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The Glendale Raptors secured the Western RFU’s coveted third-place seed for the US National 7s Championships in August on Saturday, finishing runners up to Aspen at the Kansas City Blues 7s.

Heading into the competition, both Denver and Aspen already had their tickets to San Francisco booked, but a shorthanded Glendale squad put in a gutsy performance to determine who would be the third club to represent the West at the nationals.

Aspen were the overall winners, defeating Glendale 21-19 in a pulsating final – although the Raptors had already got the better of the Gentlemen earlier in the day, beating them 14-7 in the pool stage.

Glendale fought valiantly once more, leading Aspen until the final second, but Ryan Nichols broke away to score a 60-metre try under the posts and Thomas Johnson added the extras to secure a dramatic late victory for the Gentlemen.

But it was in the semi final where the Raptors guaranteed themselves a position at this year’s US Nationals. 

Despite having only eight members in the squad that travelled to Kansas City, one who had a hamstring injury, and losing another to a severe migraine resulting in blurred vision and vomiting on the day, the Gentlemen won 21-14 against the Kansas City Blue’s to secure the third Western RFU slot and a guaranteed top two finish on the day.

Aspen met Denver, the two teams to have already qualified for the US Nationals, in the other semi final, which they won to set up a repeat of the earlier pool match in the final.

Though disappointed about the loss in the final, Glendale captain Taylor Howden believes his teammates should walk away with their heads held high.

“We came here with eight people, and we got two guys injured, so we were down to six and one guy came back to play,” said Howden.

“All I can take away from here is how proud I am of all my teammates for the heart that they showed throughout the whole tournament.”

Aspen coach Andrew Katoa was impressed with Glendale’s resiliency. “I’ve been in that situation. Trust me. I know about going to a tournament with only eight, seven guys,” said Katoa.

“I know all about that, so my heart goes out to them. They have a great coach - an ex-Eagle. They have great players like Taylor Howden too, so they’re going to be a contender at nationals.”

In addition, the teams were vying for a place in the final tournament of the USA 7s Championship series. Since Aspen and Denver had also already qualified for the February Series Championship on the same weekend as the IRB USA 7s in Las Vegas, the next two highest teams, Glendale and Kansas City, also earned berths, joining Belmont Shore, OMBAC, Life and NOVA as the eight teams to have qualified so far.

The remaining qualifier for the USA 7s Championship series is the New York City 7s in November.

Results from Saturday in Kansas City:

Qualifier competition
1st - Gentlemen of Aspen
2nd - Glendale Raptors
3rd - Denver Barbarians
4th - Kansas City Blues
5th - Dallas Harlequins
6th - Austin Elite
7th - Kansas City Rogues
8th - Kansas City Blues B-side

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