WJAAs Named for Can-Am Series

BOULDER, Colo. – Interim Head Coach Wil Snape has selected the touring squad for the USA Rugby AIG Women’s Junior All-Americans’ two-match series against Canada this month.

Central Washington University will host the under-20 representative sides of the U.S. and Canada from Aug. 15 through Aug. 22, with the teams scheduled to play each other on Wildcat Rugby Pitch Wednesday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 22.

Canada has held the competitive advantage in recent seasons, with two defeats of the WJAAs in the 2013 U20 Nations Cup and an under-20 Can-Am Series victory in 2014.

“Canada has been better than us for too long now,” Snape said, “and this is kind of the message that our players have to take on: if we’re going to compete and be better than Canada, we have to do something that we’ve not done and no team at this age grade has for some time, and that’s push ourselves beyond what we’re capable of.”

Snape used the recent WJAA camp at University of Northern Colorado as a selection vehicle for the upcoming assembly. Twenty-five of the players in attendance in Colorado were at the preceding National All-Star Competition, featuring more than 200 athletes of varying age groups, at James Madison University.

The athletes have already had multiple opportunities to train with younger players, who will soon be competing for a role with the WJAAs; older players, who provide experience and leadership; and members of the national team coaching staffs, from the senior Eagles through to the Girls High School All-Americans powered by ATAVUS.

“It’s one thing having the players together so that you can select,” Snape said. “It’s another thing to actually put them under the conditions they’ll be exposed to at the international level.

“It’s not only good for them, but for us as coaches from a selection standpoint to see what they’re capable of doing.”

The majority of the selections have been named to the GHSAAs and WJAAs in recent years, and have attended the USA Rugby High School Stars and Stripes Camp at UNC. Twelve of the WJAAs were on last year’s tour to Ontario, while nine were with schools that competed in the Women’s Division I Spring Championship Semifinals and National Championship Final.

Joie Krahling and Kat Ramage, representatives of the first GHSAA team, helped American Rugby Pro Training Center win the 2015 USA Rugby Emirates Airline Club 7s National Championship in Des Moines, Iowa, over the weekend. Asinate Serevi of CWU was a member of the runner-up Seattle Saracens side.

“I watched [Club 7s] with the hope that they wouldn’t get injured so close to what we’re doing,” Snape said. “It was less of a critical eye and more of wanting to enjoy them playing, hoping they do well for themselves.

“We want players to come in with confidence, so I’m really pleased all of those girls showed why we selected them.”

On the way to their own two-match series with a Canadian team, the GHSAAs will train alongside the WJAAs at CWU and take in the first match at Wildcat Rugby Pitch.

“The advantages of having the players together is having the potential for girls in the high school program to step up if need be,” Snape said. “We already have some youngsters in our side that would qualify for both, so it’s exciting that, if we have injuries or players aren’t playing well, the younger girls can get their opportunity.

“Another goal of ours is to inspire the girls below them, and likewise I hope the players below my age group will be pushing my players.”

The WJAAs will assemble in Ellensburg, Wash., ahead of the first match day. The live stream of both matches will be provided by the University.