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U18 Open is Indeed Open at NAI 7s

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U18 Open is Indeed Open at NAI 7s

Some action between Belmont Shore and San Mateo from 2023. Alex Goff photo.

With a number of the Belmont Shore players who led the team to a U18 Open win in the 2023 NAI 7s, this year's bracket is wide open.

Except ... it's worth noting that Belmont Shore also won the NAI U16 bracket, so those players will be moving into the U18 side. So, yes, Belmont Shore one of the favorites. But it won't be easy, at all. Let's take a look at some of the other teams that might be contenders.

Team Related. This is a team made up largely of players from East HS in the Salt Lake City area. Led by the bruising power of Papa Matelau and with plenty of other talents such as Aleki Naea, Petu Pulatau, and more, they have the ability to go a long way.

West Valley Warriors are another local team with breakaway speed and thunderous power in contact. They need to keep it together for a full 14.

Atlantis probably leads the way in Pool B but keep an eye on Riverton, which is local, a Gorilla side that has a bunch of players who have experience from younger brackets in NAI, and a Liberty side that knows itself well. Atlantis draws players from Pennsylvania but they have others from all over, such as Dylan Waschman from Dallas Jesuit.

Rebel Rugby has two teams in the Elite bracket but should do well here, also. While Colorado is their main source of players Rebel has developed a nice relationship with Iowa, where they play 7s as their regular competition. We'll see some of those players here. They are in Pool C with the San Mateo Wolverines, who can score from anywhere.

USA South Panthers lead the way in a very tough Pool D that includes TOA. The Panthers have done a good job of working their players through their age levels while also bringing in new talent. Four of the players that just won the RAN U19 tournament (against Caribbean national U19 teams) had started with the Panthers U14s. This Panthers team is mostly Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. Keep an eye on Tanner Loebsack and Patrick Rushe. This is essentially the team that played as U16s in 2023.

Pool E might well be the Pool of Death with a very good group from Bitterroot, an LA Tribe squad that is very close to the one that was victorious in 2023's National Youth 7s, an imposing Pioneer 7s side with Sia Ofa and Kite Afeaki, and a KC Jr. Blues team led by the rapier-and-hammer combo of Aidan Chavez and Lance Nauer.

Pool F Aan elusive, physical, and fast Kahuku side leads Pool F but don't overlook at North Carolina team that could surprise many. And we mentioned Pool G at the beginning.

Too many teams to pick a winner, but here you have some candidates for a championship. As always, luck with injuries, getting into a team mindset early, and fitness all are factors, as are game-changing athletes.

KC Jr Blues from Goff Rugby Report on Vimeo.

Chase Brown of Atlantis from Goff Rugby Report on Vimeo.

Belmont Shore Captains at NAI 7s from Goff Rugby Report on Vimeo.

This is not to ignore the other teams there. Many of them are unknowns as a unit, coming from British Columbia, northern Washington, western Washington, Texas, and many other regions, as well. Someone is bound to shake things up.

Boys U18 Pools:

POOL A POOL D
New Mexico Desert Warriors 18 Skagit Valley Steelheads
MacDowell Rugby TOA
West Valley Warriors WarFrogs
Mother Lode  USA South Panther 'RED'
   
POOL B POOL E
Riverton rugby Pioneer 7s Select U18B
Gorilla Rugby  2024 LA Tribe BU18
Liberty Rugby Club Kansas City Blues 7s
Atlantis  Bitterroot Warriors
   
POOL C POOL F
Titans Rugby Kahuku Boys Rugby
San Mateo Wolverines Wasatch HS
Laguna Beach NCYRU U18B
Rebel Rugby Academy Provo Steelers
   
POOL D POOL G
Skagit Valley Steelheads Team Related
TOA Sacramento Kaji Rugby
WarFrogs Rush Rugby Boys
USA South Panther 'RED' Belmont Shore U18B

