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National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) is hosting its largest all-star championship since its inception, combining the men’s and women’s 7s and 15s competitions into one giant event. The women’s membership is participating in all-star 15s, all-star 7s and Rising Stars 7s competitions from Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 16-17 in Kissimmee, Fla. The Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference (MARC) is the first league to announce its players selections for both the all-star and Rising Stars 7s squads. [lead photo: Jackie Finlan / TRB]
RELATED: NCR Honors All-Star Spirit (Jan ’26)
The MARC all-star 7s staff has selected 28 players from 14 member colleges to represent the league in Florida. The majority of selections hail from the conference’s Division II membership, and 15s champion William & Mary leads with six players. Runner-up Towson University accounts for three reps, and both teams are competing in this weekend’s NCR regional 15s playoffs.
American University, Christopher Newport University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, University of Maryland, Longwood University and Virginia Commonwealth University all have two players apiece heading to Kissimmee. Mary Washington, Kutztown University, University of Delaware, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Washington & Lee University have contributed a player each as well.
MARC finished runner-up to the Tri-State Rugby Conference at the 2026 all-star 7s tournament, and five returners from that silver-medal performance will be back in Florida. The vets include all-tournament selection Juliette Robinson (lead photo) and fellow Georgetown teammate Aubree Eberle; Brianne and Brandi Dawson from Longwood University; and Evyn Blackman of Towson University. Two players who were named as alternates last January — Helen Orszula of George Washington University and University of Delaware’s Samantha Reed — have made the travel squad this year.
The coaching staff of Dr. Andrew Higgs, Lenni Ferreira, Bryan Dyer and Sam Pankey will divide the player pool into all-star and Rising Star squads in a few weeks, but the early release of the player pool allows for some more visible fundraising:
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MARC 7s ALL-STARS
Katherine Battish – Univ Maryland
Evyn Blackman – Towson Univ*
Sadie Choi – William & Mary
Brianne Dawson – Longwood Univ*
Brandi Dawson – Longwood Univ*
Abby Dowdy – William & Mary
Aubree Eberle – Georgetown*
Katherine Fines – Virginia Commonwealth Univ
Georgianna Harsh – Christopher Newport Univ
Sanaya Irani – Univ Maryland
Abby Johnson – American Univ
Aubrey McCann – Towson Univ
Carson Mickles – Christopher Newport Univ
Madeleine Milstead – Virginia Commonwealth Univ
Rin Northedge – Mary Washington
Helen Orszula – George Washington Univ^
Jasmine Joan Parpel – William & Mary
Gabriela Ramirez – William & Mary
Samantha Reed – Univ Delaware^
Luz Rivera – Kutztown Univ
Juliette Robinson – Georgetown*
Grace Rosenberg – William & Mary
Margaret Smedley – George Washington Univ
Sadie Svedin – Washington & Lee Univ
Keira Tavai – Univ Maryland Baltimore County
Ashlie Turk – Towson Univ
Virginia Weina – William & Mary
Sarah Wilburn – American Univ
* Returner from 2026 squad
^ Alternate from 2026 squad
COACHES
Dr. Andrew Higgs
Lenni Ferreira
Bryan Dyer
Sam Pankey
Lorraine Avery – Team Manager