United States women's national rugby union team
The USA Women's National Team XVs is the senior national team for the United States in the 15-a-side version of rugby. The team was officially formed in 1987 and is nicknamed the Eagles.
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Nickname(s) | Eagles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Union | USA Rugby | ||
Head coach | Rob Cain | ||
Captain | Kate Zackary | ||
Most caps | Jamie Burke (51) | ||
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World Rugby ranking | |||
Current | 6 (as of 23 November 2020) | ||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 14 November 1987) | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Melrose, Scotland 15 April 1994) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Worcester, England 21 November 2021) | |||
World Cup | |||
Appearances | 7 (First in 1991) | ||
Best result | Champions 1991 |
Top 20 rankings as of 18 April 2022[1] | |||
Rank | Change* | Team | Points |
1 | ![]() | ![]() | 96.26 |
2 | ![]() | ![]() | 88.58 |
3 | ![]() | ![]() | 88.43 |
4 | ![]() | ![]() | 88.15 |
5 | ![]() | ![]() | 78.68 |
6 | ![]() | ![]() | 76.63 |
7 | ![]() | ![]() | 76.00 |
8 | ![]() | ![]() | 75.12 |
9 | ![]() | ![]() | 73.63 |
10 | ![]() | ![]() | 72.72 |
11 | ![]() | ![]() | 72.10 |
12 | ![]() | ![]() | 65.49 |
13 | ![]() | ![]() | 63.39 |
14 | ![]() | ![]() | 61.10 |
15 | ![]() | ![]() | 59.72 |
16 | ![]() | ![]() | 58.45 |
17 | ![]() | ![]() | 58.27 |
18 | ![]() | ![]() | 57.89 |
19 | ![]() | ![]() | 57.73 |
20 | ![]() | ![]() | 57.72 |
*Change from the previous week |
An international powerhouse during the 1990s— the Eagles won the inaugural 1991 Women's World Cup and finished second in the two following World Cups in 1994 and 1998. The team finished fourth in the most recent Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland.
In May 2018, Rob Cain was appointed full-time Head Coach. Cain joined the Eagles after winning the inaugural Tyrell Premier 15s title in England with Saracens Women.
History
(Source: US Women's Rugby Foundation)
The history of women's rugby in the United States can be traced back to three teams that existed in 1972 – the Colorado State University Hookers at Fort Collins; the University of Colorado, at Boulder; and the University of Illinois, at Champaign. During the mid-1970s women's teams began to spring up on college campuses across the United States. As those players graduated they went on to set up teams near cities and urban centers. At that time there was only one division for all women's rugby. In 1975 United States Rugby Football Union was formed and contained four territories. At this time the women had their own Board of Directors and followed in parallel USARFU with four territories (East, Midwest, West and Pacific). In 1978 the first Women's National Championships was held. The Chicago Women's Rugby Club in Chicago, Illinois hosted this event. The winner of that championship was Portland, Maine.
1980s–1997
In 1985 the first semblance of a national team was formed. An ‘invitation-only’ team was put together and made up of, arguably, the top women playing the game at the time. The team was named WIVERN and toured throughout England and France. The team finished the tour undefeated. Many of these players went on to be selected to the 1991 World Cup Team.
In 1987 the USA women's national team was officially born with their first match against the Canadian women's national team. Although the women were not permitted to wear the Eagle logo, this match was sanctioned by Rugby Canada and USA Rugby. USA and Canada began holding an annual match, which became known as the CanAm series. For ten years the Women Eagles went undefeated in this test series.
In 1990 the women's national team, competing under the name ‘USA Presidents 15’, traveled to New Zealand to compete in the historic Women's World Rugby Festival. The WNT posted a record of 3–1 with their only loss coming at the hands of New Zealand. In 1991 the first Women's Rugby World Cup was held in Cardiff, Wales. Coached by Beantown's Kevin O’Brien, a Welshman himself, and Minnesota's Chris Leach, a South African the stage was set for the US women to bring home the Cup. Defeating New Zealand in semi-final play, the USA women advanced to the finals where they defeated England. Also in 1991 the first woman was elected to serve on the USARFU Board of Directors. Jamie Jordan was elected Treasurer for the Board.
In 1997 The U23 women's national team was formed. USA Women's National Team Head Coach Franck Boivert appointed Penn State Coach Peter Steinberg to be Head Coach for the U23 Women's National Team program. At an event in the CanAm Series the US Women's National Team celebrated their 10-year anniversary by cheering on the Women's U23 National Team in their first test against Canada.
