There was a lot of international action last weekend, as well as domestic rugby championships and qualifiers to keep everyone engaged at home. The following is a recap, and several summaries will be developed into full-length features for subscribers. For a quick overview, view the scores page. [lead photo: EJ Hersom / Defense Media Activity for @armedforcessports]
INTERNATIONAL
The USA South returned to the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 15s championship and retained its title after a 42-10 win against Trinidad & Tobago on July 10, and then 25-23 win against Mexico the following day. Read more from USA South head coach Chris Martin.
Les Serpientes featured four U.S.-based players: Berkeley All Blues’ Aimée Ramos and Steph Rosales, Chicago North Shore and Chicago Lions’ Anabel Diaz, and Charlotte’s Nely Cano. On Sunday, Mexico played its first 15s international test match against Trinidad & Tobago and won 27-0.
EIRA on the attack. / Photo: Pat Moroney
On Friday, Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA) wrapped up its girls’ U18 tour of Spain, defeating U.E. Santboiana 22-7. The victory came on the heels of two previous wins against CAU Valencia and Catalunya U19. Incoming interview: Kelsie McDowell
And then on Sunday, the USA U20s kicked off their Transatlantic Quad Series tour in Wales, facing Canada in a 23-10 defeat. Sacred Heart’s Ashley Torres-Brown muscled over the line for the team’s lone try, while Davenport standout Ashley Cowdrey added a conversion (and was superb on the day). Army’s Alissa Eisenhart kicked a first-half penalty. Round two is against host Wales on July 19 at 2:30 p.m. ET. Games live-stream on RugbyPass TV.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The five military branches reported to San Diego for the fifth iteration of the Armed Forces Women’s 7s Championship. Army, looking to resume its place atop the podium after Air Force’s title run in 2023, went undefeated during pool play, and then beat the Zoomies 27-5 in the final. Read an excellent writeup from Shannon Collins of Armed Forces Sports, and visit the championship homepage for full scores and photos. Stay tuned for a TRB interview with Cienna Jordan.
2024 Armed Forces All-Tournament Team
SGT Joanne Fa’avesi, Ft. Carson, CO – Army
1LT Cienna Jordan, Army Reserves – Army
Cpl Anastasia Schraff, MCAS Miramar, CA – USMC
PO3 Alex Sutton, NAS Jacksonville, FL – Navy
ENS Megan Neyen, NB Pearl Harbor, HI – Navy
LT Hollis Connick, Sector Delaware Bay, PA – USCG
Capt Adrienne Yoder, Ramstein AFB, Germany – USAF
WPL WEEK 9
The Women’s Premier League resumed regular-season play after a three-week summer break. In the second round of the Battle of the Bay, Berkeley beat Life West 42-12 to improve to 7-1.
View this post on Instagram
On Sunday, New York (6-2) traveled to Chicago North Shore (1-6) and banked a 43-5 win. Outside center Sophie Frick led all point-scorers with three tries, while No. 8 Daisy Titus, wing Eve Mango and reserve Jade Greenfield also dotted down. Fullback Jetta Owens kicked three conversions. (There was also a penalty try.) Nicole Fisch accounted for North Shore’s try.
It was a big weekend for North Shore, which spent Saturday fielding two teams at a Midwest 7s qualifier in Lansing, Mich.
CLUB 7s QUALIFIERS
There are just two more weekends for qualifiers, as nationals is readying for Madison, Wis., on Aug. 10-11. The following snapshots are listed in alphabetical order.
The Gulf Coast 7s in St. Petersburg, Fla., was a player-qualifier event for nationals. Phoenix took down Orlando 24-5 in the final.
The Mid-Atlantic held its third of four qualifiers in Richmond, Va. Scion won the Christmas in July, its third-straight win, while Slaughterhouse took second. This Saturday, Schuykill River hosts the final qualifier, and standings will name the MAC champion as well as the automatic berth to nationals. Slaughterhouse and NOVA are currently tied for second place in the standings.
Scion vs. Slaughterhouse / Photo: Blaze Byrd @blazeyb
Per the standings, the Midwest appears to have just two teams vying for nationals, which is unfortunate given that nationals is being held in the Midwest. Last year’s reps — Chicago Lions and Chicago North Shore — are separated by two points in the standings, and one can assume both will feature at nationals. The Midwest championship will be held July 27 in Elkhart, Ind.
Boston prevailed at both the New England 7s Series tournament in Worcester, Mass., as well as the NCSC tournament in Saratoga. The NERFU 7s champion will be determined this Saturday, July 20 in Quincy, Mass. Series standings seed teams into the championship, and then Saturday’s winner is the overall champ.
View this post on Instagram
The East Palo Alto Razorbacks won the NorCal qualifier in Santa Rosa and has booked a spot at nationals.
Washington Athletic Club won the fourth and final Pacific Northwest qualifier in Ferndale, Wash., and tops the standings. WAC will feature at nationals alongside the Oregon Sharks, which won the third qualifier on July 6.
The HEB Hurricanes have won all three Red River qualifiers, including last Saturday’s Hell or High Water 7s in Houston. Check out the standings.
San Diego held Surf ‘n’ Turf 7s, but there have been no updates outside of the Armed Force championship that happened in conjunction. The SoCal RFU site isn’t that informative in terms of knowing who’s playing toward nationals qualification.