Wooden kicked the winning points for the Harlequins. / Photo: Harlequins Ladies
USA 15s Eagle Jess Wooden has represented the English Harlequins for nearly two years now, and celebrated a very special win at Twickenham Stoop yesterday. The week is only going to get better, as the former Atlanta Harlequins player enters training camp for the storied Barbarians, whose women’s team will play its second-ever match on March 17 against the British Army.
On Saturday, 4,542 spectators – a record for a British women’s club match – filed into The Stoop to watch the Harlequins host Richmond in Round 17 of the Tyrrells Premier 15s. A month ago, Wooden was in the same stands cheering on several of her Quins teammates, who helped England defeat Wales 52-0 during the Women’s Six Nations.
“The Quins match yesterday was truly amazing,” Wooden reflected. “When we were out for warm-up, there were maybe a few hundred people in the stands, but when we ran out onto the pitch for the start of the match there were thousands.”
Maria Gyolcsos and Laura Kapo scored the first two tries of the game for Richmond, and the conversion gave the visitors a 12-0 lead as the first half wound down. Bobby Haywood dove over for a Wooden-converted try to close to 12-7 before the break. In the second half, Chloe Edwards dotted down the tying points, and Wooden’s second conversion proved the game-winning points, 14-12 to the Quins.
“The fans that turned up really lifted us after a slow start to the first half,” Wooden thanked the supporters. “Massive credit to The Stoop staff for all the work they put in to make yesterday so special for us as players, but for the fans as well. After yesterday’s victory we solidified a second-place finish in the league and will again be hosted by The Stoop for one of our semifinal games.”
Wooden for the Eagles against Canada, 2017
The Harlequins still have two regular-season games, including a March 24 fixture against league-leader Saracens, but Wooden’s attention will first turn to a unique opportunity this week. Wooden was selected to the Barbarians, an invitation-only rugby club that fields touring squads packed with internationally capped athletes, and typically one uncapped player per tour. The men’s team formed in 1890, and the women played their first fixture in November 2017, a 19-0 win over Munster.
A handful of Americans have played for the Barbarians men’s teams (the club website currently lists five U.S. men as alums, but This is American Rugby lists more), and Wooden is a first for the women’s team. After Saturday’s match, 11 nations will have worn the women’s Barbarians kit: Canada, England, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, United State, Wales.
“I was extremely surprised when I was selected for the upcoming match,” Wooden confessed. “This is an amazing opportunity to play with some of the world’s best rugby players and to also be in an environment where you can just have fun with your rugby. There is no pressure, we get to go out there and try new things.”
The squad has plenty of firepower, which will come in handy against the Army, which has played five opponents (South Africa, Germany, England U20, Holland, Firwood Waterloo) since September.
“I am really looking forward to playing with Abi Chamberlain and Kayla McAlister,” Wooden said of the England and New Zealand standouts. “Abi plays a tactical style of rugby that I really enjoy watching while Kayla’s speed and ability to make breaks is something to behold. Just hoping I’ll be able to keep up.”
The Barbarians vs. British Army match occurs at 3 p.m. GMT at the Army Rugby Stadium in Aldershot, approximately an hour outside of London.
BARBARIANS SQUAD
FORWARDS
Tracey Balmer (Worcester & Scotland) 43 caps
Nora Baltruweit (Wasps & Germany) 2
Claire Cripps (Wasps & England) 43
Catrin Edwards (Llandaff North & Wales) 25
Katharine Evans (Saracens)
Amy Garnett (Saracens & England) 100
Rosemarie Jermine (Lichfield & England) 27
Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere & Ireland) 54
Isabel Rico Vazquez (Olimpico de Pozuelo & Spain) 27
Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere & Ireland) 40
Rachel Taylor (Caernarfon & Wales) 67
Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians & Ireland) 51
BACKS
Abigail Chamberlain (Richmond & England) 9
Elen Evans (Caernarfon & Wales) 73
Sydney Gregson (Bristol & England) 3
Vicki Jackson (Wasps & England) 2
Kayla McAlister (Galwegians & New Zealand) 20
Sian Moore (Worcester & Wales) 19
Georgina Roberts (DMP Sharks & England) 15
Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere & Ireland) 50
Tina Veale (Wasps & England) 2
Jessica Wooden (Harlequins & USA) 13
Management
Head coach: Giselle Mather (Wasps)
Assistant coach: Liza Burgess (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Manager: Fiona Stockley
Assistant manager: Susie Brown
Physio: Alex Hunter