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The USA women’s loss to England in the 3rd place match at the recent Amsterdam 7s not only cost the team the 3rd place trophy, but cost them something far more valuable. The loss gave England the coveted automatic qualification to the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Without the automatic qualification, the USA is forced into playing one more tournament to reach their goal.
All is not lost however, as the Eagles’ women now take aim at the upcoming North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) tournament next weekend in Cary, North Carolina. Unlike the men’s team, the USA women do not have a real competitor standing in their path since the Canadian Women already qualified for the Olympics.
The USA women head to North Carolina as heavy favorites to win the NACRA tournament and take their place at the 2016 Olympics. To prepare for the tournament, women’s Eagles head coach Ric Suggitt has brought in athletes to the Olympic Training Center for a pre-NACRA camp with the goal of coming up with the final 12-player roster to take to North Carolina next week.
The Eagles’ camp roster has a mix of veteran experience and young talent. Including the return of Jillian Potter to the roster after her battle with cancer that forced her from playing after the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Also in camp is Carmen Foster who also took part in the 2014 Women’s World Cup last year.
Suggitt is also bringing in some young talent to test at the camp. Lilly Durbin, McKenzie Hawkins, Mata Hingano, Apa’au Mailau, and Richelle Stephens all played for the inaugural Girls High School All American side at the Las Vegas Invitational this past February. Four of the players in camp also played for the USA at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in China.
The NACRA tournament kicks off on Saturday June 13th at the Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
USA WOMEN NACRA CAMP ROSTER
Kayla Canett, Lilly Durbin, Bayleigh Gable, McKenzie Hawkins, Delia Hellander, Mata Hingano, Ellie Koncki, Apa’au Mailau, Michel Navarro, Jillion Potter, Becca Jane Rosko, Richelle Stephens, Brianna Vasquez
