PRESS RELEASE
The 2018-2019 season was an awesome campaign for the USA Rugby South (USARS) Panther Women. Opportunities expanded threefold from the previous year, and dozens of new women donned the jersey. Below are details for the 2019 camp and tryout, the 2019-2020 schedule, coaching updates, and the new U23 and U20 opportunities.
OCTOBER 2019 CAMP & TRYOUT
Sunday, October 20
Life University @ Atlanta, GA
Subscribe by Oct. 2 for a free camp t-shirt
(Times Subject to Change)
10AM-12PM Player Camp
The morning session will be a skills-based training aimed at establishing the standard we are seeking to find, as well as the play style we intend to implement.
2PM-4:30PM Scrimmages
Afternoon scrimmages will be held to assess players’ skill transfer from the morning, provide individual feedback, and identify potential Panthers to add to the player pool for future events. Links to register can be found here:
2019-2020 SCHEDULE
There has been intentional effort put into moving the majority of the USARS women’s schedule into the “off” season for the majority of the South (Dec.-Feb.), which hopefully leaves players with more availability, due to fewer conflicts with home club matrix matches. Greater challenges to participate in have also been identified, and the program welcomes the challenge in trying to build a stronger Southern rugby player pool.
Additional details can be found here: http://www.usarugbysouthpanthers.com/schedule-2019-2020.html
SENIOR SIDE COACHING
USARS has named a new and familiar Head Coach for the Panther Women in Joel Bonnaud. A seasoned coach, having assisted in 7 USARS Women’s events from 2017-2019, Joel has agreed to take the reins for the Senior Women for the 2019-2020 season. Jason Schiessl, Eyal Hakim and Neil Pietila, who have all been involved in the past 2 years, have been consulted and intend to assist in several events each this year, continuing to hold a high standard for the women of this program. Chris Martin will continue duties as the Women’s Director and will be putting new effort into the expanded U23 opportunities as that program grows.
Additional details can be found here: http://www.usarugbysouthpanthers.com/coaching-2019-2020.html
USARS is currently seeking interested and qualified forwards coaches for the senior side. Interested parties can send resumes and cover letters to usasouthwomen@gmail.com
NEW U23/COLLEGIATE OPPORTUNITIES
This year the USA Rugby South Women’s Panther Program is proud to announce a U23/Collegiate women’s schedule, culminating in a small international series of 10s with some smaller Caribbean nations. There will be 2 tournaments, and a camp in tandem with the Senior Women’s RAN 10s side to prepare in early summer. The tryout dates for U23 occurs alongside the Senior Women’s tryouts (Sunday, October 20).
Additional details can be found here: http://www.usarugbysouthpanthers.com/schedule-2019-2020.html
NEW U23 Coaching Opportunities
These events will also provide a wonderful opportunity for 3-4 senior side women the opportunity to assistant coach. These younger events will be more developmental and focused on perfecting skills, rather than on performance like the senior sides. Having the additional hands and eyes will be a great option to give more individual attention to players, as well as to build coaches within the South-Eastern U.S., and maybe even potential future USA Rugby South coaches. Those South Senior Women’s players interested in coaching these development events should send their playing/coaching resume to usasouthwomen@gmail.com.
Continuing U20 Opportunities
In addition to a full U23 schedule, we will also have a single U20 event, hoping to help build a pathway from the predominately 7s youth program, into the U23 program that is primarily 15s. The tryout dates for the U20 event are still to be determined, but they will likely be one-day events the weekend of November 23 or December 14. Eighteen- and 19-year-old players are eligible to be pulled up into U23 events, and U23 players will be eligible to be pulled up into Senior side events.
As always, please feel free to reach out to USARS Women’s Director Chris Martin (704-726-7656).