One of Scion’s founding residents, Kimber Rozier, will be playing overseas during the fall 15s season. •
For the most part, Scion is a familiar entity. Its players have represented the U.S. at the national level, and the Sirens existed as a 7s club before it transitioned to a National Development Academy (NDA) this year. Last weekend’s club 7s national title helped visibility, and Scion founder and coach Joanne Liu is ensuring that the public understands the operation.
“I think there is a bit of misconception of what it means to be an academy team,” Liu said. “We don’t train seven days a week, and it’s not like our first priority all summer – unlike working and paying rent – was to win a national championship.”
Scion practiced twice per week for 90 minutes during the summer.*
“What we do have is a commonality in the mentality of players,” the coach continued. “They’re the type of players who show up at every practice 15 minutes early cleated up and ready to go. The practices are more efficient.”
Scion played American Rugby Pro Training Center (ARPTC), which is a full-time NDA program, in the Cup semifinals, and Northeast Academy-fueled Old Blue in the final. The final four match was arguably the game of the weekend.
“Every time we play them it’s within a try,” Liu reflected on the 12-7 win over 2015 champion ARPTC. “It was an intense game with good rugby – which we want.
“Though the score didn’t reflect it – every time we play Old Blue there is a marked improvement in the athleticism and player IQ,” the coach added. “And to be honest, the overall talent of the clubs – it was nice to see the level of rugby increase. Every time we go to nationals the passes get a little longer, the tackles are more technical and quicker – they’re not necessarily harder but they’re tackling for the ball now. Things like that.”
Scion’s championship team featured many familiar names who are already on the national radar, but the event was still a unique opportunity to see those players in motion.
“Girls who have trained at the OTC or played in the Super Series, they showed that they aren’t just 15s players and have a lot to give in 7s themselves,” Liu said. “[Stacey] Bridges got to show more aspects of her athleticism. [Sam] Pankey was a reserve on the Super Series, suffered a little injury in practice and didn’t get a ton of playing time. But she played out of her skin this weekend.
“I thought Maggie Myles played really well,” Liu said of the Quinnipiac senior and flyhalf. “She’s done [national] U20 stuff, but as a varsity athlete has had limited opportunities with USA Rugby. Her performance this weekend might reinvigorate her place on the radar.”
Scion is still in motion. Liu and championship MVP Kiki Morgan are still in Colorado supporting the Atavus resident camp (read more for attendees). Tomorrow and Saturday, an elite 7s tournament involving six sides between Atavus, the Women’s Collegiate All-Americans and Scion will compete. Richie Walker will be evaluating.
“It’s important to us to show the academies are collaborative,” Liu said. “People might think we’re competing academies but we work fairly closely with Emilie Bydwell, and they do wonderful things here.”
Five players from Scion’s national championship team will represent the NDA tomorrow and Saturday, with developmental players and championship reserves getting the chance to perform. After the tournament, Liu expects changes for the upcoming year, as academy members prep for the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Kimber Rozier, for example, will be heading to England this fall, while others are considering playing options for optimal playing time. Scion will still enter traditional fixtures like New York 7s, Barbados 7s and Vegas 7s, and use those opportunities to develop more talent.
* 8.19 Update: “… [I]t was our job as an academy to adjust and customize our training to the needs of our players and that meant realistically during a busy MAC tourney season, since there are qualifying tournaments virtually every weekend, it was most efficient for us and the needs of our athletes to focus our team training to twice a week rather than an originally planned three, though a few of the girls did play touch on Mondays after an off weekend or get together and do skills. … Besides that, strength and conditioning sessions were also customized to the experience and availability for individual athletes.”
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