{"id":130839,"date":"2026-01-12T23:46:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T23:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/130839\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T23:46:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T23:46:10","slug":"hsers-recruiters-ready-for-15s-showcase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/130839\/","title":{"rendered":"HSers, Recruiters Ready for 15s Showcase"},"content":{"rendered":"

The second edition of the West Region 15s Showcase<\/a> occurs this Friday-Saturday, Jan. 16-17 in Long Beach, Calif., and organizers have applied feedback from 2025 to enrich this year\u2019s event. The lineup has expanded to include an academy side, and USA Rugby and collegiate scouts will have targeted access to players, parents and coaches.<\/p>\n

Last year, the Southern California event was part of a circuit, but there is no series in 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was part of the feedback that we got,\u201d said Belmont Shore Director of Operations Robert Pahulu, who is the main point of contact for the 15s showcase. \u201cIt was such a success last year when we were all in SoCal. The weather was good, and it was perfectly timed for college recruiters \u2013 right after Christmas break and before the spring season starts. So instead of rotating to different parts of the region, we all pretty much agreed to keep it at one location.\u201d<\/p>\n

All of the action will occur on one pitch \u2013 another request from recruiters \u2013 and scouts will have access to players\u2019 bios through College Rugby Connect.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery player at the circuit will use it,\u201d Pahulu said. \u201cThese profiles will be sent to every college recruiter, even the ones that are not going to be present. USA Rugby, too. Names, emails, contacts, school info, transcripts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was another piece of feedback from colleges: Grades and GPAs are nice, but actual transcripts would be better,\u201d he continued. \u201cThat way, coaches can get an idea of what the classes look like and where players might need help [to strengthen their academic profile].\u201d<\/p>\n

Pahulu has also added a College Corner, a separate area designated for coaches and families to learn about each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to strengthen the relationship with the collegiate level because there are a lot of opportunities that a lot of these families may not know,\u201d Pahulu said. \u201cWe want the circuit to be that space where these parents can come and learn, ask questions, talk to college recruiters, and just be aware of the opportunities and what it can offer.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the time of print, the following college rugby programs are sending representatives to Long Beach, but stay tuned for Wednesday, when another slate of attendees will be announced:<\/p>\n

Adrian College (Mich.)
Alfred University (N.Y.)
Boise State (Idaho)
Brown Univ (R.I.)
Dartmouth (N.H.)
Davenport (Mich.)
Grand Canyon Univ (Ariz.)
Gonzaga Univ (Wash.)
Life Univ (Ga.)
Lindenwood (Mo.)
Long Beach State (Calif.)
Long Island Univ (N.Y.)
Univ New England (Maine)
Univ New Haven (Conn.)
Princeton (N.J.)
Sacred Heart (Conn.)
St. Bonaventure (N.Y.)
St. Thomas Univ (Fla.)
Southern Nazarene Univ (Okla.)
Thomas College (Maine)
U.S. Military Academy (N.Y.)
U.S. Naval Academy (Md.)
Walsh Univ (Ohio)<\/p>\n

USA Rugby will also be present in SoCal and will host a morning camp on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor USA Rugby to want to use the circuit to host a camp, that\u2019s a big deal,\u201d Pahulu said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to grow and strengthen our relationship between us (us = club side, grassroots rugby), because we believe in their pathway as well. And when I say, \u2018us,\u2019 I mean the club side, grassroots rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five of the six teams attending are returners from 2025: host Belmont Shore, Majestics and United from Utah, and NorCal\u2019s Sacramento Amazons and San Mateo Wolverines. The newcomer is TOA Rugby Academy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t want [the showcase] to be just for clubs, and we were hoping to bring in high school, but I know that comes with a lot of restrictions,\u201d Pahulu said. \u201cI\u2019ve been talking to Chris Kovack, who is the chairman for girls\u2019 15s nationals, about bringing him on and what that would look like. He went with the TOA Rugby Academy, and I think it\u2019s perfect, because they\u2019re bringing girls from all over the Pacific Northwest [and Colorado and Hawaii]. We\u2019ll get more club representation in this circuit with them coming aboard. It\u2019s new and something different, but we\u2019re excited for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The West circuit originally came to life because a handful of high-performing teams needed more 15s exposure. The addition of TOA, which would otherwise feature in an all-star environment, matches that quest for more and better rugby.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, this is a showcase and we want to get these girls recruited, but at the same time, we also want to give a little peek of what\u2019s to come,\u201d Pahulu said of whether to pay attention to the results from the tournament. \u201cThe teams that are here are all pretty much teams you\u2019ll see at nationals. These are some competitive teams, so we didn\u2019t want to water it down competition wise. And we tell the kids \u2013 give it your best shot because you\u2019re being looked at.\u201d<\/p>\n

The five high school club teams are readying for their local 15s seasons, and Pahulu\u2019s Belmont Shore is trying something new this year. The club will enter a developmental team into the SoCal 7s season, and the top side will pursue 15s in NorCal.<\/p>\n

Belmont Shore has been practicing for a while but just started implementing our MS and HS girls at the same time. Before it was just HS<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re dealing with a lot of numbers and we want to keep growing,\u201d Pahulu said. \u201cWe want to keep these girls active in both 7s and 15s, because colleges are doing both, so we don\u2019t want to get stuck in one lane. So those girls with no rugby experience, we\u2019ll stick them in the SoCal 7s series to get their feet wet. But we\u2019re trying to do. More 15s and the NorCal area does 15s.\u201d<\/p>\n

More information to come, but having Belmont Shore compete against the likes of the Wolverines, Zons, and perhaps traditionally strong programs like Pleasanton and Sacramento Harlequins would be a nice spring season.<\/p>\n

For more information on the West showcase, follow Belmont Shore\u2019s Instagram account, @belmontshorerugbyseniorgirls<\/a>, and stay tuned for a follow-up.<\/p>\n