The pools are set for the Boys HS Elite 7s at the Las Vegas Invitational.

Defending champions British Columbia are back, and there’s a very good chance that the final will, once again, be BC v the HS All Americans, as it has been every year.

In Pool A, the HS All Americans clash with Utah Rugby Academy, Maryland Exiles, and National Athletic Village. All four of these teams are very strong, and this is clearly the toughest pool in a competitive field. 

In Pool B it’s the ATAVUS All-Stars, USA South Panthers, Rhino Rugby Academy, and Coastal Dragons. The Dragons are a stand-alone club, rather than a select side, but will bring a ton of talent and pace. This pool is very much up in the air in part because we’re not sure who is on the these teams.

Pool C includes Atlantis, which has established a snappy pool of players from the Mid-Atlantic and Tri-State area with some additional talent from Florida, Ohio, and one Australian. Atlantis is most successful moving the ball and using some speedy wings. That’s the team they have now. 

Atlantis Squad

Dondre Ross, Conestoga High School, Pa.

Brandon Boon, Unionville HS, Pa.

Alex Schlager, West Shore United, Pa.

Alec Giakas, Archemere Academy, Del.

Justin Smith, Orlando, Fla.

Harrison Barkham, Orlando, Fla.

Royaal Jones, New Jersey Blaze

Jack Bradfield, St. Edward, Ohio

Owen Hundt, St. Edward, Ohio

Jayden Demmy, West Short United, Pa.

Fox Harper, Power House Rugby Union, Melbourne, Aus.

James Jaques, West Chester, Pa. 

Also in Pool C will be Rugby Washington, Upright Rugby Rogues, and Rhino. Upright is out of Ontario and has repeatedly made the top four in this competition. The final, however, has eluded them. 

Pool D British Columbia Elite Youth 7s. Utah Cannibals, EIRA, Tribe

This will be a very, very tough pool. BC is expected to make the final, if not win it all, but Eagle Impact will likely have what is basically a HS All-American-level group but a little younger. They will be a very challenging opponent for BC. 

The Cannibals usually are athletic, but struggle to maintain the pace and organization of the top teams. The Tribe is a bit more unknown. While Pool A is perhaps the most difficult, Pool D is almost as rough.

 

The BC squad is as follows:

Lucas Devries of Nanaimo, BC (St. Michaels University School)

Elias Ergas of North Vancouver, BC (Capilano RFC / Collingwood School)

Kyle Joe of Cobble Hill, BC (Cowichan RFC)

Wiley Gillette of Surrey, BC (Bayside Sharks RC / Earl Marriot Secondary School)

John Jubenvill of Surrey, BC (Bayside Sharks RC / Earl Marriot Secondary School)

Logan Martin-Feek of Victoria, BC  (Westshore RFC / Claremont Secondary School)

Matthew Houghton of North Vancouver (Capilano RFC / Rockridge Secondary School)

Evan Norris of Victoria, BC (Shawnigan Lake School)

Brennig Prevost of Victoria, BC (Castaway Wanderers / Glenlyon Norfolk School)

Thomas Rennie of Abbotsford, BC (Abbotsford RFC / Yale Secondary School)

Brandon Schellenberger of Victoria, BC (Castaway Wanderers / Oak Bay High School)

Michael Smith of Surrey, BC (Earl Marriot Secondary School)

 

The EIRA team combines some of the best players from core academies in Southern California, Washington, Indiana, the Carolinas, and Lindenwood. In addition, other players who have caught the eye of EIRA coaches.

EIRA U17s

Ben Broselle Chuckanut Bay, Wash. 

Ryan James, Aztec Warriors, Calif. 

Garrett Kay, Jesuit - Sacramento, Calif. 

Sean Lumkong, Coastal Dragons Calif. 

Conor McManus, Fort Hunt Va. 

Christian Newby, Southern Pines NC 

Quinn Perry, Santa Monica Dolphins Calif. 

Justin Petersen, Coastal Dragons Calif. 

Chase Schor Haskin, Weston Fla. 

Kyle Van Tonder, Rocky Mountain HS, Idaho 

John Wendling, Chuckanut Bay Wash. 

Bailey Wilson, United Utah