Girls high school rugby in Georgia hasn’t taken hold yet, but there is activity. Brunswick High School is new, Life University is engaging the community, and the Atlanta Harlequins U19 team is fighting to give its players meaningful game time.
Carrie Harwell has been the lifeblood of the Quins U19s for four years now. The U19s weren’t part of the larger women’s club when it first began, but after a year managing the team alone, Harwell saw the need for more support and resources. It’s been a good fit. WPL player Erin Smith is assistant coach to 20-year-old Tristen Harwell, Carrie’s son, who has been coaching the girls since high school.
“We have been playing for four years, doing what it takes to find matches and tournaments,” Harwell explained the team’s isolation. “Other local teams have tried to start a girls’ side but have not found success yet. We are hanging in there! I refuse to quit.”
Harwell is now the Director of Girls Rugby Georgia and on the executive board for Atlanta Youth Rugby. She doesn’t have any prior rugby experience but “just saw the need and jumped in and figured it out.” Harwell is also working toward her level 200 coaching certification.
Harwell’s daughter, Megan, has joined the team, and so there was even more incentive to fill out the roster and find playing opportunities. The manager grew this year’s team from three to 10 players, and lined up several games against South Carolina teams and Brunswick and will attend the Life University 7s tournament. The program also looks for combination opportunities and has paired with teams as far away as Unionville, Pa., at tournaments like the NC Ruggerfest.
Players with next-level aspirations also have options. Richard Boone coaches the Tennessee Tri-Stars and USA South U19s, and they’re bringing five Quins (Megan Harwell, Hope Ellis, Jenna Salyer, Morgan Crossfield and Casey Stachler) to the LVI 7s next week.
“Two of the players that have been with me since the beginning have gotten scholarships to Life University,” Harwell praised future Running Eagles Hope Ellis and Morgan Crossfield (below), who mark the first home-grown talent joining the DI Elite program. “We also have alumni at Kennesaw State University and UGA playing rugby. … So, even though we are a small team, we have had huge successes!”
Harwell is hoping that the Harlequins, Brunswick and a few players who are isolated throughout the state can come together and field a Georgia all-star team at the Regional Cup Tournament this summer.
“USA Rugby’s rules of JV and Varsity make it even more difficult to field a full 15s side when that cuts our teams in half,” Harwell lamented. “We will do what we can and even if we play much more experienced teams, we would love the chance to get out there and represent Georgia.”
Harwell explained that there are more comprehensive efforts to develop the girls’ youth game in the state, so every year isn’t focused on finding enough players and piecing together a schedule. The Harlequins will be back to four players after graduation this year, so the team could use a natural feeder.
“We do have a growth plan that will expand us into middle school for the upcoming season and hopefully naturally supports the growth of the high school game,” Harwell confirmed. “I have one girl in middle school that comes out to practice with us every week. She knows there are no games for her but she loves it! And as long as I have one girl that won’t quit, I won’t quit either.
“There are girls starting at a young age,” Harwell referenced the 400 youth players who attended Life University’s camp on Feb. 11. “There’s just nowhere to go with no middle school girls program in place at all and a small high school team. It’s all about to change. I can feel it!”