With Upright Rugby moving down a division this year, the girls U18 elite event at the North American Invitational 7s is wide open in Salt Lake City this weekend.

Led by Megan Bird and Clara Lemal-Brow, Atlantis brings a talented and intelligent squad to the two-day tournament -- which kicks off Friday -- but they will still have their hands full with a Utah Lions team that includes talented players such as Sydnee Cervinski, Delaney Rakuita, Liz Jeppson, Meg Gold, Alexia Tiatia, and Ariana Moleni.

Also keep an eye out for an athletic Rocky Mountain Rebels team that could be a dark horse.

The girls open bracket has Upright looming but take a look at the Institute of Rugby, a group out of Southern California run by Hannah Lockwood. Despite being mostly freshmen and sophomores, the Institute players will be in the U18 bracket. Abbey Savin captains the squad.

"I'm very excited to see the girls come together and challenge themselves against older players," Lockwood said.

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