifying new talent across the country and sharing and developing our vision with coaches and players.”
After coaching the University of California, Berkeley and leading them to a National Sevens title, Brandon Sparks moved to his home state of Michigan in 2014 to coach the University of Michigan.
At Elite City Sevens, their first ever assembly, the WCAA Sevens won six matches against representative sides from select USA Rugby National Development Academies and a combined Armed Forces side. An interview of Brandon from the Elite City 7s is below.
DJCoil Rugby Interview Brandon Sparks: Coach Women’s Collegiate All-Americans. USA Rugby Elite City 7s, Malvern, PA., August 29, 2015
