There hasn’t been much promotion of the Atlanta 7s Festival – the amateur women’s tournament occurring alongside the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series stop – and that’s probably because the tournament is small. There are 20 teams (three have two sides) competing across four divisions, and while programs like AIC, Cal and Glendale represent regions outside of the South, the first-ever Festival has not been well supported across the country.

That said, the teams that are traveling to Kennesaw State understand their significance, and Atlantis is one of them. The all-star program, fresh off a huge showing at the Las Vegas Invitational, is back on the circuit and sending two teams to the Atlanta area.

“I really believe that we need to support what I hope will become the women’s version of Vegas,” Atlantis Blue coach Tom Feury summed it up.

Feury, who assembled the roster for the first-ever Atlantis Girls U16s in Las Vegas, has brought four of his Morris/New Jersey Blaze players.

“I have tried to give some new girls opportunities,” Feury explained. “For example, all four of the New Jersey Blaze girls did not play for us in Vegas, but they are solid players with a lust for the game that want to push themselves to play at a higher level.”

Kat Ramage was in Las Vegas, but she was playing for the High School All Americans and busy winning an LVI trophy. Six states are represented on the Blue team, and three of the nine-player squad are Atlantis rookies.

Atlantis Black is headed by Karl Barth, who brought six players – split evenly between the two teams – on tour. Becca Jane Rosko and Morgan Courtney are the leaders on this squad, having played with the HSAAs in Vegas as well as Atlantis. Rosko (and Ramage) are also junior Olympians.

“Karl and I decided to mix the team up to give the girls an opportunity to play with new teammates, as well as see some different coaching,” Feury said. “Our goal is to continue to infuse some excitement into our young athletes as to what may lie ahead of them if they choose to make rugby a priority in their lives. One thing is for sure, we will have some fun together in Atlanta playing rugby and cheering on the USA Women!”

And Atlantis might have the opportunity to play in front of the USA Women. The high school final will be played inside Fifth Third Stadium at 2:15 p.m. during day one of the Atlanta 7s.

Atlantis Blue
Megan Bird – Oak Creek, WI (Atlantis U16)
Angie Fernandez – New York Rugby Club, NYC
Jalyn Holloway – Liberty, MO
Jodi Losch – Summit, CO (Atlantis)
Demi-Lee Pretorius – Morris/Blaze, NJ
Kat Ramage – Morris/Blaze, NJ (Jr Olympics/Atlantis/HSAA)
Angie Ramos – Summit, CO (Atlantis)
Meg Rose – Summit, CO (Atlantis)
Catie Sands – Essex, VT (HSAA/Atlantis)
Coach: Tom Feury

Atlantis Black
Kelly Albers – Highland Ranch, CO (Atlantis)
Reina Anderson – Brookfield, WI
Cassidy Bargell – Summit, CO
Morgan Courtney – Summit, CO (HSAA/Atlantis)
Tamlyn Cowan – Morris/Blaze, NJ
Delia Hellander – Morris/Blaze, NJ
Sophie Pryz - Doylestown, PA (Atlantis)
Becca Jane Rosko - Summit, CO (Jr Olympics/Atlantis/HSAA)
Ravyn Santiago – New York Rugby Club, NYC
Coach: Karl Barth

The tournament will be contested on Saturday, March 14 from 8 a.m.-noon, and includes the following women’s teams:

Club 15 (4): Cincinnati Kelts, Florida Selects, Charlotte, Harlequins
Club 7s (4): Berkeley, Lady Toes, 1823, ARPTC by Star 7s
College (7): AIC, Cal (2), Davenport, Kennesaw Motley, South All-Stars, USC
High School (8): Atlantis (2), Glendale, Kennesaw, Tribe (2), Richie’s Angels, Younger Toes