Photo: USA Rugby
The USA Women’s 7s team hosted Canada and China at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. There’s still a month to go until Kitakyushu (April 20-21), the fourth stop on the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, and these scrimmages and camps are valuable during the extended break in the circuit.
The USA worked the majority of its residents into the Las Vegas Invitational, placing players on the title-winning USA Falcons as well as teams like CCIG Life West and Scion Rugby Academy.
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The lead photo lends some insight into which residents and pool players participated in the scrimmages, with Americans sporting blue (b), gold (g) and USA warm-up (w) gear. It’s missing residents (as named in January 2019) like Ilona Maher and Natalie Kosko, who are rehabbing injuries, as well as Kayla Canett and Abby Gustaitis. Kasey McCravey is sporting a cast on her arm. Also note the presence of Emily Henrich, who was one of the Hawkeye players who helped the Falcons ready for Vegas.
USA players pictured from left to right, starting from the front:
Seated: Nicole Heavirland (b), Ashlee Byrge (b), Saskia Morgan (b), Eti Haungatau (b).
Kneeling: Kate Herren (b), Kristi Kirshe (g), Kristin Thomas (g), Alev Kelter (g), Cheta Emba (w).
Standing: Hope Rogers (b), Jaz Gray (b), Meya Bizer (w), Joanne Fa’avesi (g), Jordan Matyas (g), Naya Tapper (g), Emily Henrich (b), Alena Olsen (b), Nikki Kenyon (w), Lauren Doyle (w), Kasey McCravey (w), Steph Rovetti (w).
