Going into a third consecutive year, USA Rugby High Performance is excited to once again bring eight regional select teams from across the country together for a two-day competition for the Women’s U23 All Star Championship, hosted in partnership with Major League Rugby and the New England Free Jacks.
This year’s event will take place in Quincy, MA, home to the Free Jacks who are also partnering to support and deliver the grassroots event, adding to a full weekend of rugby as New England hosts Anthem Rugby Carolina on Saturday July 29.
The U23s playoff rounds will be staged on Friday June 28 with the championship rounds closing out the weekend on Sunday, June 30. Eight teams comprised of regional All Star squads and development programs will bring the top under-23 club and college talent to compete in Massachusetts. All action will be streamed live on The Rugby Network with the support of Major League Rugby.
| Friday, June 28 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:30AM ET | Game 1 (Tier 2) | #1 PacSouth Griffins | vs | #4 Central South Mustangs |
| 1:00PM ET | Game 2 (Tier 2) | #2 New England Independents | vs | #3 MidAtlantic |
| 2:30PM ET | Game 3 (Tier 1) | #1 Pac Coast Grizzlies | vs | #4 Rocky Mt Peaks |
| 4:00PM ET | Game 4 (Tier 1) | #2 South U23 Selects | vs | #3 Midwest Thunderbirds |
| Sunday, June 30 | ||||
| 9:00AM ET | Tier 2 Consolation | Loser Game #1 | vs | Loser Game #2 |
| 11:00AM ET | Tier 2 Championship | Winner Game #1 | vs | Winner Game #2 |
| 1:00PM ET | Tier 1 Consolation | Loser Game #3 | vs | Loser Game #4 |
| 3:00PM ET | Tier 1 Championship | Winner Game #3 | vs | Winner Game #4 |
USA Rugby Women’s Pathways Manager, Martha Daines said on the returning competition, “This is an incredibly special event for USA Rugby, with the program partners and community all coming together to offer a lifelong experience to these players. Expanding that community to MLR, The Rugby Network and the New England Free Jacks this year is exactly the growth we’re encouraged to achieve. A sincere appreciation goes out to those organizations for their support. We can expect to see some of the best Eagles prospects in Massachusetts this week, all culminating in a championship worthy Sunday.”
MLR CEO, Nic Benson said of the grassroots partnership, "Major League Rugby is committed to the growth of rugby at every level. We believe in the potential of women's rugby in the US and are excited to offer resources and support grassroots efforts for talent development. Together with our partners at USA Rugby we can build a vibrant, inclusive community where the sport will flourish and inspire the next generation of rugby players.”
New England Free Jacks Community and Academy Lead, Thomas Grant added, “The New England Free Jacks are delighted to be hosting the Women’s U23 All Stars tournament in Quincy this week. Last year's Border Battle between USA and Canada was a huge success and we are now privileged to be able to host the pathway event that generates selection into the Eagles U23 side. It is fantastic for us to be able to share our Free Jacks environment with these upcoming stars and we are excited to see them in action on Friday and Sunday.”
