History in the Making
U19 AllStar girls team
With the explosive growth of youth rugby throughout the USA, and particularly in the South Territory USAR recognized the attraction of having a number of regional High Performance Tournaments that they can use to scout the up and coming talent for inclusion into the Eagles age grade youth programs.
Charlotte was one of 5 designated tournaments so the FRU made the commitment to send a boys and girls team to the South event (June 17/18) so we could both show case the Florida AllStars as well as support our Territorial event.
With the Rugby Academy of Florida providing the Organization and coaching team we set out to select both a boys and Girls U19 squad to represent Florida.
Open trials were held, 2 for each group and from that the squads were selected and a practice day held the weekend before leaving to Charlotte.
Why is this History in the making? It’s the first time we have sent a Florida Select side out of State and I believe the first time we have fielded a U19 AllStar girls team.
HOW THE BOYS DID, contribution by Moe U19 Team Manager and Coach
It was a great weekend in North Carolina and the boys really enjoyed themselves. Our first game was a tight game against Georgia with us coming out on top 30 to 28.
Our second game was against Tennessee with a decisive victory of 51 to 12. In this game we were able to play our entire roster. The Championship game was against North Carlolina. We out executed them almost the entire game, but small penalties lead our demise. It was 3-0 at the half with NC leading. Late scores in the second have gave them a victory of 21-7.
On behalf of the Academy I would like to thank the Florida Rugby Union for their support. We will make a continuous effort to make our Union proud.
Six boys were scouted by the US Eagles program.
| U-17 | U-19 |
| Chris Collins – Pelican U-19 Rugby Club | Tommy Black – Palm Beach Panthers |
| Rob Fielding – Orlando Warriors | Sebastian Delvalle – Palm Beach Panthers |
| Charles Messal – Pelican U-19 Rugby Club | |
| Jake Mcfadden – Pelican U-19 Rugby Club |
Complete Roster
| Forwards | Backs |
| Charles Messal – Pelican U-19 Rugby Club | Lucas Baistrocchi – Westin |
| Jamie Rein – Pelican U-19 Rugby Club | Tristan Gray – Boca |
| Stephan Gruetter – Palm Beach Panthers | Jake McFadden – Pelican U-19 Rugby Club |
| Cameron Wickman – Daytona | Sebastian Delvalle – Palm Beach Panthers |
| Greg Kraus – Florida State University | Robert Fielding – Pelican U-19 Rugby Club |
| Anthony Marino – Orlando | Steven Kruegar – Palm Beach Panthers |
| Roger Amidon – Jupiter | Daragh Carr – Naples |
| Dillon Vanrij – Daytona | Adam Shokair – Orlando |
| Adrian Gaitan – Florida Atlantic University | Kyle Brooks – Palm Beach Panthers |
| Harold Chiffoleon – Northeast | Tommy Black – Palm Beach Panters |
| Fernando Lopez – Palm Beach Panthers | Tyler Jackson – Lincoln Park Academy |
| Chris Collins – Pelican U-19 Rugby Club | Paul Monahan – Florida Atlantic University |
| Bain Monteith – Palm Beach Panthers |
Some of our young U17 boy players who traveled with the team also played in a Barbarian game on Saturday, Barbarian U17’s v NC All Star U17’s. The Barbarian team was made up from seven FL players, the others coming from GA and TN. The BarBars won 38-28 with the Florida boys scoring most of the points. So on that note we will be taking a U17 team on tour next year as well.
HOW THE GIRLS DID,
contribution by Allan Dobson U19 Team Manager and Coach
I too echo Moe’s words and thank the FRU for their support with the elite teams and the Rugby Academy. I think again the Academy has shown that it can promote the sport and engage our best players to be the best that they can be.
The U19 girls team came away from NC with a 2 – 1 record and a number of scrapes! (FYI the facilities were shocking).
Our first game was against NC and we won 27 – 24. This was a hard fought game with some tough tackling and gutsy performances by all our girls. The heat was incredible as we played at 1.00 pm. All players on the roster played in this game. Our second game of the day was against Eastern Pennsylvania which we lost rather convincingly. The girls had only had 1 hr rest between games and indeed were outplayed by a better team (althought they did have 2 hrs rest between games). The girls did, however not give up even when they were being scored against. Our third game was against Georgia which we won 15 – 5. In this game we were able to do something that is generally unheard of in Womens rugby and that is convert a penalty opportunity into 3 points!
7 girls were selected for the South All Star team and I would like to congratulate them all:
Amanda Martin
Christina Kellerman
Devin Hall
Stephaine Burleson
Ingrid Madrigal
Shannon Steele
Alexandra Frazier
Florida U19 Girls Roster was as follows:
Amanda Martin
Christina Kellerman
Your browser may not support display of this image.Devin Hall
Stephaine Burleson
Ingrid Madrigal
Shannon Steele
Alexandra Frazier
Kristie Anderson
Annie Bendgen
Brittany Bernhard
Allison Brombach
Amber Cook
Kendal Cummings
Hannah Eastwood
Brittany Hicks
Alex Kraczkowski
Analisa Krasula
Ali MacGilvray
Amanda Premet
Ashlyn Smith-Swaka
Tashina Vallejo
Kelly Gray
Your browser may not support display of this image. I was proud to be associated with each of the girls and the Rugby Academy and with the continued support of the FRU I am sure that we will see some of our girls in the WNT in time to come. Allan Dobson, Florida U19 Girls Head Coach.
Your browser may not support display of this image.Your browser may not support display of this image.
COACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF
With thanks to all who gave their time, if I missed any one, my apologies
Girls:
Head Coach & Backs Coach: Allan Dobson
Assistant & Forwards Coach: Jason Van Wyk
Team Manager: Kelly Gray
Boys: SUPPORT
Head Coach: Moe Levesque Trainer/Medic: Sean Borman
Forwards: John Cawthray Team Ref: Rocco Kryns
Forwards: Jayson Van Wyk Video: Sean Simon
Backs: Rocco Kryns Photos: Dave McFadden
Team Manager: Tom Gray Tour Director: Tom Gray
With the Launch of the Florida Thunder into out of state competition the Rugby Academy with the approval and support of the FRU are now in the selection process to take a Boys and Girls U19 7’s squad to the Cape Fear 7’s July 4/5th weekend along with a combined U23 Collegiate/Club representative side.
Martin K Gardner
Vice President, Youth Rugby
martin@ftlrugby.com
