The USA Falcons are currently in Brazil for a pair of 15s matches this week. Twenty-three players from the USA U20, U23 and Women’s National Team pools have been selected for games against Brazil on Tuesday, June 11 and Thursday, June 13. At present, there are no plans for a live-stream. [lead photo: Mata Hingano at 2024 PAC4 / Robert Cianflone/Getty Images]
“The selection process for this traveling roster was in collaboration with our pathway coaches and national team staff,” USA Rugby Women’s High Performance Director explained. “We are excited to see the players who made the trip as it’s an exciting blend of national team players and upcoming pathway players. We also are working to expand our pool of coaches and support staff, and it is exciting to provide opportunities for them with this tour.”
Former Eagle and current American Raptors coach Sarah Chobot has been named head coach for the USA Falcons, while USA U23 head coach Katie Dowty serves as an assistant. Dowty and nine of the current tour-goers (^) were in Brazil this time last year for the Americas Rugby Trophy, a title that the USA U23s won. They join a group that includes capped Eagles (+) who are fresh off of the Pacific Four Series (*) in Los Angeles, New Zealand and Australia; to those just entering the U.S. pool.
Of note … Belmont Shore’s Sariah Ibarra is a recent high school graduate and this fall will relocate to Chula Vista as a contracted USA 7s player. • Yesterday, Freda Tafuna was honored at the Washington Athletic Club as the 2024 MA Sorenson Award winner. • Kelsie O’Brien is coming off of the CISM Rugby 7s Challenge in the Netherlands, where the USA finished second to France last week. • All of the club players hail from WPL teams, save a couple of “unattached”s, Matalasi Morrissette (Utah) and Nikki Kenyon (Washington).
“This tour is another step in progressing the development and creating opportunities for the players in America,” Sparks added. “While the short turnaround from PAC4 and the timing of this tour with college graduations and other important life milestones that happen this time of year was a challenge, we will keep creating more opportunities for players to play rugby.”
USA FALCONS / BRAZIL ROSTER
Tiara A’au — New York RC +
Emerson Allen — Life West ^
Kristin Bitter — Life West ^+
Rachel Ehrecke — Colorado Gray Wolves *+
Lauren Ferridge — Beantown ^
Emily Henrich — Unattached *^+
Leti Hingano — Life West +
Atumata Hingano — Life West *+
Sariah Ibarra — Belmont Shore U18
Malia Isaacs — Beantown
Nikki Kenyon — Seattle Rugby Club +
Sophia Lamphier — Berkeley All Blues
Alivia Leatherman — Unattached *^+
Maya Learned — Colorado Gray Wolves +
Nikki Lynch — Brown University
Asialeata Meni — Dartmouth College
Matalasi Morrissette — Peaks Rugby
Kelsie O’Brien — Colorado Gray Wolves
Tiahna Padilla — Harvard University ^
Sophie Pyrz — Rhinos/Life West
Freda Tafuna — Lindenwood University *^+
Anna Van Dyk — Quinnipiac University ^
Reece Woods — Sacred Heart University ^
^ Part of the 2023 USA U23 tour to Brazil
+ Capped Eagle
* 2024 Pacific Four Series
USA Women’s Falcons Staff
Head Coach | Sarah Chobot
Assistant Coach | Katie Dowty
Strength & Conditioning | Kris Smith
Manager | Seth Symond
Physiotherapist | Travis Jameson