On July 12, the USA Rugby Men’s National Team will play Spain in Charlotte, N.C., and a girls’ high school 15s match will serve as a curtain-raiser. Trevor Caterson of the North Carolina All-Stars got the conversation going, and he worked with Idaho’s Maurice Matsumori to pull a western-based select side together as competition. Matsumori is the tournament director for the regional high school 7s tournament that occurs every October (this year’s tournament is Oct. 25-26 in Boise). [Photo: @shotsbywatts]

“We are excited to have them join, as we don’t often get to play western teams, especially in 15s,” Caterson enthused.

The North Carolina All-Star roster will be finalized by end of week, as the program, which fields multiple boys’ and girls’ age grade teams, has been very busy since the state’s regular season ended. (Read more about the Raleigh Cobras’ championship-winning 15s season.) The U14 and U19 girls’ teams played 15s matches in early June against Chesapeake Conference sides, then traveled to Ohio for the Buckeye Invitational on June 20-22. This Saturday, the boys play the Ohio Aviators in a curtain-raiser for the USA Men vs. Belgium in Charlotte.

The West 15s team includes 20 players from Idaho, Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The original roster included another 12 players who were later pulled into various USA Pathway camps during the same time frame, but the lineup is still packed with stellar talent. Players hail from the Girls’ High School and High School Club 15s National Championship teams, and the five state championship teams. Stay tuned for more information closer to game day.

WEST 15s ROSTER

Teagan Barth – Summit HS, Colorado
Gavin Brown – Rocky Mountain, Idaho
Maddie Cerda – Eagle HS, Idaho
Avery Disbrow – Rocky Mountain, Idaho
Alyssa Hine – Rocky Mountain, Idaho
Isabel Jenks – Mountain View, Idaho
Olivia Lyman – Summit HS, Colorado
Krista Mavy – TOA, Idaho
Reece Moody – Rocky Mountain, Idaho
Anna Petzinger – Eagle HS, Idaho
Lucie Reynolds – Summit HS, Oregon
Hailey Russer – Summit HS, Colorado
Delilah Staberg – Summit HS, Colorado
Emelia Stroppa – Liberty, Washington
Jay Tarka – Portland Grackles, Oregon
Meg Thomason – Rocky Mountain, Idaho
Paige Thomason – Rocky Mountain, Idaho
Sa’ane Taufa – Majestics, Utah
Trinity Wahl – Kent, Washington
Kanani Watts – Eagle HS, Idaho

Stay tuned for the North Carolina All-Star roster by end of week.