NAI 7s Boys U18 Open Rosters
Gorilla Atlantis Belmont Shore
Andrew Manes Alejandro Andujar Blake Vera
Daniel Abdiyah Austin Hughes Finn Bradshaw
Darius Hill Chris Pecora Gavin Vera
Gavin Gonzalez Chris Whitcomb Hunter Tago-Su’e
George Evans Colin Olivo Jaden Hernandez
Giovanni Delgaudio Dylan Wachsman Jordan Guerrero
Isaiah Williams Ian Dobbins Joshua Camacho
Lucas Martineli Jerry Karcewski Marco Camacho
Noah Burgau Josh Gorman Michael Young
Ryan Pringle Justin Kaplan Nathaniel De La Cruz
Tate Standridge Kai Laszakovits Pierce Tusa
  Roman Cammarata Viane Leilua
  Santino Scaffidi  
     
KC Jr Blues LA Tribe Kahuku
Aidan Chavez Angel Torres Avea Watene
Jackson Scheffler Braden Ropati Bryant Lauano
Jadon Farris Exodus Alo Gabriel Cravens
Johannes Versfeld Jameson Garrison Hala Tuifua-Seui
Kade Giegerich Jordan Lauago Jayden Tagaloa
Kali Kinikini Josiah Apisala Josiah Pierre-Louis
Lance Nauer Katenitila Pouha Lewen Garvida
Marley Taula Kingston Garrison Maihetoa Hekau
Mauricio Lopez Lefano Lefano Jr Makamau Hekau
Owen Cichello Lykaios Riley Malosi Fiatoa
Tyrese Wulue Manoah Faupusa Moamoaba Timon
Vershswn Dudley Saks Andrews Tevita Valikoula
Vince Jacoby Sevelino Taliauli Tutonuhia Hekau
Vincent White Tupu Toloai Tylejay Tuia
     
Bitterroot Laguna Beach Liberty
Alex Chan Brad Aryeh Axel Strasser
Benjamin Johns Davis Dix Dalen Justice
Bryson Poulsen Isaiah Brown Eli Kennerley
Carson Ward Jeremiah Leftwich Ernie Tofi
Dawson Pace Kellen Dyer Israel Kennerley
Jake Nyholm Lucas Furar Laki FAGAAUTUA
Liam Ralph Nicolas Vidaurri Tucker MAREK WRIGHT
Noah Davis Oliver Peltzner Miguel Savea
Noah Hunziker Redmond Chesley Patrick Barker
Philippe Vitse Skyler Schwarm Raymond Toso
Sam Diekfuss Will Briggs Seamus Twohey
  Kahuku Boys Rugby Viliame Vela
     
MacDowell Mother Lode NCYRU
Alexander Harper Aidan Alexander Dylan Giltzow
Iain Anderton-Teasdale Bryn Jones Ethan Byrd
Jordon Young Caleb Smithee Grayson Gallo
Marc Mencarelli Dylan Alexander Grex Kent
Morrie Norsten Jack Cantelme Jack Lamotta
Owen Lewis Josh Dreu Jamael Stewart
Owen Tomlinson Luke Lundbeck Logan Sheets
Owen Watson Marshall Alvernaz Quincy Poe
Quentin Farquhar Savenaca Gucake Rory Nealon
Rhett Esler Van Seeber William Squires
Ryan Strong   Wyatt Carlson
     
New Mexico Desert Warriors Pioneer 7s Select WarFrogs
Bradley Wirlen Gabe Bloomfield Aiden Youngberg
Christopher Waseta Jarom Tapusoa Cooper Wall
Dom Negreiros Jesse Hillesheim Eli Bateman
Ethan Garcia Josh Larsen Jaxon Catenzaro
Javon Walton Kitekei'aho Afeaki Junior Ortiz
Logan Stewart Lincoln Terry Manuel Ortiz
Marcel LeFevre Matthew Boyack Patrick Hayden
Marcus LaCuesta Paula Fonua Sayer Lilya
Nehemiah Diaz Lopez Sialeafuhia 'Ofa Seth Winward
Seth Cowan Soakai Fonua Ty Young
Toby McQuillin Sofele Hansen  
     
