Over the last year the Stars Rugby 7s has gone from a dream of organizer Liz Entwhistle to a full on select travel 7s sides featuring top men's and women's 7s players from around the country. After playing at the Las Vegas Invitational and then the Stampede 7s earlier in the 7s the Stars will embark on their most ambitious tour yet as they head to the Central Coast 7s later this month.
Leading the way for both the men's and women's teams are a mix of veterans and up and coming players. Deven Owsiany, Ryan Carlyle, Kaelene Lundstrum are all players that have put on an Eagles jersey on the IRB Sevens Series. Owsiany in particular has a lot of 7s experience and just finished playing in the World Cup. On the men's side Matt Hughston has been in Eagles 7s camp this year, Iniki Fa'Amausili was an All-American, and Jojo Tikiosuva just played for the U.S. in the Youth Olympics.
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For Entwhistle the roster was carefully chosen. "Building this Stars Rugby 7s roster has been the most in-depth process yet. Preparations have involved cross-country travel including scouting at Club 7s Nationals, at high level tournaments and camps, watching game film, and discussions with many coaches including some suggestions from USA Women's Sevens Coach Ric Suggitt and chats with Men's High Performance Director Alex Magleby."
Selections for the team began with the team's tour to the Stampede 7s in Calgary. There are a number of players from that tour that will be continuing on. "Initial invites were extended upon our return to the United States and we added players as the summer 7s season progressed," explained Entwhistle. "I'm thrilled to bring strong men's and women's sides balanced with speed and size, youth and experience, and featuring players from the club D2 and D3 ranks as well as the WPL, PRP, and capped internationals."
"Our most recent and youngest addition to the men's side is Jojo Tikoisuva of the Sacramento Lions, who comes fresh from representing the Junior Eagles at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. He'll join players like Charlotte's Matt Hughston, who spent time at Olympic Training Center earlier this summer as an invitee to Eagles 7s camp after his first team tournament selection at Elite City 7s and Matt's Charlotte and South Panthers teammate Chris Milledge. Cody Melphy and Iniki Fa'Amausili of the Glendale Raptors showed well at Serevi Rugbytown 7s to earn their invites. Nate Olsen of the Milwaukee Barbarians and Junior Sucu of the Washington Rugby Club bring Stars veteran experience after leading our side to the championship game of Calgary's Stampede 7s. Matt Ryan joins us from the All Army 7s program while Cody Weber is the only Star who played at Club 7s nationals; he earned his invite through spirited play with the 3rd place Kansas City Blues. Players Ryan Thompson, Ryan Matyas, Ty Elkins, Jake Wrobel, and Joe Senteno were all in consideration after the club season and Rugbytown 7s, but were unavailable for tour."
As happens with traveling teams local players will be used for the tournament. Luckily for the Stars they'll have the services of former Rabbitoh and Tonga 7s player Eddie Paea. Using the connection of coach Andy Katoa--who is now in charge of Tonga--another Tonga 7s player in Apakuki Ma'Afu will be on the team.
Kotoa is well familiar in U.S. 7s circles having spent a number of years as manager and assistant coach for the Eagles 7s. He's also spent time coaching at the age-grade level and has joined the staff of Arizona. Joining him in the coaching ranks is former All Black and 2005 IRB 7s Player of the Year Orene Ai'i.. "I'm excited for both coaches to develop our players not only through the 6 days of training in Australia leading up to the Central Coast 7s tournament," explained Entwhistle. "But also with our larger staff for Tobago 7s in December and beyond!"
On the women's side Kaelene Lundstrum, Josie Ziluca, Nana Fa'Avesi and Elvy Asonye all return from the Calgary tour. Ziluca won a 7s title with the San Diego Surfers in the summer and Nana spent time with the Women's Eagles 7s at the OTC. Entwhistle added that "we add Jessica Turner of the perennial 7s powerhouse Berkeley All Blues, Cynthia Wright of the DC Furies (and a former All Blue), and Gina Steffano from HARC. Ashley Perry teamed up with Kaelene on the Youngbloodz 7s side out of Minnesota and Ryan's Seattle Saracens teammate Kristine Sommer rounds out a solid roster. Ashley, JT, Cynthia and Josie and I additionally attended Julie McCoy's American Pro Rugby Training Center Camp in preparation for tour. It's also worth nothing that Cynthia, Kaelene, JT, Josie and Gina have been teammates in the past with the storied Atlantis 7s program."
"I've likened this tour buildup to planning a wedding with all the time and coordination it has entailed; now we're 15 days away from walking down the airplane aisle on the way to Sydney and Wyong. Each day the program gets better, gets stronger, and we add to our player and coaching pools for future tours. We have a long list of sponsors and supporters to thank for our ability to compete in Central Coast 7s and expect run to the Cup Round - through the Australian National Team, New Zealand Wasps (that features several NZ Silver Ferns) and Sydney Fiji Ranadi for the women's pool and Wellington, Red Rock and Te Whanau for the men - as a result of all the effort!"
Women: *Elvy Asonye (San Jose Seahawks), Ryan Carlyle (Seattle Saracens), *Joanne (Nana) Fa'Avesi (Sacramento Amazons), *Kaelene Lundstrum (Twin Cities Amazons/Youngbloodz 7s), Deven Owsiany (Keystone Rugby Club), Ashley Perry (Twin Cities Amazons/Youngbloodz 7s), Kristine Sommer (Seattle Saracens), Gina Steffano (Houston Area Rugby Club), Jessica Turner (Berkeley All Blues), Cynthia Wright (DC Furies), *Josie Ziluca (San Diego Surfers)
Men: Iniki Fa'Amausili (Glendale Raptors), Matt Hughston (Charlotte Rugby Club), Apakuki Ma'Afu (Sydney, Australia), Cody Melphy (Glendale Raptors), Chris Milledge (Charlotte Rugby Club), *Nate Olsen (Milwaukee Barbarians), Eddie Paea (Sydney, Australia), Matt Ryan (Barracks Rangers), *Saula (Junior) Sucu (Washington Rugby Club (DC)), Jojo Tikiosuva (Sacramento Lions), Cody Weber (Kansas City Blues), Charlie Versi (Sydney, Australia)
Staff: Orene Ai'i (New Zealand - Coach), *Liz Entwhistle (Fort Miami/W1823 7s - Manager/Tour Director), Alex Flohr (Australia -Physio), Andy Katoa (Tonga - Coach), *John Tinsley (Malaysia - Chiropractor)
*Denotes veterans of previous Stars Rugby 7s tours