The USA Rugby Women’s 7s team has made one change from its Vancouver roster, as the team makes a quick turn-around for the Los Angeles stop on the HSBC SVNS series. The Eagles are coming off a 5th place finish and are currently tied with Canada (48 points) in series standings points. The action begins inside Dignity Health Sports Complex (Carson, Calif.) on Friday night and continues through Sunday. Watch live and for free on RugbyPass TV. [Lead photo: Ari Ramsey / Alex Ho @hoiho_photo]
“We’ve had a fast [and] furious few days since Vancouver SVNS,” USA Women’s 7s Head Coach Emilie Bydwell told USA Rugby. “We had the opportunity to go home and reconnect with our families and then reset as we come into the Los Angeles SVNS. This will be the first time that this iteration of our team — The Highwomen — play at home and that means a lot to us as we take the field this weekend.”
Photo: Alex Ho @hoiho_photo
The USA will start its home tournament against Spain on Friday at 6:20 p.m. PST. It’s just two pool games on Saturday, and the Eagles will play Great Britain (1:32 p.m. PST) and Canada (6:08 p.m. PST). Sunday is for knockouts.
“We were happy with the development we showed in Vancouver in the areas we have focused on and the collective determination that we delivered under pressure,” Bydwell continued. “While we dropped [two] close games, those are the experiences you learn the most from and we are committed to elevating our focus as we progress through pool play this weekend. Our pool will present unique challenges with each team. We are planning on taking things a game at a time and not looking beyond the opponent that is in front of us.”
Kris Thomas is coming on for Cheta Emba in LA, marking the prop/hooker’s 42nd HSBC tournament. Everyone else has returned from Vancouver.
USA Women | 2024 LA 7s
| Name | Position | HSBC Tournaments |
|---|---|---|
| 2. Ilona Maher | Center / Prop | 26 |
| 3. Kayla Canett | Flyhalf | 25 |
| 5. Alev Kelter | Center / Prop | 43 |
| 6. Alena Olsen | Scrumhalf | 20 |
| 7. Naya Tapper (C) | Wing | 37 |
| 10. Steph Rovetti | Scrumhalf / Flyhalf | 12 |
| 11. Kris Thomas | Hooker / Prop | 41 |
| 12. Kristi Kirshe | Prop / Hooker | 22 |
| 13. Sarah Levy | Hooker | 7 |
| 17. Spiff Sedrick | Center | 16 |
| 21. Ariana Ramsey | Wing | 5 |
| 22. Sammy Sullivan | Prop / Hooker | 10 |
| 23. Lauren Doyle (C) | Flyhalf | 42 |
STAFF
Head Coach | Emilie Bydwell
Assistant Coach | Zack Test
Strength & Conditioning | Trey Ford
Team Manager | Liz Strohecker
Athletic Trainer | Nicole Titmas
Sports Psychologist | Peter Haberl
Nutrition | Jacque Scaramella
Analyst | Lauren Barber
Media Manager | Taylor Dean