Stars Rugby 7s has embarked on back-to-back July tours making their debut at Cape Fear 7s last weekend in Wilmington, NC and returning to Stampede 7s in Calgary for the third year in a row this weekend. The team has entered developmental men's & women's squads in each tournament to prepare for August's Elite tour to Serevi Rugbytown 7s for the men and October's Elite women's tour to Byron Bay 7s & Central Coast 7s.
The teams return a number of veterans from past tours including Cape Fear captains Tee Kawaihoa-Marquez of Hawaii (Vegas '16, Vancouver '16) and Zack Schell of Pittsburgh (Vegas '16, Vancouver '16); Kawaihoa-Marquez retains the captaincy for Stampede 7s and is joined by veteran Antony Fitch (Vegas '16, Vancouver '16) guiding the men.
Cape Fear saw each team open the tournament with forfeits as 1823 dropped out of the men's Elite competition and the Orlando Phoenix dropped out on the women's side. The men had a tough Saturday falling to Charlotte and Trump 7s in pool play and earning a quarterfinal berth against Atlanta Old White. The women opened the tournament with a win over Charlotte and a nailbiter, last second loss to NOVA after leading much of the match.
Sunday saw the women's team come up against the Raleigh Venom in the quarterfinal and walk away with a 15-5 win setting up a semifinal with the Scion where they fell 24-5. The men fell to eventual Cup Runner Up Atlanta Old White 33-10 in the quarterfinal after suffering 3 tournament ending injuries. The experience of being in Wilmington including yoga, CrossFit, a STARBQ benefiting Cape Fear HS Rugby and the wonderful hosting of tournament director Bob Bogen all but assures the team will return for the 2017 tournament with an eye on the Cup Finals.
Following Cape Fear half the roster stayed on for the flight to Calgary early Tuesday morning to prepare for Stampede 7s. Three nights of training camp in Banff saw the squads quickly integrate new team members and a new coach as Nic Benson led the women in NC and was replaced by Liam Hutchinson for the Canada event. Again yoga, gym sessions, field training, hiking at Lake Louise, and an excursion to watch the local Bow Valley Grizzlies host the touring RAPTC Apostles side allowed for quick cohesion among the team. Stampede 7s kicks off Friday night where the Stars seek a return to the Cup Finals as in the 2014 campaign.
Cape Fear Roster Women
*Tahlia Brody - prop/center - SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, USA
Jazz Harrison - prop/hooker - Severn River, Annapolis, USA
Jen Johnson - scrumhalf - Little Rock Stormers, Little Rock, USA
*Tee Kawaihoa-Marquez - prop - Lady Harlequins, Honolulu, USA
Victoria King - wing - Wichita Valkyries/US Air Force, Wichita, USA
Renee McLane - prop - Hurricanes, Charleston, USA
Melissa Thompson - prop/center - Cincinnati Wolfhounds/US Air Force, Cincinnati, USA
Rian Van Nordheim - prop - Severn River, Annapolis, USA
COACH: Nic Benson, San Diego, USA
ATC: Sarah Hayden, Atlanta, USA
DIRECTOR: Liz Entwhistle, Chicago, USA
*indicates veteran of previous Stars tours
Cape Fear Roster Men
*Ethan Baldino - flyhalf/center - Naples Hammerheads, Naples, USA
Matt Bales - wing - DC Irish, Washington DC, USA
Chase Brooks - scrumhalf - West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA
Matt Cooper - scrumhalf/hooker - Louisville Rugby Club, Louisville, USA
*Mike Fletcher - prop - DC Irish, Washington DC, USA
Danny Heisterkamp - flyhalf/wing - Xavier University, Cincinnati, USA
*Bobby Kling - hooker/center - DC Irish, Washington DC, USA
*Quentin Koonce - center - Rocky Gorge, Laurel, USA
Maika Polamalu - wing/center - DC Irish, Washington DC, USA
Matt Reilly - hooker/wing - University of Maryland, College Park, USA
*Matt Ryan - prop/hooker - Old Aztec, San Diego, USA
Jose Sanchez - back - Xavier University, Cincinnati, USA
*Zack Schell - prop/center/wing - Pittsburgh Harlequins, Pittsburgh, USA
COACH: Togamau Fanueli, Washington DC, USA
ATC: Sarah Hayden, Atlanta, USA
DIRECTOR: Liz Entwhistle, Chicago, USA
*indicates veteran of previous Stars tours
Stampede 7s Roster Women
Ashley Delaney - prop - University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada
Mackenzie Doughty - wing - St Albert RFC, St Albert, Canada
*Tee Kawaihoa-Marquez - prop - Lady Harlequins, Honolulu, USA
*Victoria King - wing - Wichita Valkyries/US Air Force, Wichita, USA
*Ruby Kinsella - back - Calgary Hornets, Calgary, Canada
Brie Leslie - prop/wing - St Albert RFC, St Albert, Canada
Catherine Ohler - flyhalf/center - University of British Columbia, Victoria, Canada
Emily Oor - scrumhalf - St Albert RFC, St Albert, Canada
Tiffany Wideen - flyhalf - University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada
COACH: Liam Hutchinson, St Albert, Canada
EMT: Heather DesRoches, Calgary, Canada
DIRECTOR: Liz Entwhistle, Chicago, USA
*indicates veteran of previous Stars tours
Stampede 7s Roster Men
*Brandon Baker - wing - Campion Grads, Regina, Canada
Trace Bolstad - scrumhalf - University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, USA
Luc DesRoches - prop/hooker - University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, USA
*Dave Evans - prop/center - Calgary Saints, Calgary, Canada
Orrin Farries - prop/hooker - St Albert, St Albert, Canada
*Antony Fitch - scrumhalf/flyhalf - Bournemouth, Wimborne, England
Ryan Guercio - prop - Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, USA
*Danny Heisterkamp - flyhalf/wing - Xavier University, Cincinnati, USA
*Matt Reilly - hooker/wing - University of Maryland, College Park, USA
*Jose Sanchez -back- Xavier University, Cincinatti, USA
Daejon Street - center/flyhalf - Maryville College, St Louis, USA
COACH: Togamau Fanueli, Washington DC, USA
EMT: Heather DesRoches, Calgary, Canada
DIRECTOR: Liz Entwhistle, Chicago, USA
*indicates veteran of previous Stars tours
Stars Rugby 7s would like to thank the following tour sponsors: Samurai Sportswear, Ruck Science, Optimum Health & Performance, Erica Black Wellness, All American Training Center, Rugby 12.
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, Cape Fear 7s, and select 15s tours with numerous championship appearances and titles won.
