7s and 15s Eagle Cheta Emba /// Photo: Mike Jones / World Rugby •USA Women’s National Team coach Pete Steinberg announced the 44-player Women’s Rugby World Cup pool today (see list below). The group ranges from a collegiate freshman who has two HSBC Women’s Sevens Series tournaments to her credit, and a three-time World Cup veteran who was recently named head coach of Monroe College’s new women’s program. The next step: Get as many of these players training together for as long as possible.
RELATED: USA Rugby’s press release • First Days of SD 15s Residency • World Cup Calls Vets
The USA 15s headquarters has everything to do with access to world-class facilities at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center (CVTC) – no longer the “Olympic Training Center” since the USOC transferred ownership to the City of Chula Vista. Steinberg emphasized upgrading skills versus game time in the run-up to the World Cup.
“We are encouraging players to come to San Diego when they can,” wrote Steinberg. “We can offer some support for a few of them, but others are trying to make it work. Our goal is to get as many of the squad together in late June and through July.”
There are 10 USA 7s residents in Chula Vista and another four – Molly Kinsella, Sam Pankey, Jamila Reinhardt, Hope Rogers – in San Diego as part of the pseudo-15s residency that began in October 2016. Add in San Diego Surfers’ Hunter Griendling, and that’s 15 World Cup pool players already working together.
Everyone in this USA 7s photo – including coach Richie Walker – is involved in 15.
There are also some transient players working within the 7s/15s collaboration. Kelly Griffin isn’t too far away in Santa Barbara, and Megan Foster is commuting between San Diego and Life West (where World Cup pool players and full-time students Catie Benson and Jordan Gray, who was a 15s residency founding member, call home).
“The coaches [at Life West] are gracious enough to allow me to do most of my training at the [CVTC] and then train on some Thursdays before games with [Life West],” the Eagle flyhalf explained. “It’s a way for me to get more game time leading into the World Cup. Plus it’s great training as well with many Eagles and players alike.”
Another player “trying to make it work” is Nicole Synder, who graduated Bloomsburg University last year and is currently employed as a registered nurse is Lewisburg, Pa. Her process of looking for a job and housing in San Diego, all with the hopes of relocating as soon as possible, is a process likely occuring around the country and through the pool.
There is another group of players who aren’t accounted for – the injured. Although Steinberg withheld comment, it’s rumored that there are approximately 10 players who are trying to recover and work their way onto the squad. The USA’s regular number nines – Deven Owsiany (ACL) and Jenny Liu (hip) – are currently rehabbing, among other noticeable omissions.
Meanwhile, the rugby public eagerly awaits the rest of the USA Women’s 15s team’s schedule for the rest of 2017. Stay tuned for fundraising information out of USA Rugby Trust.
2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup Pool
Baylee Annis – Seattle Saracens
Katy Augustyn – Berkeley All Blues
Catie Benson – Life West
Sylvia Braaten – Twin Cities Amazons
Stacey Bridges – Twin Cities Amazons
Nicole Burr – Augusta Furies
Kayla Canett – Penn State University
Ryan Carlyle – USA 7s
Sarah Chobot – Glendale Raptors
Kate Daley – New York
Cheta Emba – USA 7s
Joanne Fa’avesi – USA 7s
Tiffany Faaee – New York
Tess Feury – Penn State University
Megan Foster – Life West
Jordan Gray – Life West
Hunter Griendling – San Diego Surfers
Kelly Griffin – unattached
Abby Gustaitis – NOVA
Nicole Heavirland – USA 7s
Alev Kelter – USA 7s
Molly Kinsella – San Diego Surfers
Joanna Kitlinski – Glendale Raptors
Phaidra Knight – New York
Bulou Mataitoga – USA 7s
Sam Pankey – San Diego Surfers
Sara Parsons – NOVA
Annakaren Pedraza – Lindenwood University
Ashley Perry – London Wasps (England)
Christiane Pheil – Chicago North Shore
Naima Reddick – Seattle Saracens
Jamila Reinhardt – San Diego Surfers
Hope Rogers – San Diego Surfers
Kimber Rozier – Aylesford Rugby Club (England)
Nicole Snyder – unattached
Kristine Sommer – Seattle Saracens
Kelsi Stockert – USA 7s
Nicole Strasko – USA 7s
Naya Tapper – USA 7s
Kristen Thomas – USA 7s
Alycia Washington – New York
Jess Wooden – Aylesford Rugby Club (England)
Kate Zackary – USA 7s
Kristin Zdanczewicz – Minnesota Valkyries