SEATTLE (ATAVUS Release) – ATAVUS (atavus.com) today announced the creation of the ATAVUS All-Stars, select teams of aspiring men and women brought together from across ATAVUS programming to provide competitive opportunities in rugby athlete development. Comprised of men’s and women’s teams in both 15s and 7s, the All-Stars will be selected by ATAVUS coaches who identify players with high performance abilities and potential at the ATAVUS Academy, the USA Rugby Academy, and on “Powered By ATAVUS” teams and clubs across the nation. 

“The ATAVUS All-Stars are a true aspirational pathway for the players in our programs,” said Emilie Bydwell, Head of Rugby Programming at ATAVUS. “Through these teams we’ll provide unmatched competitive opportunities for athletes to play together and learn what it takes to perform under pressure.”

The All-Stars program includes Women’s/Men’s (18+), Collegiate Women’s/Men’s, and High School Girls’/Boys’ in both the 15s and 7s games. Along with on field skill and teamwork building, All-Star athletes will learn proper physical preparation, strength and conditioning, and recovery techniques critical to elite success. 

ATAVUS will work with USA Rugby Age Grade programs and coaches to ensure the All-Stars program is part of the National Team Pathway. To kick off the collaboration, USA Women’s 7s Assistant Coach Richie Walker will lead the ATAVUS All-Stars Women’s 7s teams in the Denver 7s on Saturday, June 27th. Additionally, USA Women’s Collegiate All-American Coach Sue Whitwell will coach the ATAVUS All-Stars Collegiate Women’s team that will face Ontario (Canada) in July. 

“At its core, the All-Stars program provides something we haven’t offered in the past – a true pinnacle of our programming pathway,” said Bydwell. “It’s an exciting time as we’ll be filling out the All-Stars roster through talent we ID at our summer Women’s and Men’s Resident Camps and our West and East Cost High School Resident Camps.” 

The current ATAVUS All-Stars Schedule for 2015-2016 includes: 

Denver 7s – June 27th, 2015

ATAVUS All-Stars Women’s 7s

Great Northwest Challenge 15s – June 27-28th, 2015

ATAVUS All-Stars High School Boys’ 15s

ATAVUS All-Stars Women’s Collegiate 15s vs. Ontario at University of Niagara – July 2015
Serevi RugbyTown 7s – August 14-16, 2015

ATAVUS All-Stars Men’s 7s
ATAVUS All-Stars High School Boys’ 7s

Las Vegas Invitational – February 2016

ATAVUS All-Stars Men’s 7s 
ATAVUS All-Stars Women’s 7s 
ATAVUS All-Stars High School Boys’ 7s 
ATAVUS All-Stars High School Girls’ 7s