This is an exciting and busy summer for Women’s High Performance rugby in the USA! The Women’s National Team will compete in the CanAm inVictoria, Canada in June and the Women’s Rugby World Cup in London in August and September.

The Women’s 7s Team will hold tryout camps in Californiain July.  The athletes who represented the USA in the Women’s International Invitational 7s in Las Vegas in February will return to camp, along with a broad cross-section of athletes new to the 7s program.

The Women’s Collegiate All-American Touring Side, selected from schools across the country, will compete in the Women’s National All-Star Championship in Blaine,MN, on May 28-30.  Finally, the Women’s Under 20 Team will compete in the U23 National All-Star Championship at UCSB on June 11-13, will hold an Open Tryout Camp at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, on July 29 – Aug 1, and will compete in the IRB’s NACRA Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, from August 14-23.

“We’ve been working hard for a year now to align all the Women’s National Team programs, as a major step toward re-defining the High Performance athlete identification and development pathway.  The number of venues this summer offers significant opportunities for athletes to participate in HP camps and competitions at all levels.  The Head Coaches of all the WHP programs are working together to identify talent and the doors are wide open for new faces to been seen and prospective athletes to make positive impressions.”  Alex Williams, Women’s High Performance Manager

7s Tryout Camps

Hosted by the University of California, Santa Barbara, the Women’s National Sevens Team will hold a series of tryout camps this summer.  Head Coach Ric Suggitt will hold three sessions in July:

Session 1- July 8-11
Session 2 – July 11-14
Session 3 – July 15-18

Each camp will serve three main goals:  the development of key sevens skills and knowledge, an understanding of the fitness requirements for success in international sevens, and the assessment of each athlete’s potential to compete for the WNT Sevens program.

Each session will include approximately 30 athletes.  The majority of the spots will be filled by invitation; however, Coach Suggitt has left a number of spots in each session open to interested athletes.

“We have observed National Championships and video to identify a large list of athletes in establishing a player base and depth chart. Combined with the initial group inLas Vegas, the Women’s Seven pool appears very promising moving forward to Rio 2016.” Suggitt says.

The open spots in each camp will be filled through an application process.  Athletes may nominate themselves or be nominated by their coach.  To apply, please email Coach Ric Suggitt at rsuggitt@usarugby.org and include ALL of the following information:

(A) Player name
(B) Player age & birthdate
(C) Player email address
(D) Player phone number
(E) Player school or club
(F) Name of school or club coach
(G) Coach contact numbers
(H) What specific strengths qualify you/your athlete for attendance at the WNT Sevens Tryout Camps?

U20 Tryout Camp

Any interested female athlete between the ages of 13 and 19 is encouraged to attend the camp, which will include instruction by Coach Chivers, Assistant Coach and former Eagle Danielle Miller, Assistant Coach Kurt Weaver, and a number of additional territorial, collegiate and high school coaches.

All athletes attending the camp will receive field and classroom sessions, position-specific coaching, individual feedback and evaluation, and the opportunity to interact with National team coaches and athletes.

“We want to provide players with as many pathways to the U20 WNT as possible,” said Chivers. “Not every player is going to get viewed through the National Championships or representative level play and this open camp will give a lot more players the opportunity to work with the U20 WNT Coaches. “The previous camps have yielded some great U20 WNT players and I am looking forward to another crop of young and talented athletes attending the camp this year.”

For more information, including registration instructions, please download the brochure and registration form, or contact U-20 WNT Manager Jeff Noe atJeff.Noe@constellation.com

U20 National Team FLIGHT Camp Details

What: The USA Rugby U20 WNT player development open camp.

Why: This is an open camp designed to give young players of all skill levels an opportunity to receive coaching from the USA Rugby U20 Women’s National Team Coaching Staff. Campers will receive;

• Six field sessions and two classroom sessions
• Position specific coaching
• Individual player evaluation and feedback
• Opportunity to interact with USA National team players and coaches

When: July 29-Aug 1, 2010 (Athletes should arrive by 4 PM July 29 and may depart after 1 PM on the 1st.)

Where: Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI …more

from USA Rugby:

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The women of the Northeast Rugby Union (NRU) won the Under-23 National All-Star Championship on Sunday at the University of California – Santa Barbara.

