On Oct. 6, the Elite Girls Rugby League (EGRL) held its Black & Blue game at Dorey Park in Richmond, Va. The intrasquad match served as a selection venue for athletes interested in representing the league at the 15s territorial championship in February 2025 in Tampa, Fla. [lead photo: @hollyydavies]
RELATED: Watch the livestream
There are approximately 60 players in the pool and two-thirds attended the selection match. The goal is to name a team of 25 for Florida 2025 trip. Richmond, Va., is a good midway location for the expansive East Coast league, and the Richmond Strikers provided excellent support in hosting the event. There are also plans for a second selection match in November in Annapolis, Md.
Photo: @kaileyydavies
“This is our first attempt at an intrasquad game and we are excited to see how it goes,” EGRL Ops Director Mike Eisenhart said in advance of the game. “Our hope is that it will continue to raise the expectations for and level of play by our top athletes and translate to all of our clubs.”
The annual 15s tournament in Florida started with the Midwest Thunderbirds and their quest for high-level 15s in a warm-weather winter location. In 2024, the Baby Birds were joined by EGRL and USA South in the 15s round robin that regularly attracts USA and collegiate scouts.
Connecting high school athletes with college rugby recruiters and USA Pathways is a big part of EGRL’s mission, and evident in its highly successful Rugby Showcase every June.
“We continue to be committed to building the platform for girls’ rugby in our part of the
country,” Eisenhart closed. “We are finding the commitment to livestreaming is resulting in great exposure for our athletes and is helping attract more new players to the game. The Black & Blue game is another solid step which we hope becomes a tradition.”
Photo: @kaileyydavies
Team Black
Coached By Brian Melody & Jeff Adamczyk
Abby Cirillo – Morris
Addison Key – Wando Wahines
Bridget McGonigle – Doylestown
Charlotte Davies – Downingtown
Devyn Corydon – Morris
Erin O’Brien – Morris
Isabel Brodsky – West Carroll
Kaiya Wrigley – Vienna
Kendra Close – Corning
Laida Govier – West Carroll
Maia Koppany – Charlotte
Maia Letzsch – West Carroll
Noelle Robinson – Doylestown
Olivia Spremberg – Raleigh Redhawks
Peighton Bowman – North Bay
Siena Accardi – Doylestown
Siena Miller – Morris
Silvana Bilcari – Corning
Sydney Haddon – Doylestown
Team Blue
Coached By Bill Dobbs
Abigail Buratti – Morris
Adelina Jackson – North Bay
Akayla Towles – Downingtown
Allison Beckenhauer – Doylestown
Amber Garrett – Wando Wahines
Carolyn Melody – West Carroll
Erin Mordosky – Downingtown
Jocelyn Terry – Doylestown
Kathryn O’Boyle – West Carroll
Kaydence Ector – Corning
Kayla Robinson – Doylestown
Lia DeMarco – Morris
Maddie Leiner – Raleigh Redhawks
Marcela Aguilar-Martinez – West Carroll
Mersadees Washington – Raleigh Redhawks
Naina Bose (Cherry) – Vienna
Norah Landerman – Morris
Olive Rhodes – Morris
RaeLeigh Sparzak – North Bay
Abigail Buratti – Morris
Production Crew
Livestream Link- https://bit.ly/SelectsBnB
Kris O’Brien – Switchboard + Cam 1
Nelson Galarza – Cam 2
Stef Aliprandi – Broadcast
Referee – Mike Eisenhart