USA Falcons Women’s & Men’s Squad For Vegas

March 2, 2016

USA Falcons Women’s & Men’s Squad For Vegas

Doug Coil

At the Las Vegas Invitational on March 3-6th the United States Falcons Men’s and Women’s rugby will play in the Elite brackets. Between both sides there are fourteen capped players.

USA Rugby Women’s Falcons

The Women’s Falcons are coached by USA Women’s Sevens Head Coach, Jules McCoy. Hunter Griendling, Ashley Perry, and Naya Tapper just were debutants at the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Brazil. Irene Gardner  and Hunter Griendling will co-captain the side.

There are five stops for the series this year, at the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, the United States, Canada, and France, and that limits the number of matches that may be played prior to Rio. The Women’s Eagles Sevens have tried to increase their time  by having Brazil, Canada and Japan visit the Olympic Training Center for scrimmages. By participating at the LVI, this provides additional time to gel.

Jules McCoy indicated “we are using some non-circuit tournaments to vet new players into the system, as well as give them a chance to play into a circuit team before the Olympic selections.”

The team averages 25 years and includes AIG Women’s Collegiate All-Americans Meya Bizer and Richelle Stephens.fIt also includes former All-Americans Nicole Heavirland and Kristen Thomas.

Jessica Javelet, Ryan Carlyle just returned from the Series in São Paulo. Also add to Kate Zachary and Carmen Farmer to the mix and it is a very talented team.

Jules McCoy commented on her selection considerations in saying “we put a younger midfield with some speed on the outside to push on defense, as well as to showcase our younger talent pool for 2016 and 2020.”

The Eagles began the Series slowing by finishing in  eleventh place in Dubai. That was considered to be an aberration and in Brazil  they finished fourth.

Penn Mutual sponsored the Falcons’ entry into the invitational tournament this weekend, where they will play select sides from Brazil and South Africa, as well as a domestic team from Stars Rugby, in pool play. The Women’s Elite 7s division’s Cup Semifinals and Final will be played at Sam Boyd Stadium Sunday, March 6.

“Leanne Acton and Eileen McDonald from Penn Mutual have a key interest in the game played by women,” McCoy said. “They made sure we attended the LVI with their generosity and, in turn, we will don their brand with pride.

“Kris Thomas is sponsored by Penn Mutual and is a member of our team’s leadership council; she will be playing on this team as their representative.”

USA Rugby Men’s Falcons

The Falcon Men will be coached by Paul Holmes and Nese Maifa from Tiger Rugby. Nese coached the men last year to a third place finish. Current Eagles Sevens players Madison Hughes, Garrett Bender and Will Holder have previously played for the Falcons.

There are other players who will be playing for the Falcons at LVI who have also played for the Eagles Sevens. These players include, Matei Leuta, Pat Blair, Ben Leatigaga, Thretton Palamo, and Shalom Suniula, so the side is experienced.