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Premier Rugby Sevens is all set for its first event in Memphis on Saturday. The one-day pilot launches what is hoped will develop into a professional sevens circuit in 2022. Noting pay scales equally applied to both men and women and a unique team approach, the organization has already received full sanctioning from USA Rugby.
Six men’s teams and four women’s sides will contest the inaugural edition. Featured are some of the top names from the World Sevens Series, not least two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Perry Baker. Danny Barrett, Stephen Tomasin, Kristi Kirshe, and Alev Kelter are among the plethora of other stars.
The competition was hit with the late injury-enforced withdrawals of Carlin Isles and Abby Gustaitis though there are classy additions in Matai Leuta and Asinate Serevi. A sprinkling of international talent is also present such as Brazil star Isadora Cerullo, Mexico’s Karmin Macedo, Turks & Caicos flyer Luis Turbyfield, and a handful of Canadians.
Full rosters and a schedule can be seen below. The tournament takes place at Autozone Park in the heart of downtown Memphis. Live streams will be available on Fox Sports in the USA and TSN‘s digital offerings in Canada. The finals will be broadcast live on television on FS2 in the USA and TSN4 in Canada.
MEN: Noah Bain, Perry Baker (capt.), Watson Filikitonga, Naima Fuala’au, Dave Hightower, Corey Jones, Royaal Jones, Jake Klingelsmith, Logan Tago, Danny Thomas, Luis Turbyfield, Anthony Welmers
Coaches: Justin Hundley & David Fee
WOMEN: Sui A’au, Amanda Berta, Spencer Boldt, Kaitlyn Broughton, Summer Harris-Jones, Bridget Kahele, Kristi Kirshe (capt.), Erica Legaspi, Katie Lohaus, Jade McGrath, Neariah Persinger, Emily Samek
Coaches: Kate Daley & Lauren Doyle
MEN: Nick Boyer, Gavan D’Amore-Morrison, Calvin Gentry, Jake Hidalgo, Terell Johnson, Folau Niua (capt.), Donovan Norphlet, Lucas Scheck, Tim Stanfill, Norvel Stewart, Peter Tiberio, Chris Turori
Coach: Brendan Keane
WOMEN: Katie Johnson, Lauren Kenyon, Karmin Macedo, Lindsey Mahoney, Dana Meschisi, Alena Olsen, Rachel Strasdas, Nicole Strasko, Sam Sullivan, Naya Tapper (capt.), Kris Thomas, Emily Wessel
Coach: Andrew Locke
MEN: Sonny Adjei, Owen Brombal, Connor Buckley, Ross Depperschmidt, Alex Dorrier, Tai Enosa, Jimmy Haley, Matai Leuta, Ayemere Oiyemhonlan, Patrick Regan, Joeli Tikoisuva, Cole Zarcone
Coaches: Peter Sio & Salty Thompson
MEN: Cian Barry, Tommy Clark, Brendon Curle, Martin Iosefo, Nick Johnson, Jabaree Leopold, Patrick Madden, D’Montae Noble, Leon Powell, Devin Short, Kevon Williams (capt.), Lance Williams
Coach: Colton Cariaga
WOMEN: Kayla Canett, Isadora Cerullo, Megan Foster, Jazmine Gray, Corinne Heavner, Autumn LoCicero, Jessica Lu, Rachel Pau’u, Stephanie Rovetti, Asinate Serevi, Salote Tausinga, Lauren Thunen
Coaches: Rosalind Chou & Tiffany Fa’ae’e
MEN: Carmen Consolino, Jared Douglas, Gio Douyon, Matt Drzewiecki, Devereaux Ferris, Chris Mattina, Shane Moore, John Powers, Aki Raymond, Stephen Tomasin (capt.), David Verburg, Rodrick Waters
Coach: Sean White
WOMEN: Delaney Aikens, Josephine Asumang, Joanne Fa’avesi, Julia Folk, Amanda Hull, Alev Kelter (capt.), Cortney Kuehl, Saray Levy, Sophia Pyrz, Alex Sedrick, Hallie Taufo’ou, Glory Woolley
Coaches: Kelly Griffin & Robin McDowell
MEN: Danny Barrett (capt.), Aaron Cummings, Thomas Isherwood, Aren Martin, Skyler Mitchell, Jerome Nale, Cristian Rodriguez, John Ryberg, ConRoy Smith, James Vaifale, Coleson Warner, Harley Wheeler
Coaches: Tui Osborne & Ethan Pougnet
SCHEDULE
| PT | CT | ET | DIV | TEAM 1 | TEAM 2 |
| 07:00 | 09:00 | 10:00 | MEN | Loonies | Headliners |
| 07:25 | 09:25 | 10:25 | MEN | Loggerheads | Locals |
| 07:50 | 09:50 | 10:50 | WOMEN | Loggerheads | Headliners |
| 08:15 | 10:15 | 11:15 | WOMEN | Experts | Loonies |
| 08:40 | 10:40 | 11:40 | MEN | Loonies | The Team |
| 09:05 | 11:05 | 12:05 | MEN | Loggerheads | Experts |
| 09:30 | 11:30 | 12:30 | WOMEN | Loonies | Loggerheads |
| 09:55 | 11:55 | 12:55 | WOMEN | Headliners | Experts |
| 10:20 | 12:20 | 13:20 | MEN | Headliners | The Team |
| 10:45 | 12:45 | 13:45 | MEN | Locals | Experts |
| 11:15 | 13:15 | 14:15 | WOMEN | Experts | Loggerheads |
| 11:40 | 13:40 | 14:40 | WOMEN | Loonies | Headliners |
| 12:05 | 14:05 | 15:05 | MEN | Semi Final 1 | Semi Final 1 |
| 12:25 | 14:25 | 15:25 | MEN | Semi Final 2 | Semi Final 2 |
| 13:10 | 15:10 | 16:10 | WOMEN | Consolation Final | Consolation Final |
| 13:35 | 15:35 | 16:35 | MEN | Consolation Final | Consolation Final |
| 14:00 | 16:00 | 17:00 | WOMEN | Final | Final |
| 14:25 | 16:25 | 17:25 | MEN | Final | Final |
