Orlando finished 11th at 2016 nationals / Photo: Carisa Weaver
The Southern Conference is hosting a rounder women’s club 7s championship, and an eight-team field is poised to name two representatives to the USA Rugby Women’s Club 7s National Championship. There are a couple of asterisks in the competition, but nonetheless, the expanded field is a good step toward upping the competitiveness in the region.
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“In the past three years, we have struggled to have three teams at the Southern Conference championships,” explained Katie McAuley, Women’s Southern Conference Competitions Chair. “We plan to have eight fully competitive sides competing next year – which is the same platform we have for the men, two teams from each region. The only one not supplying teams this year is True South, which we hope will change.”
In reality there are six teams vying for berths to nationals. Carolinas’ Southern Pines disclosed that it does not have enough tournament-eligible players for the championship, but is participating Saturday in order to keep the bracket intact. The Atlanta Harlequins’ second side is also competing to fill out the eight-team bracket. Regardless of pool play results Saturday, Atlanta 2 and Southern Pines will not advance to the knockout phase. The pools and schedule have been recently updated (see below).
Phoenix (left) during 2016 nationals / Photo: Carisa Weaver
The Southern champion will compete in Pool D at nationals (Aug. 12-13, Minneapolis) alongside the Pacific North champion and runners-up from the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. The region’s runner-up will compete in Pool C against American Rugby Pro Training Center (Red River #1), San Diego (Pacific South #1) and Beantown (Atlantic North #2).
Southern Conference Club 7s Championship
Hosted by Atlanta Old White
Field location: 1035 Fairburn Road SW, Atlanta 30331
Women’s Pool A
Orlando (Florida 1)
Miami (Florida 2)
Savannah (Georgia 2)
Atlanta 2 (ineligible)
Women’s Pool B
Columbia (Carolina 1)
Atlanta (Georgia 1)
Phoenix (Florida 3)
Southern Pines (ineligible)
Women’s Pool Play Schedule
8:00 a.m. Columbia v Southern Pines
8:20 a.m. Atlanta v Phoenix
8:40 a.m. Orlando v Atlanta 2
9:00 a.m. Miami v Savannah
10:40 a.m. Atlanta v Southern Pines
11:00 a.m. Phoenix v Columbia
11:20 a.m. Miami v Atlanta 2
11:40 a.m. Savannah v Orlando
1:20 p.m. Phoenix v Southern Pines
1:40 p.m. Columbia v Atlanta
2:00 p.m. Savannah v Atlanta 2
2:20 p.m. Orlando v Miami
Women’s Semifinals
4:00 p.m. Pool A#1 v Pool B #2
4:20 p.m. Pool B#1 v Pool A#2
5:20 p.m. Women’s Championship