eagles.rugby — A leader in the pack, on and off the pitch, lock and versatile back rower Erica Jarrell-Searcy has been named USA Women’s Eagles captain for the 2026 Pacific Four (PAC4) Series. [lead photo: Alex Ho @hoiho_photo]

 

Boston native Jarrell-Searcy was studying molecular and cellular biology at Harvard University when she discovered rugby. She walked on to the team her freshman year and in 2018 attended a junior national team camp, putting herself on the U.S. national team radar.

Coming from a diverse sporting background, including eventing on the junior national level, Jarrell-Searcy continued her rugby career with Beantown RFC in the Women’s Premier League. She earned selection to the 2021 Rugby World Cup traveling roster but had to wait until 2023 to make her USA debut against New Zealand. She has since become a cornerstone of the Eagles’ pack. In 2024, she moved to Manchester, England, where she currently represents Sale Sharks in the Premiership Women’s Rugby.

Following standout performances in last year’s PAC4 Series and Rugby World Cup 2025, where she scored a try in every match, including the equalizer against the Wallaroos that shifted momentum under critical pressure, Jarrell-Searcy will come full circle this Saturday in Sacramento when she captains the USA against the Black Ferns in the PAC4 opener.

 

 

Setting the tone for this new Rugby World Cup cycle and passionate about elevating the game of rugby in the United States, Jarrell-Searcy commented:

“Captaincy is an opportunity to give back to a program that has given me so much and molded me into the person I am today. It’s an honor to lead this group, and I just want to uplift them in the ways that I have always been uplifted in this environment.

“Last year, we learned that performance goes so much deeper than individual effort and desire. Learning to advocate for and motivate a team to perform together as a single unit, when to celebrate and when to challenge the people and systems that make up USA Rugby, has been a big growth point and I’m looking forward to implementing those learnings this season.

 

 

“The new talent [this season] is so bright and our staff are dedicated to bringing us all into a new age of USA Rugby together. Our squad is advanced enough now that our focus is shifting from technical detail to tactical planning, and that means we are getting to define and showcase our own brand of rugby. We hope to build on the momentum from last season and the Rugby World Cup and continue to showcase a fast and physical brand of American rugby, which is really exciting.”

The USA Women’s Eagles kick off the PAC4 series in Sacramento’s Heart Health Park this Saturday, April 11 at 4 p.m. PT against New Zealand. At 7 p.m., Canada and Australia take the pitch. BUY TICKETS.  Fans can keep up with all the action live on Paramount+.

USA WNT STAFF

Jack Hanratty | Head Coach

Sarah Chobot | Assistant Coach

Lou Meadows | Assistant Coach

Jon Humphreys | Assistant Coach

Tom Clough | Head of Athletic Performance

Anna Unnasch | Athletic Trainer

Janie Kleumpers | Athletic Trainer

Alana Gattinger | Head of High Performance Operations

Hannah Reid | Team Manager