Toliver, seen here vs. BC, is one of 12 All-Americans heading to France. /// Photo courtesy Atavus •
The Girls High School All-Americans (GHSAAs), Powered by Atavus, are en route to Vichy, France, to compete in the European U18 7s championship this weekend, Sept. 10-11. The USA and Canada are considered “special guests” in this 16-team tournament, which is by far the biggest stage on which the GHSAAs have ever participated.
Four pools of four teams will contest their respective pool matches on Saturday, and then knockouts will follow on day two. Initially, China was slated to attend but has since withdrawn, and Romagnat has filled the vacancy:
Pool A: England, Italy, Ukraine, Romagnat
Pool B: Spain, Wales, Sweden, Andorra
Pool C: Germany, Ireland, Russia, USA
Pool D: Portugal, Netherlands, France, Canada
While the pool play schedule has been published (click here), the kickoff times and the knockout schedule have not been released. However, Saturday’s live-stream will begin at 10:19 a.m. CEST on Saturday, the equivalent of 4:19 a.m. Eastern and 1:19 a.m. Pacific; and 9:50 a.m. CEST (3:50 a.m. EDT / 12:50 a.m. PDT) on Sunday. Stay abreast of changes by checking the following live-stream links for schedule updates:
Day 1 stream: http://www.rugbyeurope.tv/en/content/rugby-europe-womens-u18-sevens-championship-vichy-2016-day-1
Day 2 stream: http://www.rugbyeurope.tv/en/content/rugby-europe-womens-u18-sevens-championship-vichy-2016-day-2
As for the U.S., there have been a couple of roster changes since the original announcement earlier this summer. Injuries to GHSAA 7s and 15s captain Mata Hingano and United (Utah) star Charity Tenney have sidelined the duo. Taking their places are United’s Kat Stowers and Central Washington’s Sui A’au.
Scrumhalf Stowers is making her GHSAA debut, but she’s already played a bunch of high-level 7s. In fact, she’s making her second rugby trip to Europe this summer, having already helped the Utah Lions Academy to a United World Games title in Austria. A’au, a graduate of Oregon’s Grant Generals, is one of several GHSAAs currently in their first weeks of college rugby. A’au scored her first collegiate try for Central Washington last week against the University of Victoria. All-American teammates like Kayla Canett (Penn State) and Renee Gonzalez (Lindenwood) are also in the beginning stages of their collegiate careers, but meet the age guidelines for U18 play.
Stay tuned for updates as they’re made available.
Girls’ High School All-American 7s
European 7s U18 Championship
Sui A’au – Grant, Ore. * #
Cassidy Bargell – Summit, Colo. * +
Kayla Canett – Fallbrook, Calif. + #
Lilly Durbin – Fallbrook, Calif. + ^
Kathleen Gearhart – Penn, Ind. +
Renee Gonzalez – Armstrong, Minn. #
Lolohea Makaafi – Kent, Wash. * + #
Daisy Manoa – Danville, Calif. * +
Julia Riekena – Missoula, Mont. * +
Alex Sedrick – Herriman, Utah *
Kat Stowers – United, Utah
Nia Toliver – ICEF, Calif. * # ^
* 2016 GHSAA West 15s vs. BC U18s
+ 2016 GHSAA 7s @ Vancouver 7s
# 2015 GHSAA 15s vs. BC U18s
^ First-ever GHSAA 7s @ 2015 LVI