Cheta Emba for the USA Falcons at the 2017 LVI / Photo: Jackie Finlan
A week after the HSBC Women’s Sevens Series (WSS) stop in Sydney, the USA Falcons – the Eagles’ developmental side – is in Brisbane for the Super 7s (Feb. 3-4). The elite tournament is a welcomed addition to the calendar, especially since the WSS dropped the Las Vegas stop from the lineup, reducing the number of events from six to five in a Rugby World Cup Sevens (RWC 7s) year, and leaving a three-month gap between Sydney and Kitakyushu.
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The back-to-back format mimics the HSBC Men’s Sevens Series, where eight out of the 10 stops occur within a week of another tournament in the same relative region (although the Dubai-Capetown pairing is a stretch) or time zone. The set-up allows teams to immediately test adjustments against international competition, and it’s logistically and financially friendlier.
Half of the field in Brisbane, which is a women-only tournament, competed in Sydney: Australia, England, Fiji, Japan, Spain and the USA. France has sent its developmental team, which appears to be the only French side in the competition, despite earlier news that Les Bleus were supplying two teams. RWC 7s-bound South Africa, and three European sides – Poland, Sweden, Wales – round out the tournament.
The USA Falcons have kept six players on from Sydney: Sarah Buonopane (3), Cheta Emba (5), Abby Gustaitis (2), Natalie Kosko (2), Saskia Morgan (2) and captain Hope Rogers (2). The parentheses indicate the number of WSS events in which that player has competed (reference). Alev Kelter and Naya Tapper are also with the squad, but will not be competing.
Stockert (right) embracing Tia Blythe after the New Zealand win in Dubai. / Photo: Mike Lee / KLC fotos for World Rugby
Kelsi Stockert is the only capped Eagle who flew out for Brisbane. She was last seen stepping past New Zealand in Dubai for a memorable Cup quarterfinal win. Summit High School’s Cassidy Bargell, who has committed to Harvard University for fall 2018, has played for the Falcons in the past, making her debut in Las Vegas last year. She is a prevalent Girls’ High School All-American player.
Ashlee Byrge (WCAP), Falcons’ vet Alena Olsen (Michigan) and Neariah Persinger (Tulsa) are all familiar entities. They’ve represented ARPTC, Tiger and Legacy academies; Byrge and Olsen led the (idling?) Women’s Collegiate All-American 7s to titles (last outing); and all three are very familiar with the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.
[Stay tuned for an interview with Byrge, who is a recent member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program.]
The newcomer is Kasey McCravey. A 2016 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., McCravey captained the Black Knights’ softball team during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. She was a highly decorated third baseman and described as “one of the finest players in school history.” Clearly McCravey is an athlete, and the Super 7s will introduce the crossover to international 7s.
The live-stream link will be provided on the Super 7s Facebook page. The schedule is posted below and the USA will play France, Poland and Wales.
USA FALCONS @ BRISBANE 7s
Cassidy Bargell
Ashlee Byrge
Sarah Buonopane
Cheta Emba
Abby Gustaitis
Alev Kelter
Natalie Kosko
Kasey McCravey
Saskia Morgan
Alena Olsen
Neariah Persinger
Hope Rogers
Kelsi Stockert
Naya Tapper
STAFF
Jarrod Faul, head coach
Richie Walker, assistant coach
Emilie Bydwell, assistant coach
USAFalcons #Super7s