BC Rugby – BC Rugby’s Elite Youth Sevens Teams are primed for action as they prepare to take part in the Las Vegas Invitational, one of the largest Rugby Sevens tournaments in North America.  Three teams will make the journey south to represent the province, anticipating tough competition as they aim for podium positions.

The Elite Youth Sevens Boys’ Team, lead by Head Coach Tony LaCarte has assembled a strong group of talented athletes, aiming to combine the right levels of speed, skill and strength.  Aware of the growing levels of competition at the tournament, LaCarte stated “The American teams, already highly athletic, have made significant gains in tactics and game understanding in the last 4 years which will put the team under pressure.  Our aim with our BCEY7s team is to expose them to a high-performance Rugby Sevens environment and see who can step up to play at this level”.  After a credible 5th place finish in last year’s Boys High School Elite division, the team are targeting a top-three finish in 2018.

The Elite Youth Sevens Girls’ Teams, sponsored by Onni, will take part in two divisions, the U16 and U18.  Program Head Darcy Patterson is excited at the prospect of returning to Las Vegas after both teams came away in 2017 with Third Place finishes.  With a lot of new talent stepping up to the mark in 2018, in both teams, this tournament will be a big challenge for the players, a point not lost on Patterson.  “It will be a good marker of the depth in our Province, as well as a great experience for this group to showcase all they have been working on”.

All three Elite Youth Sevens teams depart on February 28th with the Las Vegas Invitational taking place on March 1-3.  For more information on the Las Vegas Invitational tournament – Click Here

 

BC Elite Youth Sevens Boys’ Team – Las Vegas 2018 Brock McCartney, Robert Bateman (Abbotsford, BC) Brady Smith, Earl Marriot (South Surrey, BC) Daniel Damron, Earl Marriot (White Rock, BC) Izzak Kelly, Earl Marriot, (White Rock, BC) Johnny Sutherland, Semiahmoo Secondary, (Surrey, BC) Joshua Elbourne, Canadian Sport School/Esquimalt High, (Victoria, BC) Matt McDougall Percillier, Brentwood College (Mill Bay, BC) Nathan Holm, Collingwood (West Vancouver, BC) Thomas Kirkwood, St. George’s (Vancouver, BC) Tom Abercrombie, Oak Bay High, (Victoria, BC) Tyler Buchanan, Semiahmoo Secondary, (White Rock, BC) Siôn Griffiths, Brentwood College, (Mill Bay, BC) Siaki Seumanutafa, Pacific Academy, (Surrey, BC) Zephyr Melnyk, Nanaimo District Secondary, (Gabriola Island, BC) Staff Head Coach: Tony La Carte Assistant Coach: Nanyak Dala Medical: Eric Marriott

BC Elite Youth Sevens Girls’ U18 Team – Las Vegas 2018 Kashish Arya, Abbotsford RFC Tayler Bailey, Abbotsford RFC Madison Blusson, Williams Lake Brittany Gardiner, Castaway Wanderers RFC Amelia Gordon, Castaway Wanderers RFC Callie Harder, Kamloops RFC/Lillooet MJ Jumeau, Cowichan RFC Emily Meier, Abbotsford RFC Jordyn Myers, Abbotsford RFC Ella O’Regan, James Bay Athletic Association Maelle Reed, Castaway Wanderers RFC Rachel Smith, Bayside Sharks RFC/Earl Marriot Non-travelling Reserves Kelsey White, Castaway Wanderers RFC Alancia Jefferey, Abbotsford RFC Staff Head Coach: Darcy Patterson Assistant Coach: Mandy Marchak Medical: Morgan Sangster

BC Elite Youth Sevens Girls’ U16 Team – Las Vegas 2018 Halle Smith, Kamloops RC Caleigh Silversides, Kamloops RC Esita Quiodravu, Kamloops RC Cassie Hul, Abbotsford RFC Niki Duchesne, Bayside Sharks RFC Samantha Lillywhite, Shawnigan Lake Mikayla Brennan, Shawnigan Lake Mia Eagar, Cowichan RFC Madison Makara, Abbotsford RFC Sierra Gillis, Belmont Secondary Libby Hogg,  James Bay Athletic Association Sarah Meier, Abbotsford RFC Non-traveling Reserves: Kira Peary, Abbotsford RFC Chloe Hill Huse, Castaway Wanderers RFC Jade Meldrum, Williams Lake Staff Head Coach: Deanna Makara Assistant Coach: Darcy Patterson Medical: Naomi Ogawa

More information about BC Rugby The British Columbia Rugby Union, commonly known as BC Rugby, is the governing body for Rugby in British Columbia and is a Provincial Union of Rugby Canada, the national governing body. Representing over 7,500 individuals registered through around 60 Member Clubs and Associations across the Province, BC Rugby leads and manages the sport with the aim to grow participation and develop excellence in all games of Rugby and in all facets of the sport.   Web: bcrugby.com Twitter: twitter.com/bcrugbyunion Facebook: facebook.com/bcrugbyunion