The first Southwest-hosted women's rugby talent ID Camp

On April 13, 2024 the Southwest Rugby Union will be hosting the region’s first USA Rugby High Performance Pathways Talent ID Camp – an opportunity for women ages 16 – 23 to attend and demonstrate their rugby skillset. The camp will be held at Quail Run Sports Park in Mesa, AZ.

In December of 2023, high performance scouts had the chance to watch the SWRU Women’s Selects team in action at the Mary Graham All Star Tournament in Austin, TX. Selects Head Coach Dave Bracken, who organized the ID Camp on behalf of Southwest alongside USA Rugby spoke about the importance of this camp. “Bringing USA Rugby to the Southwest for high performance talent evaluation is crucial in unlocking this region’s untapped potential! We hope to provide opportunities for local talent to showcase their skills, but also enrich our national teams with a broader spectrum of potential athletes, fostering competitiveness and excellence on the global stage. This initiative joins our commitment to fostering growth and inclusivity within the support and solidifying the Southwest’s integral role in shaping the future of USA Rugby.”

VP of Women’s Rugby, Rebecca Bowermaster, highlighted the potential of women and girls' rugby in the Union, “The Southwest exhibits a talented pool of rugby players with athleticism and grit. As we continue to expand the sport, these athletes will have more opportunities to play from an earlier age, which will push the level of play ever higher.”

It’s opportunities like the Talent ID Camp that do just that. The rugby scene is rapidly growing. SWRU is home to eight senior women's clubs and a growing number of college teams. Many colleges across the southwest are home to women’s rugby programs including Grand Canyon University, Arizona State University, University of Arizona, University of Texas - El Paso, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Tech University, University of New Mexico, and University of Nevada - Las Vegas.

The camp will run with two age group splits – U18s from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm. U23’s from 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Players are expected to arrive 30 minutes before their age group start-time to check-in.

The Talent ID Camp is a major step in growing opportunities for women and girls in the Southwest and opens doors for a future skills development camp. For players, this is a chance to showcase their skills, play with ruggers across the union, and learn from a different coach.