The USA Women’s 7s team has announced its 14-player pool traveling to Hamilton, New Zealand, for the fourth stop on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. The Eagles head to the tournament ranked third.
LAST TOURNAMENT | FIFTH IN CAPE TOWN
Following two straight medal finishes in Glendale (gold) and Dubai (bronze), the USA Women’s Sevens fell in the quarterfinals at Cape Town.
A tremendous start in pool play saw the Eagles Sevens defeat Ireland to the whopping tune of 38-0, showing profound speed and accuracy. The United States outmaneuvered England in the next game, winning 21-7 and qualifying for the Quarterfinals, after holding their counterparts scoreless until the final play.
The final match of Pool C and the Cup Quarterfinal brought stinging losses against two rivals in Australia and Canada who have each suffered their own losses to the U.S.
Australia won 14-19, taking a fast and early lead by monopolizing possession while Canada capitalized on every USA penalty to keep the scoreline tight; securing a late try and taking possession on the final play to kick to touch at 14-15.
The USA Women’s Sevens are now third overall (48pts) with Australia only two points ahead in second (50 pts).
THE SQUAD
Head Coach Chris Brown has selected 14 players for Hamilton with three total adjustments made from Dubai and Cape Town.
Cheta Emba and Joanne Fa’avesi will travel as injury reserves with Stephanie Rovetti back in the starting rotation. Emba has competed in all three stops this season while Fa’avesi travels for the first time after recovering from an injury at the end of the 2019 World Series.
Rovetti rejoins the group after helping the U.S. win gold at the opening stop in Glendale.
The full squad owns 212 tournaments with 179 of that held by the primary 12-player lineup.
Kayla Canett
Lauren Doyle
Abby Gustaitis (co-cpt)
Eti Haungatau
Nicole Heavirland
Alev Kelter
Kristi Kirshe
Ilona Maher
Jordan Matyas
Stephanie Rovetti
Naya Tapper
Kris Thomas (co-cpt)
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Injury Reserves: Cheta Emba, Nana Fa’avesi
STAFF
Head Coach | Chris BrownStrength & Conditioning | Matt LongPerformance Analyst | JD StephensonAthletic Trainer | Nicole TitmasTeam Manager | Liz Strohecker
THE COMPETITION
The USA Women’s Sevens will face Russia, Brazil and Australia in Pool B, under a new adjusted format for Hamilton.
No Cup Quarterfinals will be held. The top teams in each of the three pools and highest-ranked team after them will automatically qualify for the Cup Semifinals.
The two highest ranked teams remaining will face one another in the 5th Place Final while the two highest ranked teams after them will play in the 7th Place Final. This sequence continues for the 9th place and 11th place rounds, respectively.
Russia will be up first on Friday, Jan 24 at 4:14 PM ET and are currently ranked sixth. Brazil will be next and are currently fighting against relegation with their 12th place position.
Pool play concludes against second-place Australia who have made two Cup Finals this season, losing first to the Eagles Sevens in Glendale and most recently to New Zealand in Cape Town.
HAMILTON SCHEDULE
vs Russia | Fri, Jan 24 – 4:14 PM ETvs Brazil | Fri, Jan 24 – 9:52 PM ETvs Australia | Sat, Jan 25 – 3:41 PM ET
Knockout rounds begin at 6:08 PM ET on Saturday, Jan 25.
WHERE TO WATCH / FOLLOW
All matches are broadcast LIVE and On Demand through NBC Sports Gold’s rugby pass. To purchase rugby pass, click here.
Score updates are available by following @USARugby on Twitter, Instagram Story and Facebook Story. Match recaps are posted within 90 minutes of full time on www.usa.rugby, as well as Facebook and Twitter.
HEAR IT FROM HEAD COACH CHRIS BROWN
“We are very excited to be heading to New Zealand. To be able to get back out there and make a quality statement in a few components of play we haven’t been pleased with, is important. And, of course, to continue the progression we’ve made in other areas.”
“Throughout this season, trying to select the final traveling roster has continued to get harder; and while it is a positive for how we challenge and enhance what we do daily, it does make a number of conversations so much tougher. Still, this is a key component we need within our environment to truly hit the standards of play we aim for.”
TO SUM IT UP
Hamilton marks the fourth of eight rounds in the women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series which means the season is very quickly reaching its peak. While the group wasn’t completely satisfied with their fifth-place finish in Cape Town, the long break between stops has provided a refreshing platform for the team to recalibrate. Only eight points separate the United States from first-place New Zealand and only two points separate the squad from second-place Australia, making a finish at the top of the standings every bit as attainable. A revised format for Hamilton will bring new challenges and added pressures as the group channels its depth to overcome the tight margins to make the semifinals.