In the Tier 1 title game, NRU defeated the Midwest Thunderbirds 25-12. NRU scored within moments of the starting whistle in an attempt to put the Thunderbirds away early. A quick try in reply from the outstanding Thunderbird wing, Tyra McGrady, was not enough to stop the clinical NRU side, whose dangerous backline tormented the Midwest all day.

NRU scrumhalf, Alyssa Baccarella, contributed heavily to her side’s victory and her precise passing game allowed the Northeast to attack the Thunderbird defense effectively and often. For Baccarella’s efforts, she earned the title of the tournament’s Most Valuable Player by National Team selectors.

The Tier 2 final between the Pacific Coast Grizzlies and the USA Under-20s was so closely fought that two overtime periods were necessary to determine a winner. The Grizzlies gave the Eagles a physical game, but the national side squeaked out a win in the closing seconds of overtime as Eagle captain Katie Johnson crossed the line for a try. The game was a promotion match, so the Under-20s will move up to Tier 1 for next year’s competition.

In the Tier 1 consolation match, the West defeated the Mid-Atlantic (MARFU) women 37-18. The West will remain in Tier 1 next year, but MARFU will drop to Tier 2.

The SoCal Griffins took on the South in the Tier 2 consolation match, shutting out the Southern women 16-0.

Its time for the U23 NASCs in Santa Barbara, CA this weekend! The Senior NASCs was great with several upsets, maybe we will see the same with the U23s?

UPDATE: Both events will be streamed live online via www.UStream.tv, with the Men’s Collegiate All-Star Championships show on the USARugby channel and the Women’s Under-23s shown on the USARugbyII channel. I haven’t heard if USA Rugby will be Ustreaming these games, but YSC and The Girl will be there with the West U23s so we will try to video if USA Rugby doesn’t.

As always, stay up to date with scores here, on Facebook and Twitter.

See below for the schedule and each team’s roster.

Northeast
Amanda Cleary – UMass., Amherst
Rachel Sachs – Syracuse
Evan Hoese – Radcliffe
Jill Lipari – Hofstra
Nina Eskandari – Northeastern
Katie Matthews – Bowdoin
Alyssa Baccarella – MIT
Jessica Peterson – Marist
Ali Pappas – Wellesley
Caroline Hunting – MIT
Emily Erdman – Wellesley
Amber Coutermash – Southern Vermont
Alana Melton – Beantown
Teresa Skelly – UMass., Amherst
Mary Sung – Beantown
Amy Cheeseman – UMass., Amherst
Erika Granger – MIT
Elsbeth Paige-Jeffers – Bowdoin
Liz Kelly – Rutgers
Rachelle Calixte – Radcliffe
Meaghan Reddy – Beantown
Maddie Vara – Wellesley
Krissa Wiechmann – Vassar
Naomi Oberman-Breindel – Brown
Kelsey Whitney – UMass., Amherst

Coaching staff:
Tony Brown
Bryan Hamlin
Kate Orlin
Josh Chason

Midwest
Joanna Kitlinski Grand Valley State University (C)
Kayla Baron University of Northern Iowa
Morgan Johnson North Dakota State
Tiffany Gjestvang University of Minnesota-Duluth
Jackie Osborn University of Northern Iowa
Kayleigh Hitchcock Panther Women’s Club (Pittsburgh)
Gina DeFano Northern Illinois University
Caitlin Pixler University of Northern Iowa
Alexandria Jamison Michigan State University
Emily Cameron University of Northern Iowa
Caila Ney UW-Milwaukee
Theresa Trott UW Milwaukee
Becca Brown University of Northern Iowa
Brittany Houston UW-Milwaukee
Sarah Lipa U of Illinois
Mollie Martin UW-Milwaukee
Brittany Biedenbender At-Large
Chantell Boyd Grand Valley State University
Shannon Zweber University of Northern Iowa
Tyra McGrady Indiana University
Jackie Brown Illinois State University
Alisa Ly University of Minnesota
Michelle Wong University of Michigan
Melissa Lipa Northern Illinois University

Coaching Staff:
Steve Murra Head Coach
Sue Whitwell Assistant Coach/Forwards
Roger Riley Assistant Coach
Jennifer Murra Manager
Matt Rokes Trainer

