(l-r) Eagles Morgan, Sommer, Meschisi and Rozier for Scion Rugby Academy
Many thanks to Fresno State coach Amber Cluff for subbing into the USA Rugby press conference, from which the following information was gleaned …
Of the 22 athletes currently training with the USA Women’s 7s program, 12 are full-time contracted athletes. The World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) has contributed to the training squad, as have a few local commuters. But the most intriguing vein into the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center (CVEATC) comes out of the National Development Academies (NDAs). Although NDAs have always served to ready members for national team play, now they can claim a tangible, standing opening in the Eagle 7s training squad.
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“Before the season started I had to figure out how to get more players here just with the limited amount of funding that we had. Not taking away from contracted players so they get less so we can have more players. That wasn’t the right way to do it,” USA Women’s 7s coach Richie Walker told Pat Clifton of Rugby Today.
Walker reached out to NDAs like Scion, Atavus, Northeast and ARPTC with a proposition: Each academy will have a standing spot in the Eagle training squad, and the NDA itself chooses which of it athletes fills that spot. In return, the NDA must fund that athlete’s travel to Chula Vista, while the USA Women’s 7s program supplies accommodation (four-person apartment), access to all of the CVEATC’s facilities and resources, meals, medical, etc.
“The payback for [the academies] is that they get to promote it: Hey we’ve got a spot at the training center. If you’d like to be a part of our academy there’s a chance that you could go train with the women’s 7s team,” Walker said.
The NDAs were always meant to support a scouting network, but now the academy directors have direct influence on which of their players head to California for 1-2 months. During that time, Walker evaluates whether those athletes were a good pick, and if not, he sends them home with some “work-ons.” As soon as an athlete vacates an academy spot, another can immediately fill it.
Conversely, if Walker likes an academy’s selection, then he’ll move that athlete into the contracted bunch.
Buonopane during last year’s LVI / Photo: Jackie Finlan
“I really hope that heading into 7s season that we get more people like that. It’s just been really good,” Walker pointed to Sarah Buonopane as a shining example. She filled the Northeast Academy spot, performed admirably and has made all of the Women’s Sevens Series squads.
The result is that Walker is able to see more players on a rotating basis without stressing an already depressed budget. More and eager players at training only helps the whole program. Walker indicated that a 22-player training squad is an ideal number and leaves room for those inevitable niggling injuries that arise during consecutive practices. Now the squad can regularly field 7 v 7 scrimmages, and that’s important.