Photo: Atavus Rugby / Travis Prior
After the 2016 Summer Olympics, only four Rio veterans (five when including traveling reserve Nicole Heavirland) returned to Chula Vista in preparation for the 2016-17 World Rugby Sevens Series. That left a lot of room to build the player pool, and the Eagles capped 18 new players during the six-stop tournament. Some of those caps went to 15s players who were building toward the Women’s Rugby World Cup, some to promising collegians, and one to a 7s-only player.
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Nine players who are currently in Ireland prepping for the USA 15s team’s match against France Saturday also earned their first 7s cap last season. Some were already regulars at Chula Vista, but others like the tight five’s Hope Rogers and Sam Pankey, and loose forwards Jordan Gray, Sara Parsons and Kristine Sommer got a taste of 7s world series. It’ll be interesting to see whether this trend carries forward or if it was a means to get world cup-bound players more field time in an international arena.
Atavus Academy grad Kristine Sommer is in Ireland. / Photo: Atavus Rugby / Travis Prior
But there is one player in the pool who has her own category. Megan Sanders specializes in 7s and hasn’t played competitive 15s for approximately four years now. She earned her first 7s cap at the Kitakyushu stop in Japan, a career highlight made especially bright considering the inauspicious start to the season. Sanders had suffered an MCL injury at the 2016 national club 7s championship and looked to the Atavus Academy to expedite her recovery.
“I needed a way to accelerate my level of fitness and skills quickly. The Atavus Academy allowed me to do just that,” Sanders reflected. “You get to train with high-level coaches and other high-level athletes. For me it provided a level of accountability I could not get from just going to the gym on my own.”
In March 2017, Sanders represented Atavus in Las Vegas and two weeks later she was in Vancouver with the USA Falcons. Her level of fitness sustained her through back-to-back, high-level tournaments, and a selection to the Japan tour followed.
Sanders in Japan / Photo: Mike Lee for KLC fotos (see more)
“Playing in Japan with that amazing group of women was an incredible experience,” Sanders enthused. “I am used to extended traveling with teams from my days of playing months on end of select basketball growing up, but Japan was obviously on a different level. The support we received from the USA program was great, and the staff and team running the tournament went above and beyond to give us the space and things we needed in order to be successful.”
Sanders played flyhalf and focused on setting her teammates up for success. She was also well remembered for her work in the restarts, including some high-flying acrobatics.
“My future goals are to compete with my Atavus 7s team at nationals this August and hopefully take home a gold medal,” Sanders stated back in May. “I know the 7s World Cup is coming up in 2018 so I will continue to train hard and put my best effort forward to making that squad.”
Sanders during the LVI 7s / Photo: Jackie Finlan
Three months after making the aforementioned statement, Sanders and team were standing atop the club 7s championship podium. The Atavus Academy Seattle went 6-0 during the tournament to win its first national title.
“We improved every single game, which prepared us as the competition got stronger and stronger throughout the weekend,” Sanders explained. “Similar to other teams, the competition at Nationals is unlike any other we play throughout our summer. Every team on day two gave us a different challenge to overcome. We always enjoy the competition that Life West brings to the pitch. They tested our defensive structure and made us work on offensive more than any other team this season.”
San Diego was also undefeated in the run-up to the final and featured former Seattle Saracens – now USA 7s player – Kelsi Stockert.
“There was a sense of calm throughout the entire weekend that allowed us to take each game as it came,” Sanders remembered. “We knew where the Surfers would challenge us – strong outside runners, good distribution, and fast to the breakdowns. I personally focused on my defensive game. If we put the defensive pressure on, our offensive game would come. We didn’t focus on the outcome, we focused on our connection and being disciplined.”
Atavus Academy Seattle won 26-14.
“We agreed that each player in our 12 played their role perfectly, that is truly what led to our success. We had obvious standouts throughout each game including the final,” Sanders thought on individual performances. “The work rate and dedication of each player on this team will continue to inspire throughout the rest of my rugby career. This season was like nothing I’d ever experienced before.”
USA Women’s 7s coach Richie Walker presented Sanders with the MVP trophy.
“She has been such a strong foundation for this team over the sevens season both on and off the pitch,” Atavus Academy Seattle coach Michaela Staniford praised. “Again she proved what everyone already knew about her. She is an unbelievable defender especially from sweep, she has distribution skills any international side would be lucky to possess and has a very big heart and shared love for her team.”
There is one more important 7s fixture that will bring National Development Academies and select sides together Labor Day Weekend, and Walker will be in attendance. 2017-18 is a Rugby World Cup Sevens season, and the country is eagerly awaiting to see who will remain in and added to the player pool.
#MeganSanders Atavus USAWomen7s