Sacramento’s Lexia Reynolds
USA RUGBY PRESS RELEASE – With the inaugural Women’s Rugby All Star Week only days away, the Women’s USA Club Rugby All Stars have been selected and announced ahead of the weekend competition in Greeley, Colorado. Led by Head Coach Koma Gandy Fischbein, the 26 athlete squad heads to the University of Northern Colorado after being nominated by their club coaches, administrators and USA Rugby National Team staff. First matched up with the Women’s Premier League (WPL) West All Stars, the Club All Stars will look to win the weekend against the winner of match two, featuring the WPL East All Stars and USA Rugby Women’s Collegiate All-Americans.
“I am excited for the opportunity to work with a great staff and enthusiastic group of athletes to showcase the talent in the D1 and D2 programs,” noted Gandy Fischbein, “This will be a week where the athletes are able to gain valuable experience and exposure, and benefit from working with each other in a high performance environment; focused on maximizing each athlete’s learning and growth.”
Representing 15 total D1 and D2 clubs from coast to coast, the team also features two USA Eagles in Tess Feury and Nicole Snyder. Nominations opened in April through USA Rugby High Performance where player names were submitted ahead of Club National Playoffs and Championships in Obetz, OH. Team staff then evaluated the group through available video analysis, coach recommendation and scouting at events; eventually tailoring the final roster down to 26.
Alongside the Women’s Collegiate All-Americans, the Club All Stars descend on Colorado with the opportunity to thoroughly develop and produce as they compete against the top level of Women’s domestic rugby in the WPL.
Live streams of the weekend matches will be available on the WPL Facebook Page, with competition kicking off at 3pm MST on Thursday Aug. 1 at the University of Northern Colorado. Admission is free for those traveling and in attendance.
Anna Albrecht — St. Louis Sabres
Jessica Dombrowski — Glendale Merlins
Becca Fagan — Philadelphia
Tess Feury — Morris Rugby
Shawn Gatewood — Raleigh Venom
Megan Gilmore — Raleigh Venom
Ashley Hanson — Providence
Jordan Heller — Austin Valkyries
Kayla Hunkin-Clark — Washington Athletic Club
Lisa Jackson — Raleigh Venom
Ariel Johnson — NOVA
Brianna Kim — NOVA
Ashley Mackenzie — NOVA
Deanna Nash — Boston
Nwakaego Onyekwere — NOVA
Avery Rain — NOVA
Lexia Reynolds — Sacramento Amazons
Leslie Schroeder — Houston Athletic Club
Madison Sheveland — Glendale Merlins
Amy Spafford — St. Louis Sabres
Nicole Snyder — Harrisburg
Paige Stathopoulos — Boston
Geraldine Thomas — Austin Valkyries
Kayla Thompson — Raleigh Venom
Cassie Urbano — Metropolis
Michal Williams — Severn River
Koma Gandy Fischbein | Head CoachBradley Richard | Assistant CoachJason Schiessl | Assistant CoachKjrsten Abel Ruch | Team ManagerMeghan McKay | Team Medical
All times MST – Stream LIVE at facebook.com/WPLrugby
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 PM: WPL West All-Stars vs Club D1 & D2 All-Stars5 PM: WPL East All-Stars vs Women’s Collegiate All-Americans
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 9:30 AM: Losers of Thursday’s matches11:30 AM: Winners of Thursday’s matches