CHULA VISTA, CA – USA Women’s National Team XVs Head Coach Rob Cain has named 27 players with two traveling reserves for a two match test series against rival-Canada on November 20 and November 24 in Chula Vista, CA. Nine additional injury reserves have also been selected. Both matches kick off at 3 PM PT at the Elite Athlete Training Center with a LIVE broadcast on FloRugby.com and open admission for all fans.
The active roster features ten pool players who didn’t have the opportunity to feature during the June Super Series, including seven who could earn their first cap.
Two of which include 2016 Olympian Kathryn Johnson and USA Under-20s player Elizabeth Wilson. Johnson has also played in ten HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stops while Wilson competed in the last two U20 Tri-Nations Cup in Canada and England, respectively.
The seven potential new caps are joined by returners Carly Waters, Kaitlyn Broughton and Sarah Levy who could all play their first test matches since the Autumn Internationals 2018. Waters was involved in the Eagles April match against the Barbarians and was an injury reserve for the aforementioned Super Series.
Led by Captain Kate Zackary, the Can-Am series will cap off one of the busiest years in program history. Dating back to November of 2018, the USA Women have played eight test matches against opponents ranked in the world’s top four, as well as another four non-tests against A-level, invitational and exhibition sides.
The 27-player roster features 147 cumulative test caps.
“We’ve had some really positive headaches as a coaching group in terms of this selection. Every time we come together now selection is getting harder and harder which is a very positive sign,” said Head Coach Rob Cain. “We have a large group of players performing well and the ability to see so many players compete for the Eagles at senior and U20 levels, through the Women’s Premier League, Collegiate and various other platforms created the past 12 months has been key to this.
Our focus alongside continued development is opportunity through performance and embracing this inner competition will be critical as we continue towards 2020 and 2021. Our success isn’t solely on the group rostered but also the non-selected who were important in driving performances through the inner competition. The exciting thing is to always see players take the chances they get and we hope this group does so with both hands against Canada.”
The Women’s Eagles will assemble on November 15 to begin preparation for the two match series. For more information on how to support the USA Women’s Eagles against Canada and in their build-up towards Rugby World Cup 2021, contact Chris Reed at creed@usa.rugby.
ROSTER
Bui Baravilala – Center, San Diego (9 caps)
Catherine Benson – Prop, Life West (21)
KB Broughton – Back Three, Glendale (3)
Gabriella Cantorna – Flyhalf, Glendale (6)
Jennine Detiveaux – Back Three, Seattle (5)
Frieda Fetuu – Lock, Life West (0)
Leti Hingano – Back Three, Life West (0)
Katana Howard – Flyhalf, Twin Cities (3)
Emily Henrich – Center, USA Sevens (6)
Charli Jacoby – Prop, Chicago North Shore (4)
Nick Jame – Prop, Houston Athletic (10)
Katie Johnson – Back Row, Twin Cities (0)
Rachel Johnson – Back Row, ORSU (5)
Joanna Kitlinski – Hooker, Glendale (12)
Maya Learned – Prop, Glendale (0)
Sara Levy – Back Three, New York (1)
Bulou Mataitoga – Center, Berkeley (3)
Amy Naber-Bonte – Center, Life West (4)
Olivia Ortiz – Scrumhalf, Davenport University (4)
Kristine Sommer – Lock, Seattle (11)
Nicole Strasko – Lock, Life West (5)
Juliann Tordonato – Center, Glendale (0)
Kathryn Treder – Hooker, Beantown (0)
Alycia Washington – Lock, New York (20)
Carly Waters – Scrumhalf, Glendale (2)
Elizabeth Wilson – Back Row, NOVA (0)
Kate Zackary (c) – Back Row, San Diego (13)
TRAVELING RESERVES
Ashlee Byrge – Scrumhalf, San Diego (4)
Darina Roe – Flyhalf, Penn State (0)
INJURY RESERVES
Elizabeth Cairns – Back Row, Life West (11)
Rachel Ehrecke – Back Row, Glendale (0)
Tess Feury – Back Three, New York (6)
Saher Hamden – Hooker, Notre Dame College (0)
Mackenzie Hawkins – Flyhalf, Glendale (3)
Jenny Kronish – Lock, Glendale (0)
Azniv Nalbandian – Prop, Glendale (3)
Megan Rom – Prop, Atlanta (2)
Nichole Wanamaker – Back Three, Glendale (0)
Unavailable due to injury
Stacey Bridges, Hope Rogers, Sam Luther, Amelia Bizer
Unavailable due to competition in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2020
Alev Kelter, Fane Haungatau, Kris Thomas, Jordan Gray
STAFFDirector of Women’s High Performance | Emilie Bydwell
Head Coach | Rob Cain
Assistant Coach | Jamie Burke
Assistant Coach | Kate Daley
Assistant Coach Rich Ashfield
Coach/Team Manager | Jenny Lui
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach | Ian Jones
Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach | Conor Sweeney
Head Performance Analyst | Dave Gardner
Team Doctor | Terence Cronin
Athletic Trainer | Bri Arsenault
Athletic Trainer | Katherine Henry
CAN-AM SCHEDULE
All matches LIVE on florugby.com.
Wednesday, Nov 20
vs Canada
KO: 3 PM PT
Sunday, Nov 24
vs Canada
KO: 3 PM PT