Rugby stars take their talent abroad

By Tori Wittenbrock
Sports Reporter

GREEN BAY– This summer, three exceptional young rugby players will be taking their skills to new levels — and new places.
Carolina “Little” Martinez, 15; Cecelia Rose, 16; and James Rose, 17, are all members of Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA), which is a national level select team run by the former U19 National Team coach.
Each of them has been recruited to accompany the team to a tournament hosted in Europe this summer.

Little and Cecelia fly out to Ireland on July 19, and will be there until the 29th. James departs for Spain on June 23.

Little
“I started playing rugby in 2013. I started out in the youth program because my mom saw a flyer and we wanted to try something new,” said Little about how her interest in such a niche sport began.
She currently plays for the Green Bay Banshees, but her trip abroad will be with ERIA.
Little said that because rugby was her mom’s idea, she never harbored any fears about the reputation the sport has for being dangerous… until she transitioned from flag to tackle in middle school.

“I play weak side wing, so that puts me on the outside of the field. Wingers are usually the fast ones,” said Little.
When Little receives the ball, she said that she is typically unmarked and has to get the ball out really fast, doing jukes or kicks along the way.

“I’m really excited because I know a lot of the girls who are going. I have met them through rugby and other events. I know we are all pretty talented, and we are all there for a reason, so I have a feeling it will go well,” said Little.

Little said the biggest difference when playing an international team comes down to strategy.
“In Ireland, they like to get the ball out quickly and they aren’t really into contact. In our first game last year, some of the parents were scared because we were doing a lot of contact and they weren’t ready for it.”
Little has been preparing for this trip in a lot of different ways to make sure she is ready to play.
“I make sure to go to the gym, I go to every practice, I’ve been doing private training with my coach, BJ Hill, at Synergy. We also have fitness testing that I have to complete every week, and watching film.”
“My mom is very supportive and if there is a day that I really don’t want to go to the gym, she understands and she lets me rest, respecting my boundaries,” said Little.
“My favorite part is helping everybody on the team and directing them, especially the ones who are new to the sport. I also love all of the excitement of it, like when I get to see a big tackle across the field, or when I make a good tackle.”
Little said that she is at the beginning stages of the college recruiting process, but is very excited to see where the next few years take her.

Cecelia
Cecilia got her start playing rugby when she was five years old with the Green Bay youth flag program.
“My parents always encouraged me to play rugby, however, when I reached fifth grade and wanted to play tackle they were kinda hesitant due to my size and age but nevertheless let me play and have had no concerns since.”

“I started traveling outside of Wisconsin my freshman year,” said Cecelia.
“This will be my first time traveling to another country and my first time playing multiple teams from another country. I am expecting and hoping that the competition will be good.”
Cecelia said that this trip has been a long time coming.
“I have been preparing for a trip like this since my high school career started, working out day to day and constantly trying to improve my passing, kicking and mental mindset so I’m ready for anything that happens on the rugby pitch.”

James
James Rose got his start playing rugby in third grade when his dad introduced him to the sport, which was only flag at the time.
“My parents weren’t worried because at the time (I started) it was only flag, but later on they would be worried. I wouldn’t say that the fact that it’s rugby makes it any different though. They would be just as worried if I were playing football,” said James.
James holds a very important position on the team, with a lot of responsibilities.
“I play fly half or number 10. I control the whole team and it’s kinda like being a quarterback in football if I were to relate it to something,” said James.
James has never traveled out of the country before, but has been out of the state for rugby.
“I don’t currently play any other sports, but I have wrestled and played football in the past,” said James.
“I am going to Spain with EIRA which is an elite select side program that gives kids opportunities to compete at high level tournaments like Spain. I expect that it will be a great two matches between Spain. I expect high level rugby and high level training the days leading up to the games.”
“Well he’s my dad,” said James of his coach’s influence on him. “He makes it better, we talk about things the team needs to work on before practice and I couldn’t ask for a better coach than my dad.”