Photo: Jackie Finlan
The 3rd Annual Rugby NorCal Girls Invitational has developed into an important fixture in the western portion of the country. The concentration of talent in northern California attracts outside teams looking for quality 15s, while three separate competition brackets ensure an array of programs can enjoy the outing.
The 2019 edition will be held Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14, and Robertson Park in Livermore, Calif., again serves as host. The hope is for three full divisions with eight teams apiece: Division I high school, Division II high school, and middle school.
Last year’s DI lineup not only included former National Invitational Tournament (NIT) champions (Fallbrook, Sacramento) but also featured Hawaii’s Kahuku, which won the 2018 Single-School NIT later that spring. SoCal’s South Bay, Land Park, Pleasanton and Danville all have recent NIT experience, and Utah’s Provo punched up the lineup with its NorCal debut.
The HS Club NIT is heading to Salt Lake City this May (Single-School NIT is in Glendale, Colo.), and so this event is an important preview for the national tournament.
But it’s not just the teams and players who enjoy a unique opportunity. Young referees have the opportunity to shadow a center referee and then take over the whistle when comfortable. The entire officiating staff is all-female as well.
Team registration fees are due on March 19. For more information:
• Contact Rugby NorCal girls’ commissioner Karen Chance at (916) 792-6644 or kmchance@comcast.net
• Visit the event site and/or its Facebook event page
• Check out the venue at Robertson Park
Expect updates as teams commit. Based in Oakland, Calif., The Rugby Breakdown will be on site to cover at least one day of competition.
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