RUGBY: Whitefish's Heavirland helps power Team USA to sweep

KENNESAW, Ga. — Whitefish’s Nicole Heavirland saw time in two games, including her first start, for the U.S. National Rugby Sevens Team on Friday at the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on the campus of Kennesaw State University.

Heavirland, a 21-year-old scrum half, scored three conversions and nearly scored her first try for the Eagles, helping the U.S. to a sweep in pool play at the Atlanta 7s. With a 3-0 record in Pool C, the Eagles took the top spot from the group into the cup round, where they will play Australia at 11:14 a.m. MT. Games will be streamed live on The Rugby Channel (www.therugbychannel.tv).

After the American side blanked Spain 24-0 in its tournament opener, Heavirland was one of five changes to the starting lineup, earning her first cap and first start for the sevens team at scrum half. She has two caps for the USA 15s team.

Heavirland made her presence known immediately, kicking two of the team’s four successful conversions and nearly touching down a try, while helping set up another.

With the U.S. leading 14-0, Heavirland did all the hard work to score a try at the end of the half, but could not quite outlast the sweeper, falling to a tackle meters in front of the posts. She drew a penalty, however, and 19-year-old teammate Richelle Stephens quickly took the tap and fed Kate Zackary for the powering run over the line and a 21-0 halftime lead. Zackary scored two tries in the match.

“I was going all out and knew my support was going to be there, so I felt comfortable going through,” Heavirland said to USA Rugby of her almost-try.

In the final game of pool play against defending Sevens series champion New Zealand, Heavirland came on as a substitute at the 12 minute mark in the second half with the score knotted at 5-5.

With two minutes remaining and the score still tied, Jessica Javelet broke free to score the final try and give the U.S. a narrow victory. Heavirland kicked in the conversion to help seal the win.

“I put a lineup in that I thought would just attack them, and then we would put on our players that would finish,” USA head coach Richie Walker said.

Up next, the Eagles have drawn Australia in the Cup quarterfinals. The Aussies lost their first match since last season in their first match on Friday at the Atlanta 7s, but won the first to Cup stops of the Sevens Series and holds the lead atop the standings.

HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series

Friday

Kennesaw State University

Atlanta

USA 24, Spain 0

Women’s Eagles Sevens | 24

Tries: Kelter, Doyle, Thomas

Conversions: Baravilala (2)

Spain | 0

Tries: N/A

Conversions: N/A

Discipline: Garcia (Yellow)

USA 33, Japan 12

Women’s Eagles Sevens | 33

Tries: Stephens, Thomas, Zackary (2), Bonny

Conversions: Baravilala, Heavirland (2), Kelter

Japan | 12

Tries: Tomita, Takano

Conversions: Nakamura

USA 12, New Zealand 5

Women’s Eagles Sevens | 12

Tries: Kelter, Javelet

Conversions: Heavirland

New Zealand | 5

Tries: Winiata

Conversions: N/A