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eagles.rugby — The USA Women’s 7s Team is in New Zealand for a pre-season training block that will culminate in an invitational tournament in Mount Maunganui. Fifteen players have been selected for the southern hemisphere tour, and veteran Kristi Kirshe will serve as captain. [lead photo: Alex Ho @hoiho_photo]
The USA is currently training in a simulated match-week environment that will culminate this Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, at Blake Park. There the Eagles will face Australia, Japan, France, Fiji and a New Zealand Development side in a round robin and then day-two placing matches.
“We’ve had eight very productive training weeks, focused on building the technical and physical capabilities to play the version of ‘Street Ball’ we believe will move us closer to earning the right to call ourselves gold medal contenders,” Bydwell said of the run-up to tour. “This competition is a critical checkpoint to measure our progress against world-class opposition. We are focused on storm-proofing our performance—deepening our understanding of the game so we can recognize what’s needed and adapt under pressure. To do that, we have to hunt discomfort and put ourselves in situations that test us, stretch us and give us opportunities to learn and grow in meaningful ways.”
While there are many returning Eagles from the 2025-26 HSBC 7s Series, the group welcomes back Ilona Maher, who has been busy promoting the game in incomparable, myriad ways. Maher joins fellow Olympic bronze medalists Kirshe, Kayla Canett, Ari Ramsey and Sammy Sullivan in New Zealand. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Fane Tausinga, who graduated high school in Utah last spring (Rachel Strands and Lilly Thomas also have Utah roots). The Majestics product has been all over the USA Pathways and joins Eagles like Sariah Ibarra and Nalu Liufau who reported to Chula Vista right out of high school.
“Another priority this season is to intentionally build squad capability and depth,” Bydwell explained. “We’re developing each player’s strengths to maximize what we can achieve collectively, helping players understand what makes them unique and how they can bring that to their role.
“This tournament gives us the opportunity to provide competition minutes across our available squad and explore different combinations,” the coach continued. “We want to understand how those combinations bring different dimensions to our game and expand our ability to adapt while staying true to how we want to play.”
TBA on whether there will be a live-stream available in New Zealand. Stay tuned.
USA 7s Pre-season Tour Squad
Su Adekoke
Kayla Canett
Erica Coulibaly
Autumn Czaplicki
Sariah Ibarra
Kristi Kirshe – Captain
Nalu Liufau
Autumn LoCicero
Ilona Maher
Ariana Ramsey
Rachel Strasdas
Sammy Sullivan
Fane Tausinga
Lilly Thomas
Sereana Vulaono