Stars Rugby XVs Rosters v Capital Selects

Stars Rugby XVs, the fifteens developmental sides for Stars Rugby 7s, is thrilled to start the 2017 touring season with a rematch vs the Capital Selects this Sunday in Leesburg, CA. The women's team has been building the roster for this matchup with developmental tours to play Lindenwood University and Life University in fall 2016. Those trips featured of a Midwest D2 Women's Club and a mix of collegiate players due to the unavailability of D1 Women's Club players in the new Gold Cup competition and WPL nationals. With the late January competition window wide open, the Stars women roster has more of their normal mix of athletes with representation from WPL, D1, and D2 clubs, as well as collegiates. Players of note include capped Eagle Frieda Fetu'u of the Berkeley All Blues, Emily Hranchook who represented Oakland University at the recent NASCs, Nicole Burr of the Augusta Furies also an NASC veteran, Norwich University alumna Emily Oor, a trio of Chicago North Shore players with props Kadie Sanford & Charli Jacoby and flyhalf Rose DiBalsamo, and the strong contingent or W1823/Scioto Valley Squirrels including center Cyndi Campbell, Katy Marlow, and Devonna (D) Francis.

The men's side most recently took on Life University in November and will feature many players new to the Stars team. Prop Anthony Parry of NYAC brings PRO Rugby experience back to the Stars for his 3rd XVs tour while NYAC teammate and former USA U-20 Eagle Ross Deacon makes his debut in the red and blue kit before departing for Ireland on Wednesday. Zack Stryffeler is another PRO Rugby veteran with the capability to play as a flanker or center; he has experience in Ireland, with Columbus Rugby Club and the Tiger Academy. Backs Mike Stoll of Kent State University, Tyler Myles of Mount Saint Marys and forwards Jack Dugan & Patrick Hafendbridle (who attended MCAA camp in Chula Vista earlier this month) are playing their rookie tours where Dugan is expected to pair with Jacob Sanger of local Washington Rugby Football club in the 2nd row with Canadian provincial representative Ted McGregor at #8. Hafenbridle will make his case for the starting hooker spot, while Stoll and Myles are projected to start on the wing and at flyhalf respectively. Mike Fletcher and Bobby Kling round out a core of Stars veterans with experience with the program in 7s and 15s alike having shared time int he back row in last year's DC XVs tour as well as on the 7s pitch at Cape Fear.

Women’s Lineup

Position/Name (Jersey #)

1. Kadie Sanford (1)   - Captain

2. Lis Gallant (152)

3. Charli Jacoby (103) - Vice Captain

4. Rebecca Trapp (22)

5. Nicole Burr (134)

6. Christa Banks (165)

7. Frieda Fetu'u (116)

8. Katy Marlow (153)

9. Sharyn Beodecker (163)

10. Devonna Francis (155)

11. Andrea Sanchez (156)

12. Emily Hranchook (168)

13. Cyndi Campbell (148)

14. Madison Taylor (108)

15. Abby Smith (161)

Reserves

16. Julie Bode (164)

17. Ryhan Nadji (154)

18. Keta Sutton (158)

19. Rehlyn Jehlik (167)

20. Chip Bell (125)

21. Emily Oor (120)

22. Rose DiBalsamo (139)

Women’s Lineup

*Christa Banks - flanker/8/center - Scioto Valley Squirrels, Ohio, USA

*Chip Bell - flanker - Scioto Valley Squirrels, Ohio, USA

Sharyn Beodeker - scrumhalf - Scioto Valley Squirrels, Ohio, USA

*Julie Bode - prop - Kansas City Jazz, Missouri, USA

*Nicole Burr - 2nd row - Augusta Furies, Georgia, USA

*Cyndi Campbell - center - Scioto Valley Squirrels, Ohio, USA

Rose DiBalsamo - flyhalf/scrumhalf - Chicago North Shore, Illinois, USA

*Frieda Fetu’u - flanker/center - Berkeley All Blues, California, USA

*Devonna Francis - scrumhalf/flyhalf - Scioto Valley Squirrels, Ohio, USA

*Lis Gallant - hooker/flanker - Tampa Women/Fort Miami, Florida, USA

Emily Hranchook - center - Oakland University, Michigan, USA

*Charli Jacoby - prop/2nd row - Chicago North Shore, Illinois, USA

Raelyn Jehlik - flanker - Charlotte Women, North Carolina, USA

*Katy Marlow - prop/2nd row/8 - Scioto Valley Squirrels, Ohio, USA

*Ryhan Nadji - 2nd row/flanker - Atlanta Harlequins, Georgia, USA

*Emily Oor - scrumhalf - St Albert RFC, St Albert, Canada

*Andrea Sanchez - wing - Scioto Valley Squirrels, Ohio, USA

Kadie Sanford - prop/hooker - Chicago North Shore, Illinois, USA

*Abby Smith - fullback/wing - Kansas City Jazz, Missouri, USA

*Keta Sutton - hooker/flanker -  Atlanta Harlequins, Georgia, USA

*Madison Taylor - wing/center - Berkeley All Blues, California, USA

*Rebecca Trapp - prop/2nd row - Pittsburgh Angels, Pennsylvania, USA

*Rian Van Nordheim - 2nd row - James River, Virginia, USA (Stars veteran, made Capital Selects, playing development half with Stars)