Present
The USA Women's National Team XVs most recently finished fourth at Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland which earned them automatic qualification to the next World Cup in New Zealand in 2021. In early 2018, the program hired former Women's National Team player Emilie Bydwell to serve as its General Manager of Women's High Performance. Soon after in May, Rob Cain was appointed full-time Head Coach and has since helped lead the program in a new direction.
The Women's National Team Program fields a number of age-grade and development programs including the High School All-Americans (U18), Under-20s, Collegiate All-Americans and USA Selects. All age-grade and development programs are umbrellaed under the national team program and serve as a feeder to the senior Women's Eagles.
Record
Overall
See List of United States women's national rugby union team matches
- Full internationals only
Correct as of 22 April 2022
Opponent | First game | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
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![]() | 1997 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
![]() | 1987 | 41 | 19 | 0 | 21 | 46.3% |
![]() | 1991 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 5% |
![]() | 1996 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 15.4% |
![]() | 1994 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 62.5% |
![]() | 2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
![]() | 1994 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
![]() | 2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
![]() | 1990 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
![]() | 1990 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 7.7% |
![]() | 1998 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
![]() | 1998 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 80% |
![]() | 2009 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 80% |
![]() | 1990 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
![]() | 1998 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
![]() | 1994 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
![]() | 1993 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% |
Total | 1987 | 127 | 59 | 1 | 67 | 46.4% |
Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Squad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Champions | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 6 | Squad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Runners-up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 387 | 53 | Squad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Runners-up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 200 | 76 | Squad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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7th place | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 124 | 43 | Squad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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5th place | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 87 | 47 | Squad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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5th place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 136 | 82 | Squad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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6th place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 95 | 139 | Squad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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4th place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 128 | 135 | Squad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total | Champions | 38 | 25 | 0 | 13 | 1236 | 581 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players
Current squad
31-player squad for Autumn International:[2]
*All clubs listed below were current as of October 2021.
Player Name | Position | Club | Caps |
---|---|---|---|
Catherine Benson | Prop | ![]() | 23 |
Amy Talei Bonte | Center | ![]() | 6 |
Elizabeth Cairns | Back Row | ![]() | 11 |
Kayla Canett | Fullback | ![]() | 7 |
Gabby Cantorna | Flyhalf / Center | ![]() | 8 |
Jennine Detiveaux | Wing | ![]() | 7 |
Rachel Ehrecke | Back Row | ![]() | uncapped |
Joanne Fa'avesi | Center | ![]() | 2 |
Tess Feury | Fullback | ![]() | 6 |
Megan Foster | Flyhalf | ![]() | 5 |
Saher Hamdan | Hooker | ![]() | uncapped |
McKenzie Hawkins | Fullback | ![]() | 3 |
Katana Howard | Flyhalf | ![]() | 4 |
Charli Jacoby | Prop | ![]() | 6 |
Nicole James | Prop | ![]() | 12 |
Kathryn Johnson | Back Row | ![]() | 7 |
Rachel Johnson | Flanker | ![]() | 7 |
Alev Kelter | Center | ![]() | 13 |
Kristi Kirshe | Wing | ![]() | uncapped |
Joanna Kitlinski | Hooker | ![]() | 14 |
Jenny Kronish | Lock | ![]() | uncapped |
Maya Learned | Prop | ![]() | 2 |
Sarah Levy | Wing | ![]() | 2 |
Bulou Mataitoga | Wing | ![]() | 3 |
Olivia Ortiz | Scrumhalf | ![]() | 5 |
Hope Rogers | Prop | ![]() | 29 |
Kristine Sommer | Second Row / Back Row | ![]() | 13 |
Hallie Taufo'ou | Lock | ![]() | uncapped |
Alycia Washington | Lock | ![]() | 22 |
Carly Waters | Scrumhalf | ![]() | 4 |
Kate Zackary | Back Row | ![]() | 15 |
2021 Schedule & Results
Date | Opponent | Result | Location |
---|---|---|---|
November 1, 2021 | Canada | 9-15 (L) | Glendale, CO |
November 5, 2021 | Canada | 13-26 (L) | Glendale, CO |
November 12, 2021 | Ireland | 10-20 (L) | Dublin, IRE |
November 21, 2021 | England | 89-0 (L) | Worcester, UK |
For match reports, visit: www.usa.rugby/womens-eagles/schedule/
Previous Squads
See also
- Women's Premier League Rugby
- Rugby union in the United States
- Women's international rugby – the most complete listing of all women's international results since 1982
References
- "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- Tabani, Aalina (2021-10-14). "Women's Eagles announce full squad for Autumn Internationals". USA Rugby. Retrieved 2022-04-16.