The USA Women’s Sevens Team went 4-2 to finish fourth during the final leg of the HSBC SVNS World Championships in Bordeaux, France. The Eagles beat Great Britain, Spain and France, split games with Canada, and lost to Australia. Kaylen Thomas surpassed the USA’s season try-scoring record, ending the year with 37 overall, Ariana Ramsey was named to the Dream Team. [lead photo: Alex Ho @hoiho_photo]

“I think this team learned all year how hard it is to win on the World Series,” USA Rugby Women’s 7s Team Captain Kristi Kirshe said. “We learned the lesson over and over again and had some really great moments this year. We were the only team to beat both Australia and New Zealand besides those two teams, which is huge for us.

“This is a team that’s learning and growing together, so we’ll take this home, reflect on this one,” she added. “It’s going to hurt for a while, but we’ll be back ready to go next year.”

Ranked third on overall standings, the USA Women’s Eagles kicked off against Great Britain and took command of the pitch with two back to back Su Adegoke tries. GB countered, but Erica Coulibaly ran across for the USA’s third hitting half time with a 19-7 lead. The USA conceded no tries in the second half with Coulibaly and Ariana Ramsey adding two more to secure the 31-7 victory.

In their second match, Spain opened hard charging down to dive across the line first, following up with a second despite a yellow for the Spanish team. Just ahead of the half time buzzer however, Kaylen Thomas ran in the first try for the USA – all while breaking the USA Season Score record, clinching her 33rd and putting the Eagles 7-10 at half time. Trading possession in the first half, the Spanish scored first again, with Erica Coulibaly sprinting down between the posts to counter. With two USA conversions added, and none for the Spanish, a Spanish penalty gave the Eagles possession just as the buzzer sounded. Ariana Ramsey, picking from the base of the scrum, takes control and sprints down to touch down and take the win for the USA.

In their final match of pool play, the USA Women took on North American rivals Canada . With the Canadians scoring first, USA Captain Kirshe shifted gears and dotted down twice with Ibarra converting both and giving the Eagles an advantage at the half 14-12 as the Canadians added a second of their own. On the restart, the Canadians countered first, but the USA powered forward again with Spiff Sedrick cross over, before Coulibaly and Su Adegoke bringing the Eagles into a comfortable lead despite one more Canadian try. The USA Women took their third win of pool play 33-22.

Advancing to the Cup quarterfinal, the USA took on Spain in a gritty first half seeing no score until the seventh minute when Sammy Sullivan put the first points on the board. A strong defensive effort, conceding no tries to the French, Ramsey flew across for the Eagles second try and clinching the win and 12-0 and putting the USA in a favorable position advancing to the Cup quarterfinals.

Taking on Australia in the Cup semifinal, the Wallaroos attacked hard taking three consecutive tries before Thomas ran one in just before halftime. The USA held strong defensively but were unable to take any additional points finishing the match 7-21 to the Australians.

The USA Women took on Canada in the 3rd Place match. Kaylen Thomas opens the scoring and touches down under the posts. Canada counter in a flying food race and level, before speeding down with a second just before halftime, Kirshe trucks through the Canadian defensive line through multiple phases before getting it out to Thomas to score under the posts again and level. Canada counter again but Thomas runs around the Canadian line and to fly down the pitch for a hat trick but one missed conversion gives the Canadians the upper hand to take the win 19-21 and push the Eagles into a 4th place finish.

“I’m really proud of the group,” USA Rugby Women’s 7s Team Head Coach Emilie Bydwell said. “There’ve been some really amazing results and examples of that, and there’s been some learnings as well. We’re obviously really disappointed. We came into these two tournaments, wanting to win 36 points and we won 34. But it’s a massive accomplishment for our group, and to feel the pressure of an outcome goal like that, and learn what that pressure feels like.

“It’s been an incredible year,” she added. “We came off the back of two combines, identifying the players that we wanted to have in our group; framing our house, and building the identity that we wanted, the values we want to play out, and ultimately what our game model will be and how to establish a competitive advantage with the group of players that we selected.”

The USA Women’s Eagles will reconvene in California after a recovery period for preseason and begin preparations to continue their progress on the world stage at next season’s HSBC SVNS Series opener. All matches will be streamed live on Paramount+. Fans can also follow along the journey on the USA Eagles new dedicated instagram account @USAEagles7s

BORDEAUX RESULTS

USA 31-7 Great Britain
Tries: Adegoke 2, Coulibaly 2, Ramsey
Cons: Canett 2, Wilfley

USA 19-15 Spain
Tries: Thomas, Coulibaly, Ramsey
Cons: Ibarra, Canett

USA 33-22 Canada
Tries: Kirshe 2, Sedrick, Coulibaly, Adegoke
Cons: Ibarra 2, Canett 2

Cup QF: USA 12-0 France
Tries: Ramsey, Sullivan
Cons: Canett

Cup SF: Australia 21-7 USA
Tries: Thomas
Cons: Canett

3rd Place: Canada 21-19 USA
Tries: Thomas 3
Cons: Canett 2