COACH: Nic Benson, San Diego, USA

COACH: Joel Bonnaud, Columbus, USA

COACH: Jeff Horton,Kent, USA

CHIROPRACTOR: Marissa Hols, Tampa, USA

DIRECTOR: Liz Entwhistle, Chicago, USA

*Veteran of Previous Stars Tour

Men’s Lineup

Position/Name (Jersey #)
1. Anthony Parry (74)
2. Patrick Hafenbridle (133)
3. Bryan Baiss (146)
4. Jacob Sprang (137)
5. Ross Deacon (140)
6. Mike Fletcher (38)
7. Bobby Kling (91)
8. Ted McGregor (119)
9. Chase Brooks (122)
10. Zack Stryffeler (138) - Captain
11. Junior Sucu (1)
12. Casey Hansen (121)
13. John Murray (132)
14. David Coleman (128)
15. Duncan Crystal (136)

Reserves
16. Ben Holstine (131)
17. Dan Fulcoly (147)
18. Jack Dugan (126)
19. Michael Scanlon (120)
20. Mike Stoll (163)
21.  Tyler Myles (135)
22. Joe Lippert (107)
23. Martin Pittman (139)

Men’s Roster

Bryan Baiss - prop - Tampa Krewe, Florida, USA

*Chase Brooks - scrumhalf/flyhalf - West Virginia University, USA

David Coleman - wing/scrumhalf - Birmingham Vulcans, Alabama, USA

Duncan Crystal - fullback - Washington Rugby Football Club, Washington DC, USA

Ross Deacon -flanker - NYAC, New York, USA

Jack Dugan - 2nd row - Bethel College, Indiana, USA

*Mike Fletcher - flanker - DC Irish, Washington DC, USA

Dan Fulcoly - hooker - DC Irish, Washington DC, USA

*Casey Hansen - center - Bremer County Bucks, Iowa, USA

Patrick Hafenbridle - hooker - Bethel College, Indiana, USA

Benjamin Holstine - prop - Milwaukee Barbarians, Wisconsin, USA

*Bobby Kling - flanker - DC Irish, Washington DC, USA

*Joe Lippert - scrumhalf/flyhalf - Bremer County Bucks, Iowa, USA

Ted McGregor - 2nd row/flanker/8 - Montreal Wanderers RFC, Quebec, Canada

John Murray - flyhalf - Glendale Raptors/Washington Rugby Football Club, Denver/Washington DC, USA

Tyler Myles - flyhalf - Mount Saint Mary’s University, Maryland, USA

*Anthony Parry - prop - NYAC, New York, USA

Martin Pittman - scrumhalf - Washington Rugby Football Club, Washington DC, USA

Michael Scanlon - flanker - Chicago Griffins, Illinois, USA

Jacob Sprang - 2nd row - Washington Rugby Football Club, Washington DC, USA

Mike Stoll - wing - Kent State University, Ohio, USA

Zack Stryffeler - flanker/center - Columbus Rugby Club, Ohio, USA

*Junior Sucu - wing - Potomac Exiles, Washington DC, USA

COACH: Vaha Esikia, Las Vegas, USA

COACH: Jovilisi Fotofili, Washington DC, USA

COACH: Joe Lippert, Davenport, USA

COACH: Dumont Walker, Washington DC, USA

CHIROPRACTOR: Marissa Hols, Tampa, USA

DIRECTOR: Liz Entwhistle, Chicago, USA

*Veteran of Previous Stars Tour

Stars Rugby 7s would like to thank the following tour sponsors: Extreme Sportswear, Budd Bay Promotions & Apparel, Big Block Athletics, Ruck Science, Optimum Health & Performance, Erica Black Wellness, All American Training Center, Rugby 12. Stars would like to thank the Frederick Indoor Sports Center for providing quality indoor field space and expert trainers during this tour.

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, Cape Fear 7s, and select 15s tours with numerous championship appearances and titles won.

Meet The Team CC7s Edition: Matt Hughston

Matt Hughston is a name that many following rugby 7s this summer will recognize . He was selected to the Washington DC Elite City 7s team and took home First Team All Tournament honors, captained the  Charlotte Rugby Club 7s side that made the Cape Fear 7s finals and placed 3rd at South regionals, playing alongside with CC7s Star Chris Milledge. Matt's relentless effort was rewarded as he was invited to the first of new Eagles Men's 7s Coach Mike Friday's High Performance Sevens camps at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. Matt additionally took the pitch for Azul y Negro at Serevi Rugbytown 7s and continued his try scoring ways.

