Alex Sedrick, one of two Utah Lions on the all-tournament team /// Photo courtesy Utah Rugby Academy •
The North American Invitational (NAI) 7s was a well run, well publicized and covered event. Not only did the two-day, youth 7s tournament rotate teams onto the live-streaming field, but it also showcased well informed commentators, updated its results in a timely manner, and in a move that is now rare in the girls’ high school game, named an all-tournament team.
The all-tournament team includes seven athletes from Girls U18 Elite division, and the Honorable Mentions include players from the U18 Open division. NAI 7s tournament director Mike Cressler and staff had ample time to consider the nominees, as five of the seven Elite teams played six games apiece. Finalists Upright Rugby Rogues of Ontario, Canada, and hometown favorite Utah Lions Rugby Academy played a seventh match for the title, which the Canadians won 26-0, recompense for a 21-12 round-robin loss on day one.
Play Rugby USA’s Community Olympic Development Program finished third, followed by Atlantis, Rocky Mountain Rebels, Rhino Rugby Academy and the Atavus Selects.
The Utah Barbarians lifted the Open division trophy, defeating the Mambas 17-5 in the final. The pair had tied each other 21-all during the round robin.
Girls’ U18 NAI 7s All-Tournament Team
Olivia Apps: Upright Rugby
Malery Billingy: Play Rugby USA
Danni Grant: Upright Rugby
Maddie Lane: Rocky Mountain Rebels
Julia Riekena: Atlantis
Alexandria Sedrick: Utah Rugby Academy
Kat Stowers: Utah Rugby Academy
Honorable Mentions
Jacalyn King: Mambas Rugby
Qiera Nixon: Rhino Rugby Academy
Charity Tenney: Utah Rugby Academy
Alycia Tiatia: Utah Barbarians
Tina Tunuifi: Utah Barbarians
NAI 7s Results • July 29-30, Salt Lake City
Utah Lions 12-7 Play Rugby USA
Utah Lions 21-12 Upright Rugby
Utah Lions 22-5 Rhino Academy
Utah Lions 26-10 Atlantis
Utah Lions 37-0 Atavus Selects
Utah Lions 41-0 Rocky Mtn Rebels
Upright Rugby 22-7 Play Rugby USA
Upright Rugby 24-10 Atlantis
Upright Rugby 29-0 Atavus Selects
Upright Rugby 34-7 Rhino Academy
Upright Rugby 36-5 Rocky Mtn Rebels
Play Rugby USA 12-7 Rocky Mtn Rebels
Play Rugby USA 19-12 Rhino Academy
Play Rugby USA 19-5 Atavus Selects
Play Rugby USA 7-5 Atlantis
Atlantis 19-5 Rhino Academy
Atlantis 20-5 Rocky Mtn Rebels
Atlantis 24-10 Atavus Selects
Rocky Mtn Rebels 19-12 Atavus Selects
Rocky Mtn Rebels 19-17 Rhino Academy
Rhino Academy 10-5 Atavus Selects
Final: Upright Rugby 26-0 Utah Lions
