The Girls’ U18 Territorial 15s Championship occurs this Friday-Saturday, Feb. 14-15 in St. Petersburg, Fla. 2025 marks the first year in which four regionally based teams are all competing, and the USA South Panther Rugby Academy (PRA) is essentially the local team. [lead photo: Ralph E. Grant]

Josh Sutcliffe steps in as head coach, and he’s well supported by a robust coaching staff that includes PRA president Richard Boone, Jesse Boone, Trevor Caterson, Jeff Horton and Theresa Pitts-Singer. They oversee a squad of 24 players who hail from North Carolina (14), Tennessee (4), Texas (3), New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Canada. There is a diversity of talent present, ranging from PRA returners who know Tropical 7s heights, to EIRA regulars with international touring experience, to NC All-Stars who won Old North State Invitational in November, to PRA debutants looking to enter that elite-rugby world. The group also includes several players who have announced their commitments to college rugby programs for the fall.

The 15s tournament is a round robin, and all four teams will play their first game on Friday evening at the Puryear Park (field 5) in St. Pete’s. PRA starts with the East Coast-based Elite Girls Rugby League at 6 p.m. ET. Saturday starts with a 10 a.m. kickoff against defending champs Midwest Thunderbirds, and then the South returns to the pitch at 12 p.m. to face newcomer USA West. All of the games will be live-streamed on EGRL’s YouTube channel (@elitegirlsrugbyleague). Once the final whistle sounds, the players will have the opportunity to mingle with each other at the post-event social, and also chat with USA and collegiate scouts.

For more information on the event, visit www.egrl.org/us-territorial-championships.  

PANTHERS RUGBY ACADEMY

Player — High School, Rugby Team, State (College Commitment)

Tanner Avery — Millbrook HS, Raleigh Cobras, NC

Bailey Borum Gray — East Gaston HS, Hough, NC (La Salle Univ)

Brooke Brantley — Apex Friendship HS, Raleigh Cobras, NC

Makayla Bullock — Houston HS, 901 Rugby, TN

Reagan Clark — Corinth Holders HS, Clayton Rugby, NC

Maeve Delaney — Corinth Holders HS, Raleigh Cobras, NC (La Salle Univ)

Lilly DeSoto — Corinth Holders HS, Raleigh Cobras, NC

Haley Falcone — Corinth Holders HS, Raleigh Cobras, NC

Kate Gilliam — Brentwood HS, Raptor Rugby, TN

Addy Gregory — Tomball HS, Woodlands RC, TX

Gia Hernandez — Cowichan Secondary School, Cowichan RC, Canada

Isabella Hoffman — Union Academy, Hough Rugby, NC

Sarah Lyons — Hough HS, Hough Rugby, NC

Taliilani Margraff — Lovelady HS, Woodlands RFC, TX (Davenport Univ)

Mackenzie Marks — North Hunterdon HS, Morris Rugby, NJ

Serinity McClure — Riverdale HS, Warriors Rugby, TN (AIC)

Nakato Myers — Enloe HS, Raleigh Rugby, NC

Ellie Nurss — Moon Area HS, Moon Area Rugby, PA

Carys Phillips — Obra D. Tompkins HS, Woodlands RC, TX

Abbey Pullum — Hoke County HS, Hoke Rugby, NC

Alana Reece — Wake Early College of Health & Sciences, Raleigh Rugby, NC (Queens Univ)

Triniti Shaffer — Riverdale HS, Warriors Rugby, TN (St. Bonaventure Univ)

Reagan van Graan — West Johnston HS, Clayton Rugby, NC

Evie Vinton — Southern Nash HS, Raleigh Redhawks, NC