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Utah Cannibals announce their Girls u18 Elite roster for the 2018 HSRC

By Owen Power, 05/29/18, 9:00AM MDT

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The 2017 Girls High School Rugby Challenge (HSRC) Champions, the Utah Cannibals, announce their Girls u18 Elite roster for the 2018 HSRC June 1st through June 3rd, 2018.

Salt Lake City, UT – The Utah Cannibals was established in 2010 as a pathway to showcase Utah’s top up and coming high school rugby players. Since 2010, the Utah Cannibals have placed more than a dozen players in the HSAA program and many more have transitioned to Collegiate Rugby as well as Collegiate Football.

The roster includes 5 players form the victorious 2017 HSRC team despite being a very young team. HSRC Champion, Senior Addison Horsley (Pleasant Grove HS / United Girls Rugby Club) will be very well supported by fellow champions: Lewanda Aspinall (Junior – Timpview HS / United Girls Rugby Club), Gabriella Bezzant (Junior – Lone Peak High / United Rugby Club), Nafanua Fitisemanu (Sophomore – Lone Peak High / United Girls Rugby Club) and Emily Trunnel (Senior – Wasatch High / Wasatch HS Girls Rugby Club).

Girls High School All-American (GHSAA), Delaney Rakuita, joins fellow GSHAA team Addison Horsley to the touring team to defend the 2017 title.

Despite the graduation of many key players in 2017 the Utah Cannibals are still very optimistic to have a strong showing at this year’s LVI. “The 2017 Utah Cannibals Girls Elite team was definitely a very special team,” said Owen Power – President / Executive Director of Utah Youth Rugby. “But we still have 5 players from the 2017 Championship team on the roster, with some very strong additions like Aniya (Matina), Ariana (Moleni) and Delaney (Rakuita). Our All-State Select Side program is not exclusively about winning. We build character in youth through rugby. These girls that have been selected to represent their state, are among the very best in Utah and have strong characters. No matter where they finish in Las Vegas, we know they will do so with integrity. That’s what matters most.

This year’s team is coached by Utah Youth Rugby Director of Coach Certification and Education, Patrick Whalen.

The Utah Cannibals Pool B schedule for June 1st is as follows (all times EDT):

10.40a – D-Town 1

12.40p – Tenn Tri Star 2

02:40p – West Shore

Utah Cannibals Girls u18 Elite – 2018 High School Rugby Championships

Name

Grade

School

Club

Joslyn Arbuckle

10

Skyridge High

United Girls Rugby Club

Lewanda Aspinall

11

Timpview High

United Girls Rugby Club

Gabriella Bezzant

11

Lone Peak High

United Girls Rugby Club

Nafanua Fitisemanu

10

Lone Peak High

United Girls Rugby Club

Mikayla Gamangasso

11

Wasatch High

Wasatch HS Girls Rugby

Addison Horsley

12

Pleasant Grove High

United Girls Rugby Club

Aniya Matina

12

Timpview High

Provo Steelers Girls Rugby Club

Zoie Mabey

11

Lone Peak High

United Girls Rugby Club

Ariana Moleni

10

Granger High

Brighton Girls Rugby Club

Delaney Rakuita

12

Herriman High

Lowland Girls Rugby Club

Makena Taumoepeau

10

Westlake High

United Girls Rugby Club

Emily Trunnel

12

Wasatch HS

Wasatch Girls Rugby Club

 

About Utah Youth Rugby:

The mission of Utah Youth Rugby is to build character in youth through rugby. We do this by helping kids love rugby. To achieve this, Utah Youth Rugby sets out to acquire access to rugby fields, certify coaches and referees as well as organize numerous leagues and tournaments.

Utah Youth Rugby believes that by fostering an environment in which participation in the sport of rugby, the life experiences of the youth athletes and families are enhanced. Utah Youth Rugby invites all to come play rugby regardless of race, religion, gender and socioeconomic status. Utah Youth Rugby, sanctioned by USA Rugby as a State Based Rugby Organization, was formed in 2010 to promote, serve, advocate, and organize youth rugby in the Great State of Utah. Since then we have grown from a handful of teams to over 60 High School and Youth teams for boys and girls of all ages. Our member clubs compete in 7s and 15s seasons throughout the year. Utah Youth Rugby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.