The rosters for our Tobago International Rugby Sevens Tournament tour run deep with experience with 35 players selected for one men's and two women's teams. Five players have been capped at the International 7s level while several more have been selected to the regional USA Rugby National Development Academies. Alumni of the HSAA and U-20 Eagles teams pair with Serevi Athletes and Serevi Institute members, more that have attended the Serevi Residency Camps, players from USA South 7s and 15s, those from the Armed Forces, and women from the American Pro Rugby Training Center High Performance 7s Camps.The tour features athletes ranging in ages from 18-40, from the D3 club level to the World Class Athlete Program, from D2 colleges to the WPL, and we bring in three members of the Old Blue Women's 7s side that made it to the USA Rugby Club 7s National Championship Game. While the roster is mostly US based we continue the Stars tradition of guest athletes with men from Australia and Canada on the roster. We boast an experienced international coaching staff with national team caps of their own to guide the teams.
The Tobago 7s roster features a mix of talent and experience that represents what I believe are our strongest Stars teams to date. Months of scouting at collegiate matches, USA Club 7s Nationals, Serevi Rugbytown 7s, Elite City 7s, the ARPTC, ACRA playoffs, during previous Stars tours, and game evaluations at last weekend's New York 7s will bring together a fantastic group of athletes Tobago. Our player pool is nearing 300 athletes interested in playing higher level 7s and in continuing their development.
This tour will allow young players like Kaitlin (KB) Broughton of Oklahoma and Rontrice Thomas of Tennessee their first chances to challenge themselves at an elite level. Their impressive fitness scores and the recommendations of opposing coaches have provided them the opportunity to showcase their speed alongside the hard runs and bruising hits of current 7s Eagle Nana Fa'Avesi (who scored her first WSWS try in Dubai earlier today) and former 15s/7s Eagle Phaidra Knight. Tiara Littleton & Cara Thayer continue their development playing on their 3rd Stars tours; Tiara brings added experience from Fiji's Coral Coast 7s in November. Fehi Schaaf will bring her experiences from the USA U-20 level and debut for the Stars with fellow Californians Tee Stroughter and Angelina Lomu f San Francisco Golden Gate. Jen Harig of Davenport University, Corinne Heavner of Penn State, and Shamira Robles of AIC are a trio of Stars from elite collegiate programs that earned invites after the ARPTC HP7s camp while Amanda Divich brings scrumhalf/flyhalf experience from Lindenwood University.
The men have more experience, depth and positional skills than on any tour in the past. We return five players from the Australia Central Coast 7s tour including Jojo Tikoisuva who was invited to/ attended Fiji's Dubai 7s camp with Coach Ben Ryan. It is noteworthy that both Jojo and Cody Weber suffered injuries in Australia and were not available for the full set of tournament games. Australian Rugby League crossover Eddie Paea, formerly of the Rabbitohs, joins us once again fresh from Dubai 7s and will find hard running options in forwards Eric Duechle and Marcus Satavu - familiar names to anyone who has followed the Eagles men's 7s team. Kyle Granby of the Northeast ODA comes in as a speedy wing/flyhalf option while Joe Senteno adds another scrumhalf/sweeper option - anyone who saw him play for Air Force 7s at the the last two Serevi Rugbytown 7s will be familiar with his try-saving tackles.
Stars Rugby 7s Tobago 7s Rosters
Men
Zach Blalock - Birmingham Rugby Club/Atlanta Old White/Life ODA
Amro Guda - Charlotte Rugby Club/Life ODA
Kyle Granby - NYAC/Northeast ODA
Jonathan Halter - Gainesville Hogs/Florida 7s
*Chris Milledge - Charlotte Rugby Club/Life ODA
Mitch Millett - St Albert RFC (Canada)
*Eddie Paea - Eastern Suburbs (Australia)/Tonga 7s
Marcus Satavu - OMBAC/Bulldog Rugby
Joe Senteno - Downtown Rugby Club (Las Vegas)/Air Force 7s
*Saula (Junior) Sucu - Washington Rugby Club (DC)
*Jojo Tikoisuva - Sacramento Lions
Antoine Turner - Life West Gladiators
*Cody Weber - Kansas City Blues
Women
Kaitlyn (KB) Broughton: Oklahoma Roses
Judy Dickson: Atlanta Harlequins
*Amanda Divich: Lindenwood University
*Liz Entwhistle: Fort Miami/W1823
*Joanne (Nana) Fa'Avesi: Sacramento Amazons/USA 7s
*Kat Gorham: North Shore (Boston)
*Jen Harig: Davenport University
Corinne Heavner: Penn State Univeristy/Old Blue Women
Courtney Jessamy: Charlotte Rugby Club
Phaidra Knight: Old Blue Women
*Tiara Littleton: Dallas Harlequins
Angelina Lomu: San Francisco Golden Gate
*Toni Lloyd: Allen Griffins
Michelle Perna: Seattle Saracens/Serevi Institute
Shamira Robles: American International College/Old Blue Women
Gardenia (Fehi) Schaaf: Sacramento Amazons
Tiana (Tee) Strougher: San Francisco Golden Gate
*Cara Thayer: South Buffalo Sinners
Rontrice Thomas: Knoxville Minx
Sarah Thomas: Wisconsin Rugby Club
Lauren (LT) Turner: Scioto Valley/W1823
Kassidi Wynter: Atlanta Harlequins
Coaches:
*Orene Ai'i - New Zealand
Vaha Esikia - Las Vegas Rugby Academy/UNLV/Rugby12
*Liam Hutchinson: Bow Valley Grizzlies/Wildrose Academy/Rugby Alberta (Canada)
Stars Director:
*Liz Entwhistle
*Members of Previous Stars Tours
