The NAI 7s Girls U18 Elite bracket is not big, but it is very competitive.
Six teams are in the bracket so the entire competition will be a round-robin with a final at the end of it. Included are two teams that met each other in the Girls HS Club National Championship final—Belmont Shore and Majestics.
Those two teams have excellent skill and a good mix of strength and speed. Belmont Shore's ability to pass accurately and with width, and their open-field tackling saw them through in the national 15s final, but this is 7s, and Majestics does very well in 7s.
"So far, our girls program has had a busy and successful year," said Head Coach Robert Pahulu. "But that's what happens when everyone on the team has the same mindset, same drive, same passion and same goals!!! That makes things easier for us coaches to prepare them for these big tournaments. Our girls will play and adapt to anything in front of them. You'll see speed, IQ, while using the whole field, [and] I'm confident we can replicate similar results on the 7s side. Our girls are no strangers to this side of the game."
Belmont Shore Girls Are National Champions from Goff Rugby Report on Vimeo. | Majestics Take 7s As it Comes from Goff Rugby Report on Vimeo. |
Atlantis comes in with a talented squad, several of them, as expected, from the Pennsylvania area (Kiernan Myles, Lily McGettigan) but Colorado product Tahna Wilfley (dad was a USA Eagle) adds something special.
Rock Rugby mostly brings players from throughout Texas, with players who suit up for Rock in league play augmented by some talent from The Woodlands and at least one from Wisconsin. This tournament provides a stern test for these players but what they bring is a high level of fitness and a good mix of power and speed. The Utah Cannicals are not all that different. They are mostly Utah but, with Pasefika not fielding an Elite team this year, two players come in from Hawaii, as well.
Cannibals draws from Pasefika, Herriman, Provo, Wasatch, and United.
And yes, this is a chance for exposure, but, added Coach Wesley Biutanaseva, "our goal to win the tournament."
Summit HS also is specifically regional but the Colorado-based HS team has also brought in some players from elsewhere and players who have excelled with different select sides—Jojo Mignone of Morris Rugby being an example of the former, and Hailey Russer, who has played with the NA Lions and Atlantis, being an example of the latter.
Every team will play every other team and with the intensity of the competition on Day One, fatigue can certainly step in. Most of the rounds of are played at the same time so each team is stressed in the same way. Interesting is that Belmont Shore and Majestics will play their final pool game against each other. That could possible be the final.
