Eagle center Sylvia Braaten /// Photo: Carisa Weaver (view more) •
USA Women’s National Team Associate Head Coach Peter Baggetta didn’t mince words regarding expectations for the ensuing tour to France. Nine months out from the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup, it’s all about performance, and the player pool will adjust after these two tests and the year-ending National All Star Competition (NASC).
“Yes, we’re checking in, seeing if they’re healthy,” Baggetta had said in advance of the WPL championship and the 12 tour-goers competing in it. “But also, there are two games in France, and we’re taking 26 players, so there’s no guarantee that you’ll be rostered and no guarantee that you’ll get playing time. It’s all about performance to get you on the field. We’re done with the developmental cycle; we’re in the performance cycle.”
The summer Super Series was part of the World Cup performance cycle, and several lessons were gleaned from that winless outing.
“We need to stop seeing playing in test matches [as means] to gain experience – it’s not. You have to perform,” Baggetta asserted. “Really, the big thing is – and we talked about it after the Super Series – we have to stop patting ourselves on the back for 5th, 6th, 7th place, for 7s and 15s. For good effort, giving it your all. The reality is that every team is giving their best effort they can and all of their heart playing. It’s a bit condescending when you congratulate players for great heart and effort. ‘You tried so hard.’ Isn’t that the minimal expectation of players when they put on the jersey?”
Development is always happening, and the tour sees five new players attempt to play their way onto the pitch in France. Some have been tested, like 7s Olympians Alev Kelter and Joanne Fa’avesi, while youngsters like BYU prop Rebekah Hebdon will make her first international impression. After the December NASC, a slimmer player pool will emerge as the World Cup draws near. Read more about the hope for further consolidation of players in San Diego.
As for the players themselves …
WPL-ers
Baggetta indicated that it’s not necessarily where the pool players are playing their rugby, but that they’re playing rugby. Obviously, competing at the highest level is preferable and last weekend’s championship allowed Baggetta to check in with 12 of the 26 players heading to France.
Seven of those players featured in the final: championship MVP Jordan Gray, Sam Pankey, Hope Rogers and Kate Zackary for San Diego; and Sarah Chobot, Joanna Kitlinski and Jenny Lui for Glendale.
France-bound Tiffany Faaee, Kate Daley and Alycia Washington helped New York over Twin Cities and Eagle center Sylvia Braaten for third place. Berkeley hooker Katy Augustyn was the lone Eagle tour-goer in the second tier.
OTC CREW
All of the OTC residents were considered for tour and USA Women’s 7s coach Richie Walker recommended Kelter and Fa’avesi’s inclusion in the 15s pool. The pair bring heaps of physicality to the pitch, but Kelter, as a crossover 7s athlete, is new to 15s. Fa’avesi started her career in high school with the Sacramento Amazons.
Jane Paar, Naya Tapper and Megan Foster have OTC contracts and are representative of the athlete for which USA Rugby is now searching. They have distinct 7s and 15s resumes, and having athletes like that available for both national team pools is attractive and a good use of resources. Flanker Elizabeth Cairns is training at the OTC as well, but she couldn’t align with the Surfers this season. She’s heading to Life West in the New Year and will play with the Gladiatrix alongside Catie Benson.
DEBUTANTES
We’ve discussed Kelter and Fa’avesi, and imagine they’ll work well into the centers. Abby Gustaitis and Rebekah Hebdon have the potential to win their first 15s caps as well. Gustaitis spent time at the OTC during Julie McCoy’s tenure and then helped Scion win the club 7s championship. She’s since aligned with DI NOVA. Hebdon has been in the age-grade pool while at BYU and featured nicely in May’s DI Elite final. The front row will take cues from fellow props Rogers, Faaee and Benson.
ACROSS THE POND
Fullback Jess Wooden and flyhalf Kimber Rozier both suited up for the Aylesford Harlequins this fall and played in England’s Women’s Premiership. They were regular starters and helped the team to a 5-2 record (3rd place in the standings) during the fall portion of the season. The league is approaching its mid-season break, and so the duo can travel to France directly from England.
AND THE REST …
Three of four remaining players are Penn State affiliated. Prop Benson plays with DII national champion Life West, and that league is spring-based. Flanker Christiane Pheil just captained Chicago North Shore to back-to-back wins against Beantown and Boston during last weekend’s Gold Cup competition. And Tess Feury has remained a major point-scorer for Penn State, which just won its fourth-straight Big 10 championship last weekend. And finally, there’s power wing Kelsi Stockert, who recently played her last match with DI national champion Seattle Saracens.
USA WOMEN 15s – FRANCE TOUR
Katy Augustyn – Berkeley All Blues, hooker
Catie Benson – Life West, prop
Sylvia Braaten – Twin Cities Amazons, center
Elizabeth Cairns – Life West-bound, flanker
Sarah Chobot – Glendale Raptors, prop
Kate Daley – New York, No. 8
Joanne Fa’avesi – OTC
Tiffany Faaee – New York, prop
Tess Feury – Penn State, wing
Megan Foster – OTC, flyhalf
Jordan Gray – San Diego Surfers, No. 8
Abby Gustaitis – NOVA, forward
Rebekah Hebdon – BYU, prop
Alev Kelter – OTC
Joanna Kitlinski – Glendale, flanker
Jenny Lui – Glendale, scrumhalf
Jane Paar – OTC, center
Sam Pankey – San Diego, hooker
Christiane Pheil – Chicago North Shore, flanker
Hope Rogers – San Diego, prop
Kimber Rozier – Aylesford Harlequins, flyhalf
Kelsi Stockert – Seattle, wing
Naya Tapper – OTC, wing
Alycia Washington – New York, lock
Jess Wooden – Aylesford Harlequins, fullback
Kate Zackary – OTC / San Diego, flanker