U19 INASC Write Up

Thanks to Wendy over at Yourscrumhalfconnection.com for posting the U-19 INASC article from USA Rugby (I had a terrible time finding it on the website)

from USA Rugby:

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The West Under-19 team captured a narrow 10-8 victory over its Northeast counterparts to take home the 2008 title as the Women’s Under-19 Invitational National All-Star Championships wrapped up at Mills Pond Park today.

This was the third annual U-19 INASC tournament, with the previous two events being held in Nashville, Tenn. The 2008 competition featured teams representing all seven USA Rugby Territorial Unions, as well as an Under-17 squad comprised of players selected from the current U-20 Women’s National Team pool and players recommended by the TU-19, college and high school coaches.

Round one of the tournament kicked off on Saturday, with primarily close matches throughout tiers one and two, as three of the four matches were decided by five points or less. In Tier 1, the West edged out Pacific Coast 10-7, while the Northeast defeated the Midwest 22-19. Inside Tier 2 competition, Mid-Atlantic (MARFU) won its match-up versus the South 12-5 while the Under-17 team shutout Southern California 93-0.

The outcome of day one set the stage for a set of Sunday match-ups that mirrored those of the 2007 Under-19 INASCs, with the West and Northeast swapping positions with the Midwest and Pacific in the Championship match this year.

Sunday featured a set of highly competitive matches, especially within the top tier. When the day kicked off, the South shutout So Cal 39-0 in the Tier 2 consolation, while the Under-17s shutdown Mid-Atlantic 35-3. Meanwhile, in the Tier 1 contests, it was Midwest holding off Pacific Coast 10-3 and the West coming away as the overall victors by a slim 10-8 margin over the Northeast.

“The quality of play was much improved from last year’s competition, especially in the top tier, where the quality of defense was exceptional. In yesterday’s matches, the games were ultimately decided by three points and today by seven, which really showed that on any given Saturday, the outcome of a competition between those four teams could have been different,” USA Under-20 Women’s Head Coach Bryn Chivers said.

“The matches this weekend highlighted great defensive skills. The athletes were more aggressive at the breakdown, more aggressive throughout the backs, and showcased a much more sophisticated level of play overall,” he added.

This year’s tournament was held in conjunction with the USA Women’s National Team (WNT) intra-squad Red/White Match on Saturday afternoon and allowed the WNT coaches and staff the opportunity to see some of the younger up-and-coming players.

“The Under-17 match was the last game of the day on Saturday and provided the perfect segue into watching the Senior National Team in the afternoon – it helped illustrate the clear pathway from U-17 to U-19 and now U-20 level, to the Women’s National Team,” Chivers added. “It was another great event and it was wonderful to have the WNT coaches at the event observing and scouting players. It showed the real importance of the Women’s Age-Grade system in cultivating athletes for future National Team opportunities.”

For more information on the Under-19 Invitational National All-Star Championship or to recommend prospective players for the Under-20 WNT, please contact U-20 Head Coach Bryn Chivers.

Day 1 Results
Tier 1
West 10, Pacific Coast 7
Northeast 22, Midwest 19

Tier 2
MARFU 12, South 5
Under-17 93, So Cal 0
Day 2 Results
Tier 1
Consolation: Midwest 10, Pacific Coast 3
Championship: West 10, Northeast 8

Tier 2
Consolation: South 39, So Cal 0
Championship: Under-17 35, MARFU 3

If you build it they will come: U19 INASC Next Week

USA Rugby Releases Details on the 2008 Under-19 Invitational National All-Star Championships

BOULDER, Colo. - The 2008 Under-19 Invitational National All-Star Championships will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on November 22-23. This year’s tournament will include a USA Women’s National Team (WNT) intra-squad Red/White Match on Saturday afternoon and will provide the WNT coaches and staff the opportunity to see some of the younger up-and-coming players.

This will be the third annual U-19 INASC tournament, with the previous two events being held in Nashville, Tenn. In 2006, the event was organized as a response to the need for representative-level rugby for the growing population of U-19 Women’s players. The 2007 event saw all seven territories represented with the USA U-20 WNT entering a developmental side of U-17 players to round out the field of eight teams. The tournament was held at a local high school and provided the teams with the opportunity to play in front of a good-sized crowd in the football stadium.

The U-19 INASC has become the most important selection venue for the USA U-20 Women’s National Team. Six of the squad that went to South Africa this summer were first seen by the U-20 WNT staff at last year’s Championships

All of the Territorial Union’s U-19 coaches have run selection camps this year and their commitment to the development of their TU sides has seen them work to develop representative sides at the state or Local Area Union (LAU) level, as well.

Before the U-19 INASC, the task of finding and developing potential WNT players was placed solely on the U-20 WNT staff, but now the program has seven TU U-19 coaches who are targeting and developing players.

“Three years ago the primary selection vehicle for the U-19 WNT was a camp for fifty players recommended by their coaches,” Women’s Under-20 Coach Bryn Chivers said. “You didn’t really know what you would get until you saw the player at the camp. Now we have the opportunity to view two hundred players who all came through their LAU sides or TU camps. Seeing all these players at the TU representative level now gives the U20 WNT staff a much better idea of how a player will perform at the higher levels.”

The USA U-20 WNT will again enter a U-17 squad into the tournament and the team will be comprised of U-17 players selected from the current U-20 WNT pool and players recommended by the TU U-19, college and high school coaches.

All coaches should feel free to contact U-20 Head Coach Bryn Chivers about any players they would like to recommend for the U-20 WNT. Please contact him at bryn.chivers@gmail.com or call 773-308-4540 for further information.

Another Video to Promote NCAA women's rugby

The NCAA Initiative for women's rugby is set for a goal of achieving 40 varsity programs. Please take a moment and view this short promo on the female rugby athlete. Please contact USA Rugby for more information on how you can join the initiative to expand participation for girls and women in the game of rugby. www.usarugby.org. bcarlson@usarugby.org

Great video to promote HS Girls Rugby!

Please take a moment to view USA Rugby's promotional video on the Girls' High School Varsity movement. Photos by Denise Chambers, footage provided by Sylvain Doreau of Bin15 productions and editing by Becky Carlson. Footage and photos taken at the Colorado Girls' High School Club Championship. For more information on the high school varsity initiative in Colorado and in the U.S., email varsityrugby@usarugby.org.