Bill Reid Photography (see more photos) •
The Rhinos Academy has made several appearances in 2016, and the NorCal-based teams have competed in events ranging from the Las Vegas Invitational 7s, to the Great Northwest Challenge. The academy is now heading to the North American Invitational (NAI) 7s in Salt Lake City from Friday-Saturday, July 29-30, and the the Land Park Harlequins account for 100% of the lineup.
The first-year Quins are rounding out a fantastic season that began in the very competitive NorCal high school league. Even before winning NorCal’s DI Plate championship, the Sacramento-area team committed to the club high school national championship in Ellensburg, Wash.
“We set high goals from the beginning, talking about nationals from very early on – not necessarily winning nationals but experiencing it,” Harlequins manager Curtis Popp said earlier in the spring. “We looked at the teams around us – Danville, Amazons, Pleasanton – and wanted to be one of those teams.”
That attitude compelled players to join the Rhino Academy teams that competed at the Great Northwest Challenge, i.e., the Pacific Coast’s 15s all-star tournament, in Oregon. Players then rolled right into the NorCal Summer 7s Series, which culminated last weekend in Dixon, Calif. After defeating Pleasanton Cavaliers 19-10 and Danville Lady Oaks 17-10, Land Park lost in the final seconds to champion Sacramento Amazons, also the club 15s national champion.
Derek Nellmapius, Naki Hopoi and Elvis Seveali’I are coaching the 10-player Rhino Academy in Utah. Eight of those players helped Land Park to the runner-up finish last weekend, and watch for leading performances out of Destiny Nash, Lerieena Anjoklok and Jackie Miller. Nash, who plays No. 8 in 15s, is graceful through contact and “runs like a deer,” according to Popp.In the open field, take note of Qiera Nixon with ball in hand.
The Thao sisters, Alysia and Angel, join the NorCal 7s championship returners to round out the roster. Ten players in an elite division is a tough ask, but like the Rocky Mountain Rebels, the Harlequins have chemistry and field time on their side.
RHINOS ACADEMY • NAI 7s
Lerieena Anjoklok
Lilliana Farias
Sadie Holt Warren
Jackie Miller
Destiny Nash
Qiera Nixon
Olivia Popp
Lexia Reynolds
Alysia Thao
Angel Thao
More NAI 7s stories …
• USOC Sanctions Play Rugby USA’s Community Olympic Development Program
• Coastal Dragons Venture Inland
• Rocky Mountain Rebels Test All-Star NAI 7s