Matt is a standout athlete in a region of the United States that until recently was fairly under served when it comes to elite 7s opportunities (we touched a bit on that topic in this post). Fortunately, the much deserving Life University was just announced a new National Development Academy as a part of USA Rugby's Olympic Development Academy yesterday and additional opportunities a bit closer to home should arise.Without the same traditional Sevens Qualifier Circuit in the South the ability to play consistent, challenging competition lags - the South hosts a one-off tournament to qualify for nationals as compared to the 4 to 5 tournament series you find in the Northeast, Midwest, West and California - and this year only 6 teams traveled for the qualifier. This contrasts to the Midwest where as many as 16 men's teams play in each qualifier, and anywhere from 16 to 80+ additional teams play in competitive and social brackets. Some clubs fielded two sides in the qualifiers this year with a wealth of talent and competition for roster spots.

Increasing access to high level rugby 7s is one of the driving forces for our Stars program. It is worth noting that of our men's team traveling to Central Coast 7s, only one player plays for a team that made the Club 7s National Championships. It is a pleasure to be offer additional elite 7s opportunities to players like Matt. He came highly recommended to the Stars program by a few other players and coaches; there is little explanation needed as to why he made our Central Coast 7s side. He is an ambitious player with the right skills and credentials to make an impact on the international scene. Our side can provide him with the added opportunity to train and compete as other players on the iRB circuit do for a week and to compete directly against these players. Daveta, Yamacia, and Red Rock are each rumored to have members of the Fijian National Team that won Gold Coast 7s on their rosters. Middlesex will have at least one All Blacks player and it's certain that players from Australia's 7s pool will be in action.

Here's more on Matt:

Matt Hughston Profile:

25 years old

6’3

220lbs

Hometown – Charlotte NC

College - Eastern Carolina University

Notable Rugby Achievements: 

U19 Eastern Seaboard All-Stars MVP (beat out Cam Dolan, Colton Cariaga)

U20 Eagles 2009

Collegiate All-South XVs 2009

Twice named USA Rugby Collegiate Division II Rugby All American

Vice Captain USA South Panthers 2012-present

Atlantis 7s 2013-present

Named to First Tournament Team for Elite City 7s

Eagles Men’s 7s High Performance Camp Summer 2014

Named Rio 2016 hopeful

Aspirations: To achieve the honor of being named an Eagle for Sevens and eventually XVs. I am looking to elevate my game play in Australia against the world’s highest club competition and develop in an international setting. My main goal is to become an Olympian in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games.

 

Meet The Team CC7s Edition: Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan is another member of the Stars program who connected with us via social media via the Facebook page and had a pretty stellar resume to back up his desire to play high level 7s. Besides a rugby background with roots in Kentucky and at Xavier University, Matt is a Captain in the United States Army.

Each year the Armed Forces participate in Serevi Rugbytown 7s as well as in exhibitions at the Collegiate Rugby Championships 7s . The All Army Rugby 7s Team, for whom Matt has been selected for, has produced several players currently training at the Olympic Training Center as a part of the World Class Athlete Program.

I had the chance to watch the Armed Forces Cup live this year and Army easily took the title and advance to the semifinals of Rugbytown 7s - all while playing 2 extra games including early morning Friday matches, as compared to the "regular" teams participating. Their success is all the more impressive when you consider their team does not train together regularly and some are not even in the same state, let alone the same country for most of the year.

Beyond All Army 7s, Matt has sought out high performance rugby opportunities between his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He attended the Serevi Rugby Camp in College Park, Maryland this past April (as detailed in this Rugby Today article) and was then extended the offer to attend their Men's High Performance Resident Camp in Glendale, CO this summer.

It was an easy decision to extend Matt an invite for our Central Coast 7s tour and, between other
military duties, whichever tours he can make. He's been a fantastic ambassador for our program in recommending players across all the branches of the Armed Forces to our side as well as those he's observed at various camps.

Here's more on Matt:

- First played in high school for the Northern Kentucky Gentlemen Rugby Club.
- Continued playing in college at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Graduated in 2008 and began active duty service in the Army as a Second Lieutenant.
- Played at Fort Bragg, NC after return from Iraq deployment in August 2010.
- In July 2013, played for All Army 7s during the inaugural Military Memorial Cup, winning the
gold medal.

- Deployed to Afghanistan from August 2013 to May 2014.
- Attended Serevi Men’s High Performance Resident camp in August.
- Currently the Vice President and co-captain of the Fort Drum (NY) 

Barracks Rangers Rugby Club.
- Excited and thankful for the opportunity to travel to Australia with Stars Rugby. Looking forward to meeting my new teammates, working hard, and the challenge of playing against some of the best talent in the world.