GRR: National Teams
BOULDER, Colo. (USA Rugby) – USA Men’s Eagles Head Coach Mike Tolkin has selected a 50-man Rugby World Cup training squad ahead of a busy summer of rugby in the United States prior to the team’s jaunt to England.
Straight out of high school and in to international rugby, Richelle Stephens was not eased into the role.
The Fallbrook HS talent was picked for the USA team at the NACRA 7s, and then started at flyhalf - in every game.
The MVP of the Men’s NACRA 7s Championships was Danny Barrett.
While Perry Baker led the team in tries, and Maka Unufe was an all-around effective player, distributing, defending, and scoring, and while players like Folau Niua and Garrett Bender and the rest had their role to play, ultimately, Barrett was the best.
USA Women's 7s captain Kelly Griffin was our pick for MVP of the NACRA 7s. Griffin was the leader of a dominant team, cleaned up all the little problems - missed passes, balls scooting out of the rucks, and was a physical presence despite being not especially large.
While the qualification to the 2016 Rio Olympics was expected for the USA women, it wasn’t such a done deal for the USA men.
The men’s team had to face up against Canada in the final, and everyone knew that it would be a tense game.
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