MARFU
Bennett, Hannah Drexel University
Bigelow, Elaine Princeton University
Brown, Brittany Univ. of MD
Byrne, Allison Drexel University
Cavanaugh, Erica U. of Virginia
Compito, Monique Virginia Tech *Unavailable due to conflict
Dayton, Rachel Kutztown
Dunnaville, Chastity US Naval Academy
Feinour, Brianne West Chester Univ.
Gouws, Tanya Univ. of Maryland
Hutchinson, Melissa Harrisburg Women
Johnson, Cheryl West Chester Univ.
Koplow, Grace St. Mary’s College of MD
Kriebel, Madeline West Chester Univ.
Lamm, Megan West Chester Univ.
Lee, Ashley Virginia Tech
Lucas, Kristen James River Women
Miller, Laura St. Mary’s College of MD
Monroig, Natalie Shippensburg Univ.
Nelson, Shantel American Univ.
Otto, Megan West Chester Univ.
Rooney, Kaitlyn American Univ.
Somerdyk, Moira Temple Univ.
Trujilo, Elizabeth US Naval Academy
Walter, Molly Univ. of Mary Wash.
Winter, Lauren MD Exiles

USA U20s (holding a camp as well as playing in NASCs, they have a roster of 40 as a result)
Hailey Anderson Summit, CO
Akalaini Baravilala Aliamanu Blues
Star Bollinger Cougar Women’s Rugby
Alexis Bonny Washington State
Megan Bonny Washington State
Ann Marie Bowlus UC Santa Cruise
Cassidy Davis U of Central Florida
Catherine Eichhorn Maryville, TN
Alexandra Frazier Jupiter, FL
Chelsea Garber Brown
Jozy Gessner Colorado State
Mileka Grager Washington State
Ellyn Grantham Fallbrook, CA
Keelia Harker Cougar Women’s Rugby
Becky Holmes Omaha Women
Danielle Honeycutt Hoke, NC
Katie Johnson Hopkins, MN
Brianna Klein Brookfield, WI
Mackenzie Lewis Mesa State
Hannah Lockwood Oregon State
Jasmine Mailo Aliamanu Blues
ElizabethMcCracken Nova Women
Kyandrea McKnight U of Central Florida
Mai Nguyen Brown
Brittany O’Brien U of Rhode Island
Jane Paar Navy
Catherine Parkhill U of Minnesota
Samantha Pinson Fallbrook, CA
Megan Pinson Fallbrook, CA
Brittany Rose Unattached
Rachael Ryan Wyoming
Andee Samborski Redford, MI
Jennifer Sandifer Navy
Wendy Sherman Colorado State
Rebekah Siebach Cougar Women’s Rugby
Shannon Steele U of Central Florida
Amee Svatos Canby, OR
Alycia Washington U of Connecticut
Sequoia Watson Navy
Holly Zoeller U of North Carolina

Pacific
DeCarvalho, Juliana Mudhens
Esparza, Vanessa USU
Rich, Jessica USU
Ames, Pamela Sac State
Brookins, Laura OSU
Camacho, Martha (Zully) Cal
Chapman, Delaney UCD
Falk, Sarah WWU
Green-Mitchell, Siche UOregon
Greenspan, Jenn ORSU
Hamel, Brynn Seattle U
Lessman, Margaret Seattle U
Lewis, Jackie OSU
Miller, Mashawna (Mo) UCSanta Cruz
Morris, Kelly UCD
Munson, Nic Breakers
Pascual, Angelina UC Santa Clara
Reid, Arielle UOregon
Roselin, Lisa Sac State
Sanders, Megan Breakers
Scott, Claire UCD
Steele, Nicole UOregon
Terry, Kimberly UCD
Underwood, Mika WWU
Walentowski, Jena WWU
White, Liz UCD
Woolley, Shannon USU
Zier, Christina CWU

South
Ryan Carlyle, USC
Ashley Mitchell, UCF
Zoe Sanchez, UF
Kimber Rozier, UNC
Kate Daniels, UGA
Kendall Vaughn, FSU
Corrie Coates, FSU
Dana Meschisi, FSU
Samantha Lauring, Clemson
Mary Ann Reynolds, Auburn
Katie Lorenz, UNC
Danye O’Mahoney, Auburn
Carrie Moss, UNC
Martha Wood, UNC
Cary Trump, ECU
Kimbra Nicole Merchant, UNC
Wykia Kia Macon, FSU
Ashley Hogan Harmon, USC
Cattie King, UNC
Bridget Briere, Clemson
Madeline Wilbanks, Auburn
Amonae Dobbs Brown, UGA
Emily Chosewood, Parkview HS
Erin McCroskey, UTK

