Dubai Kicks Off SVNS and Olympic Prep

12.01.2023LA 7s & LAI, National Teams

The newly-re-branded SVNS series, World Rugby’s world sevens circuit, kicks off in Dubai this weekend with both the USA Women and USA Men in action.

For the women, this is an experienced and talented group that is likely to be very similar to the roster for Paris 2024.

Hard-charging stars such as Alev Kelter and Ilona Maher combine nicely with finishers such as Jaz Gray, Sam Sullivan, and Ariana Ramsey. The Eagles won Gold at the recent Pan-Am Games and at that tournament we saw Cheta Emba take another step forward in her impressive run of form, and Spiff Sedrick take full advantage of the extra playing time she received. Naya Tapper and Lauren Doyle captain the side which also has veteran leaders like Kris Thomas and Nicole Heavirland.

Name	Position	HSBC Tournaments
1. Cheta Emba	Prop/Hooker	29
2. Ilona Maher	Center	22
3. Kayla Canett	Flyhalf	21
4. Nicole Heavirland	Hooker/Scrumhalf	34
5. Alev Kelter	Center	39
6. Alena Olsen	Scrumhalf	16
7. Naya Tapper (C)	Wing	33
11. Kris Thomas	Hooker/Prop	39
17. Alex “Spiff” Sedrick	Center	12
21. Ariana Ramsey	Wing	2
22. Sammy Sullivan	Prop/Wing	6
23. Lauren Doyle (C)	Wing	39
99. Jaz Gray	Wing	9

“We are really excited as a team to get back out to SVNS and test the work that we have done throughout preseason,” said USA Head Coach Emilie Bydwell. Selections for competitions are getting more and more challenging, with 23 players in residency pushing their own personal standards, level of play and execution. We know that this is a long year, and we are looking forward to putting our best foot forward in Dubai with the focus really being on ourselves and our ability to maximize our potential, play to our strengths and dominate in some key areas of the game that set us apart."

Don't forget that the SVNS LAX, the Los Angeles stop on the world circuit, is set for March 2-3, 2024. Come see this pre-Olympic showdown in the venue for the 2028 Summer Games rugby competition. Tickets can be had at: https://www.svns.com/en/events/los-angeles/event-info

“Our PanAmerican Games gold was an accomplishment that we are proud of and starting out the season by meeting an earlier milestone was important," added Bydwell, "but we know that we will need to elevate our process and our focus to meet what’s coming in Dubai.”

Meanwhile the men are in a little different situation. While the women qualified for the 2024 Olympics thanks to their finish in last year’s World Series, the Men had to play in the RAN qualifier tournament, which they won.

That upset Head Coach Mike Friday’s plans for player rest, and as a result, he has left Perry Baker, Kevon Williams, Stephen Tomasin, and Joe Schroeder at home.

All four spent their rest period helping with the U18 Boys 7s camp in preparation for the World Schools 7s, and Williams, in fact, will join that team in New Zealand as part of the coaching staff.

Meanwhile, in Dubai, Ben Pinkelman and Madison Hughes continue their comebacks. Pinkelman will captain the squad after a successful run in the 2023 PR7s season. Hughes will make his first return tournament this weekend.

There are young players, too. Recent Prusmack Award-winner as the best collegiate 7s player in the country, Orrin Bizer (Life University, The Woodlands), will make his debut, while Will Chevalier (Indiana, Neuqua HS) returns to the squad. Lance Williams, Jack Wendling (Central Washington, Chuckanut), and Pita Vi all have just a handful of tournaments under their belts.

It will be a mix of old and new.

“Before we know it, after a busy summer of Olympic qualification, we are back at it and off to the desert for the start of the HBSC SVNS," said Friday. "We are very much looking forward to the challenge of this new 12 team format, which will not only be even more insanely competitive and unforgiving but in this Olympic season and with global rugby stars like Antoine DuPont gracing the pitch, the excitement and competition will be at an all time high.

"We very much have an exciting young squad of players bookended by the returning veteran players of Ben Pinkelman and Madison Hughes, who will make their return after two-and-a-half years. We are under no illusion of the task that lies ahead in Dubai and Cape Town, and we have to give these young men the support and confidence to attack the challenge. With the power and speed we possess, if we can control our possession and we certainly have the capability to compete and beat any team. Minimizing unforced errors will be important as these young men find their way and a robust work ethic and resilience to stay in every battle.”

Name	Position	HSBC Tournaments
1. Aaron Cummings	Forward	14
2. Ben Broselle	Forward/Center	13
3. Jack Wendling	Forward	2
7. Naima Fuala’au	Halfback	24
8. Malacchi Esdale	Wing/Center	18
12. Lucas Lacamp	Center	13
13. Orrin Bizer	Forward	Debut
14. Marcus Tupuola	Halfback/Center	25
17. Lance Williams	Forward	2
18. Adam Channel	Forward	10
23. Will Chevalier	Halfback	1
25. Pita Vi	Center/Wing	4
28. Ben Pinkelman (C)	Forward	36
30. Madison Hughes	Halfback	52