One of the most intriguing brackets at this week’s Las Vegas Invitational will be the Boys U16 7s.

The teams enrolled are very strong, with youngsters from the British Columbia Elite 7s program, Eagle Impact Rugby Academy, and Atlantis leading the field.

Rhino Rugby Academy out of Southern California and Tennessee Tri-Stars promise stiff competition, but the bracket comes down to those first three.

Atlantis brings in a group that made the final of the bracket in 2015, with some new players to replace those who aged out.

“It’s going to be interesting. It’s great for the kids to get higher-level competition,” said Atlantic Coach Greg Schor, (whose son, Chase, ironically, was snapped up by the EIRA U17s). “One of the things I’ve seen is that playing in a different environment - a different union, territory, country - the game is played at a different speed. You see where you need to improve. Last year we did really well, and we have a good team this year, with good ball-winning forwards, good halfbacks, and good finishers.”

Atlantis also had superb speed last year. It remains to be seen how quick they are this year.

Atlantis Squad

Dan Bark Archmere Academy, 

Dan Brown West Chester, 

Mike Weir Doylestown, 

Nick Aumann Cardinal Gibbons, 

Noah Geltman Play Rugby Academy, 

Ian Kilcullen Gonzaga  

Will Lyke Gonzaga, 

Owen Sheehy Gonzaga, 

Ryan Ebel Gonzaga, 

Will  McCausland Downingtown 

Jack McCausland Downingtown, 

Peter Lucic Boston Irish

Meanwhile, the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy team was brought together from standouts at the EIRA camps in Washington, Lindenwood University, Southern California, and Indiana. Watch out for big, bruising David Ainuu out of the Liberty club in Washington, and another Al-Jiboori, this time it’s Tyren, younger brother of Michael and Malon. Kyle Lazera is a snappy halfback to watch from Jupiter in Florida.

EIRA U16s

David Ainuu 16 5'10" 240 Liberty WA 

Tyren Al-Jiboori 15 6'0" 174 Union High School OK 

Kai Carlberg 15 5'11" 165 Springfield Celts IL 

Asa Carter 16 6'4" 208 Union High School OK 

Jacob Cortinas 14 5'4" 125 Peninsula Green CA 

Amar Dhillon 15 5'8" 173 Mother Lode CA 

Matthew Freeman 15 5'7" 165 Gonzaga College High School DC 

Kaipono Kayoshi 16 6'0" 180 Granite Bay CA 

Isaia Kruse 16 5'7" 146 Bullard High School CA 

Kyle Lazera 15 5'4" 148 Jupiter Sharks FL 

Russell Lemaster 14 6'1" 194 Royal Irish IN 

Sean Nolan 15 6'2" 160 Back Bay Sharks CA 

James Reid 14 5'9" 155 Warrenton VA 

Blake Richards-Smith 16 6'3" 170 Coastal Dragons CA 

Noah Wright 16 5'6" 135 Liberty WA