West
Nick James, Texas A&M
Katie Thompson, Airfoce
Rachel Chittum, Wyoming
Stephanie Furniss, Black Ice RFC
Julia Fortkort, University of Texas
Kayla Hammond, University of New Mexico
Kayla Kahahek, Texas A&M
Kara Davis, New Mexico State University
Jess Lucia, University of Colorado
Kat McLaughlin Colorado College Rugby
Kelley Storey, Texas A&M
Simone Lumsden, University of Texas
Rebekah Knappe, Colorado State University
Amber Glasrud, University of New Mexico
Sam Miller, Mesa State College
Tina Peterson, Kansas City Jazz RFC
Marissa Cohn, University of Colorado
Becca Wezensky, University of Colorado
Kandis Ruiz, Texas A&M
Autumn Murrill, University of Texas
Jade McLaughlin, University of New Mexico
Jess Garriott, University of Northern Colorado
KC Curl, Sam Houston University
Alex Davenport, Austin Valkyries RF
Bailey Johnson, Colorado State
Katie Metkus, University of Texas
Madison Williams, Colorado State University

Coaching Staff
Angie Cranmore – Head Coach
Traci Schmidtke – Forwards Coach
Wendy Young – Backs Coach

SoCal
Jenna Anderson (UC San Diego)
Julia Anderson (San Diego Surfers)
Tia Blythe (UCLA )
Anita Bradbury (Santa Monica WRC)
Chau Bui (UCLA)
Rachel Castillo (UCLA)
Sophia Chang (UCLA)
Wing-Sheung Chui (UCLA)
Madeline Cooper (Fullerton Youth Rugby)
Andrea Foote (UC Santa Barbara )
Crystal Haynes (Las Vegas WRC)
Carrissa Hsieh (UCLA)
Yadira Ibarra (Belmont Shore WRC)
Genevieve Ireland (Orca Rugby)
Jacqueline Johnson (UCLA)
Klara Macko (Tempe WRC)
Rebecca Mendoza (UCLA)
Maria Morrissette (UCLA)
Amy Naber (Tucson Lightning)
Ella Naber (Tucson Lightning)
Angelita Ochoa (UC San Diego)
Christina Ramos (UC Santa Barbara)
Katie Seibert (UCLA)
Kristine Sommer (UC Santa Barbara)
Cassandra Tong (UCLA)
Emily Van Gulik (Claremont Colleges)

Thanks to Ashley Voss and USA Rugby I have been given copies of the USA U20 vs Canada U20 and USA vs Canada matches from the January Atlantic Cup. I am still working on uploading the USA vs Canada, but I will let you know once it is uploaded. Great tournament for the USA and I am glad we have it available to watch again. Unfortunately the USA U20 vs Canada U20 video is a bit blurry until about 5 minutes in, but just let the video load and then skip forward.

USA U20 Women’s National Team vs Canada U20 Women’s National Team from Scrumhalf Connection on Vimeo.

To view more YSC videos hover over the heading ‘Videos’ on the navigation bar up top and choose Rugby Video Monday.

Please continue sending in your videos and I will keep posting them! Send them to wendy@scrumhalfconnection.com.

The Girl and I had a blast in Lakeland, FL this weekend helping USA Rugby out with the Ustream broadcast for the Atlantic Cup and the U20 matches! Thanks for all the kind comments in the UStream chatroom, on Twitter and Facebook about my commenting!! I’ve never done it before, so I am still getting my feet wet, but I do enjoy it.

Here are the videos from the weekend, thanks to USA Rugby for providing video for all the viewers at home. The viewing reached over 3500 fans, this is a Ustream record for USA Rugby! Thanks again to all of the YSC fans as over 1600 of you clicked on the link from YSC to view the video. That means that YSC brought half the viewers!

USA vs Canada 1st half – January 16, 2010

USA vs Canada 2nd half – January 16, 2010

We apologize as the broadcast was shut off before the conversion was attempted…but it was missed by Canada and so USA won 11-10.

It doesn’t appear that the U-20 matches are available yet, I will try to see if I can get the links once they are posted.

For the match report of the Senior USA vs Canada and rosters, go here. For the match report and roster of the U20s match, go here.

For travel packages to England for the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, go here.