Rebel Rugby Academy Riverton Rush Rugby
Caiden Simiele Aiden Shellenberger Angel Leija
Coleman Otto Britton Butler Asher Lewis
Deagan Sarty Cannon Brinton Diego Ratliff
Ethan Poinsett Carter Pilcher Dominik Lopez
Grant Heidemann Cash Galloway Fabian Mendoza
Henry Bennetts Drayson Moliga George Valenzuela
Hudson Vroegh Isaac Mickelsen Jackson Manhart
Isaac Keller James Pullan Kennon Anderson
Jack Chisholm Jason Bricknell Mason Hillier
JaMarkus Lofton Karsten McElreath Sakiusa Tabakece
Patrick Sale Luke Hamblin Suniga Brantley
Preston Dirks Makai Matagi Tyson Vincent
  Makoy Aiono  
  Ryker Christensen  
     
Sacramento Kaji San Mateo Wolverines Skagit Valley Steelheads
Anthony Ruelas Devin Faaumu Avery Blau
Esira Volavola Dylan Blank Dario Sepulveda
Jonathan Nawasa Isitolo Tuugamusu Erik Martin
Nick Bale Vakatawa James Fatai Jakobe Anaya
Sakiusa Tikotani Jarel Fuala'au Jasper Ingram
Salesi Kafovalu Mateni Puamau Jonathan Belcourt
Simana Samate Nalesoni Fakava Lucas Ruacho Madayag
Simione Takeifanga Nasili Puamau Marius Chavez
Simon Tokailagi Nitin Prasad Robert Norman II
Sioeli Fotofili Spencer Unga Roman Romero
Sione Paongo William Faaumu Tarquin Heart Broker
Tevita Tausinga   Tytus Jones
Tuku Tolo   Zaylen Vaquero
William Matakibau    
     
Team Relates Titans Rugby Wasatch HS
Akeli Naea Andrew Storheim Abraham Wheeler
Atunaisa Puletau Beckam Jones Alatonu Ah Chee
Benji Tukuafu chris manuo Alex Mowry
Damian Otukolo duncan Summerhays Andrew Hall
Joon Kaufusi Elijah Ellsworth Elias Murdock
Kalani Palei Jack Reid Emanuel Inciarte
Lione Hola Kebai Michael Ethan Ferguson
Michael Fonua Kingston Nugent Gavin Lange
Nasio Otukolo Marcus Roach Jacob Adam
Papa Matelau Mason Ontiveros Jonah Lange
Petulosi Puletau Matthew Ahlstrom Jr Joseph Trunnell
Rex Bateman Owen Christensen Porter Kuch
Siaosi Tuitavake Zander DiFrancesco  
Teki Lao    
     
USA South Panthers Provo Steelers TOA
Gavin Trussell David Tulikihihifo Austin pabst
Jack Sipniewski Ezra Tuilevuka Brayden Donovan
Jameson Dixon Feitagai Lesa Dallin Gunter
Jaxen Hilbush Francis Aloisio David Kerr
Kaden Hasty Hutch Fale Jackson Gray
Maddox Tinker Inoke Lloyd Jordan Leonard
Mariano Cuccarese Jalen Namulauti Kayden Billings
Matthew Brown-Ramos Karson Haws Max Nuffer
Patrick Rushe MJ Iosefo Oscar Ortero
Sarp Kundakci Paka Haunga Peyton Daiker
Sawyer Rutherford Pakaroa Haunga Porter Rich
Tanner Loebsack Rawhiti Tuilevuka Russell Moulton
  Sione Moala  
West Valley Warriors Siosefa Diaz  
Ammon Haley    
Blake Moore    
David synal    
Dax Nielsen    
kenyon Paea    
Logan Myers    
Robert Vaenuku    
Samuel Ndayikengurutse    
Siaosi Kolomatangi    
Stan Figiel    
Takoa Byrd