When Nicole Benedetti was selected to play on the USA Rugby national U17 team, she could not attribute her success to many years of practice.  That is because this is the first year she has played rugby.  "Pretty good for only doing it for a year," said Benedetti, a senior at Conwell Egan.

Benedetti played for Team USA in the Invitational National All Star Championship the weekend of Nov. 20 21. Featuring players representing all areas of the country, the INASC was held in Southern California at Tesoro High School.

The tournament is actually for U19 players, but for developmental purposes USA Rugby likes to put together a younger team for the event.  Despite the age difference, Team USA finished second, losing to the Middle Atlantic Rugby Football Union (MARFU) in the championship game 15 6.  Ironically, Benedetti was originally supposed to play for the MARFU team.

"They were nice about it, no one rubbed it in," said Benedetti, who was Conwell Egan's Homecoming Queen this fall. "I made the team but then I got a letter from USA Rugby saying they wanted me to be on their team. The (MARFU) coaches thought it would be a better opportunity for me to play with Team USA, better for my future."

Benedetti made the MARFU team during a tryout held in Westminster, Md., on Oct. 3. A representative of USA Rugby was also present.  "There actually were a lot of girls my age trying out, even though it was a U19 team," said Benedetti, who wants to play rugby at West Chester University next year. "But the only one who was picked from that group was me. When we got to California, I didn't know anybody else on the team. We didn't have much practice, just sort of played and got to know each other as we went along."

West Chester coach Tony Deremer, who served as an assistant coach with MARFU, would be quite pleased to get Benedetti.  "I am very much hoping that Nicole will decide on West Chester," he said. "I think she is a great player with a lot of potential, and I look forward to coaching her more in the All Stars and, hopefully, at WCU." 

Benedetti got involved in the sport when a friend, Shannon Hedden, a cheerleader at Conwell Egan, talked her into trying out with her for a local club team, the Hibernian Rugby Football Club Banshees, based at Falls Township Park.  "Shannon is probably the only cheerleader on the team," Benedetti said with a laugh. "She asked if I wanted to come out with her, and I said, 'I don't know anything about it, but sure.'  "We always seem to have just enough girls for every game, so everyone who showed up got to play."

There are two types of rugby: The traditional game, which has 15 players, and the 7s version, which is gaining in popularity, with each side having seven players. The 7s will be an Olympic sport in 2016.

Benedetti has only played the regular game so far. She played fullback for the Hibernians as well as Team USA. She is also the fullback on Conwell Egan's soccer team, but she says there is a big difference between the positions.  "In soccer, there are four fullbacks," she said. "In rugby, there is just one fullback. You're the last line of defense."

Stuart London can be reached at 215 345 3184 or slondon@phillyBurbs.com.