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From USA Rugby - USA Rugby Announces Women’s Developmental Squad Set for NAWIRA Sevens Tournament

BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby will take a developmental team to the NAWIRA (North America West Indies Rugby Association) Sevens 2007 Tournament to be held November 17-18 in Nassau, Bahamas. Part of the USA Women's Sevens Developmental Program, the squad includes eight players who made the semi-finals at the 2007 USA Rugby National All-Star Championship.

The USA squad will face off against teams from Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana in round robin play each day of competition, with the sternest tests for the USA side coming against Canada and Jamaica.

"The goal of the program is to get four players on the World Cup squad in 2009," said USA Women’s Developmental Sevens Program Head Coach Pete Steinberg. "The NAWIRA Tournament is another opportunity for the returning players to play some high level sevens, and exposes the new players to the approach that we have in the program."

While much of the squad’s time together will be spent working on technical and tactical aspects of sevens, the program also works toward shaping players into elite athletes. The focus is to create a high performance environment in the camp that gives the players tools they can take back to their respective clubs. Elite performance areas covered at this event are goal setting, mental skills and nutrition.

"The reality is that we do not get much time with our players, so we need to help them continue to develop after they leave our assemblies," Steinberg said.

The USA 7s Women's Developmental Squad for 2007 NAWIRA 7's:

Kirsten Ahrendt - Keystone
Tonya Ansel - MSU, Mankato
Ida Bernstein - Syracuse
Katie Dowty - Beantown
Sydney Forestal - U. New Mexico
Kristy Lear - MN Valkyries
Lauren Rosso - Penn State
Melissa Smit - Stanford
Stephanie Taguacta - DC Furies
Sheri Villa - American U.
Jessica Watkins - Stanford
Alison Worman - Penn State

Pete Steinberg (Coach)
Sue Parker (Coach)
Josh Sutcliffe (Coach)
Ines Rodrigues (Player/Coach)
Nicole Titmas (Trainer)
Meredith Fabing (Doctor)
Kelsey Engelbrecht (Manager)