Stars Rugby 7s Roster for Central Coast 7s

For Release:
10 September 2015











Stars Rugby 7s Elite Women are set to return to Australia's Central Coast 7s 24 & 25 October, 2015. After reaching the Bowl Finals in their debut in 2014 the team is looking forward to stronger showing deep into the Cup Round.

Stars Elite Women at CC7s 2014

The 2014 campaign saw the women take on the Aussie Pearls National 7s Team, the New Zealand Wasps led by NZ 7s coach Sean Horan, and Te Whanau in pool action. Day 2 saw the Stars contest the College Rifles in the Bowl semifinal and Sunnybank in the Bowl Final. The 2015 edition seeds Stars Rugby 7s with Fijiana, Sunnybank and Central Coast Academy of Sport for pool play; potential quarterfinal/semifinal opponents include the Canada Mapleleafs, Aussie Pearls, and NZ Wasps.


The team will assemble in Brisbane to being the tour in order to acclimate to the distant travel, to attend Byron Bay 7s, and to commence training. The following week includes scrimmages Brisbane with Redlands and Sunnybank (home to Stars Saxon & Cheyenne Campbell and Liz & Krystle Gemmel from the inaugural 2014 Las Vegas Invitational) and in Wyong with CCAS. Further preparations include guest coaching sessions with Paul Briggs (BrigActive, Avoca) and Australian Men's Developmental 7s/NSW Belles Coach Nath McMahon coupled with sightseeing in  Glenworth Valley, Terrigal, and Avoca, and the return of STARBQ gatherings with local teams.

Stars Rugby 7s on tour for Stampede 7s 2015

This year's roster features a completely new assembly of players as compared to 2014. 7 returning Stars feature: Nikki Kenyon (Las Vegas Invitational 2015, Stampede 7s 2015), Tiara Littleton (LVI '14 & '15, Stampede 7s '14 & '15, Tobago 7s '14, Atlanta 7s '15), Michelle Montague (Stampede 7s '14, LVI '15), Georgia Page (LVI '15), Fehi Schaaf (Tobago 7s '15), Beth Stratton (LVI '15, Atlanta 7s '15, Stampede 7s '15), and Lauren Turner (Tobago 7s '14, LVI '15). Each of these players were identified over the course of the USA Rugby 7s and XVs collegiate and club seasons and via American Pro Rugby Training Center camps.


Newcomer Nicole Benedetti was scouted for the program at the USA Rugby College XVs Nationals, as a part of NOVA 7s and of the Women's Collegiate All American 7s team at the Elite City 7s tournament. A trio of Wallaroos in Emily Chancellor, Kristy Giteau and Kate Porter are introduced courtesy of New South Wales Belle's Coach Nath McMahon - who coached USA Eagles Katie Dowty and Deven Owsiany during their time abroad. Georgia Page brought on her cousin Olivia Patterson, a crossover from netball and basketball - much like Emily Chancellor who started in netball as well. These two multifaceted athletes competed against each other in the semifinal of the Australia University Games in Rugby 7s. Phoebe Thomas rounds out the side, a familiar name in Australia Rugby courtesy of her time with Tribe 7s, Queensland Reds and Sunnybank. Thomas toured the USA in early 2015 and was able to meet with Stars during her travels.

New South Wales Belles win the Championship

Several of the Stars have competed with and against each other at numerous representative levels; the team is comprised of women with national champions, all-stars, age-grade and senior national team experience. This will be the most-capped Stars Rugby 7s team to date and the most internationally represented as well.

Nicole Benedetti - Westchester University
Emily Chancellor - Sydney University/New South Wales (Australia)
Kristy Giteau - ACT Bumbies (Australia)
Nikki Kenyon - Life West Gladiatrix
Tiara Littleton - Allen Griffins/ARPTC
Michelle Montague - Waikato (New Zealand)
Georgia Page - Queensland Reds (Australia)
Olivia Patterson - Charles Sturt University/Australian Universities (Australia)
Kate Porter - New South Wales (Australia)
Fehi Schaaf - Sacramento Amazons
Beth Stratton - ARPTC
Phoebe Thomas - Sunnybank/Tribe 7s/Queensland Reds (Australia)
Lauren Turner - Scioto Valley/W1823

Head Coach: Vaha Esikia - LVRA/Rugby12
Health & Wellness: Erica Black - Erica Black Wellness
Physio:  Alex Flohr - Optimum Health & Performance (Australia)
Director: Liz Entwhistle - Fort Miami/W1823

Stars Rugby 7s would like to thank the following tour sponsors: Washington Irish RFC, Dragon Rugby Academy, Women's Old Blue RFC, W1823, Palmer College Rugby, Teliczan Construction, Optimum Health & Performance, Erica Black Wellness, All American Training Center, Paladin Sports, Rugby 12, Budd Bay Promotions & Apparel,  USA Rugby Club,

About Stars Rugby 7s: 
Stars Rugby 7s was founded in November 2013 with the mission of developing rugby 7s players in elite tournament settings. Teams compete in multiple high performance assemblies and international tournaments each year with a deep talent pool combining internationally capped 7s and 15s players, elite prospects, athletically gifted players new to the game of 7s, and crossover athletes. There is a major focus on recruiting players that lack regular exposure to high level coaching /playing opportunities due to geographic restraints and the lack of resources which varies greatly throughout the United States. While mostly US based, the Stars rosters include players from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK and welcomes any players committed to the team and rugby camaraderie. Tours have included the Las Vegas Invitational, Calgary Stampede 7s, Australia Central Coast 7s, Tobago 7s, Serevi Rugbytown 7s, and Atlanta 7s with numerous championship appearances and titles won.


About Central Coast 7s:

The UON Central Coast Sevens is Australia’s premier rugby sevens festival outside of the world-series. explosive, end to end, heart racing action, with big collisions, electrifying speed & skill, featuring some of the strongest international sevens teams and sevens action in the world. The CC7s is the most prestigious and fiercely contested tournament in Australia, receiving unprecedented interest annually, attracting some of the biggest teams and biggest names in sevens, with the reputation for being one of the toughest invitational tournaments in the world to win.

Stars Elite Men and Women in Sydney Harbour Ahead of CC7s 2014