(kneeling, l-r) Javelet, Carlyle, Stephens, Johnson, Kelter. (standing) Folayan, Heavirland, Thomas, Baravilala, Fa’avesi, Potter, Farmer /// Photo courtesy USA Rugby
CHULA VISTA, Calif. – A squad of 12 young women from the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., traveled to the United Kingdom Sunday as the USA Falcons, set to compete in the women’s invitational tournament alongside the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series event at Twickenham Stadium May 20-21.
The non-HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series tournament at Broadwater Sports Club will offer Richie Walker an opportunity to give a selection of the OTC residents additional playing time a week before the season ends in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Currently seventh in the Series standings, the Women’s Eagles Sevens were drawn in a pool with England, Kenya, and Spain for the final round May 28-29.
In all, the Falcons roster holds 91 caps on the Series. Carmen Farmer is the most recent to receive a sevens cap with the national team in an extensive career that has included a selection to the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 player pool. She also went to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 with Jillion Potter, who makes the trip to London.
Nicole Heavirland made her national team debut at HSBC Atlanta Sevens, the U.S.’s home tournament on the five-round circuit, while 19-year-old Richelle Stephens’ passport will get yet another stamp ahead of possible selection to the final round of the Series.
Kathryn Johnson returned to the OTC this month as a resident following a few months away from the program. In that time she played for ATAVUS all-star teams – coached by Walker – in several high-level sevens tournaments around the world.
The Falcons’ tournament runs Friday, May 20, and Saturday, May 21, after which time Walker will finalize his Eagles team for Clermont-Ferrand Sevens May 28-29.
USA Falcons | London Sevens Invitational Bui Baravilala Ryan Carlyle Joanne Fa’avesi Carmen Farmer Victoria Folayan Nicole Heavirland Jessica Javelet Kathryn Johnson Alev Kelter Jillion Potter Richelle Stephens Kristen Thomas
USAWomen7s #London7s