USA Name Roster for Samoa; RugbyPass Provides Free Livestream

USA RUGBY – Interim Head Coach Milton Haig announced today the 23 players who will kick off the USA Women’s Eagles first match against Samoa in the inaugural WXV 2 tournament in Cape Town. USA v Samoa kicks off Saturday, October 14, at 8 a.m. ET, live on RugbyPass TV. [Lead photo: Khulani Media/World Rugby]

The Eagles have been training together for three weeks and head to South Africa just after a warm-up fixture with Wales. Despite the 38-18 loss, the one-off matchup and scrimmage against the Irish was precisely the foundation this team needed to set markers for a successful WXV campaign and building back the winning culture. This first game against a growing Samoa side will be a quality test for the Eagles on their improvements and time together the last few weeks.

“We are pretty pleased with how the players are performing,” WNT Interim Head Coach Milton Haig said. “There is a good mix of experience and youthfulness in terms of players getting another chance to play for the USA Eagles. I’m excited to see Lotte [Clapp] back on the team and see what she can do, and I’m also excited to see Tahlia [Brody] at the 7. It’s an important match for us as the first one of WXV 2. We’ve trained well and want to represent our country to the highest degree we can.”

Autumata Hingano will make her debut as a starting back, while Meya Bizer joins the finishers list after earning her 30th cap in the Wales match two weeks ago. Jenny Kronish, who was a late replacement in the WXV player pool for Evi Ashenbrucker, was also named to the bench.

This is the first time the Women’s Eagles have ever met Samoa in a test match. The Manusina head into WXV 2 following a warmup match against hosts South Africa, which ended in a 17-17 draw. Having only played three other matches this year, the USA v Samoa game will be important playing time for the Manusina.

“Samoa are a big team, so we really want to move the ball and play some exciting rugby,” Haig said. “That’s going to be one of our key fundamentals for winning this game, but we also know that with a team like Samoa who brings physicality and big ball carry, we have to defensively make sure we tackle low and get them on the ground as soon as possible while giving ourselves time to steal the ball or slow the game down.”

RugbyPass TV will live-stream the match for free here: https://rugbypass.tv/live/250181.

USA Women’s Eagles Roster v Samoa

USA Women’s Eagles Traveling Staff | WXV 2

Head Coach | Milton Haig
Assistant Coach | John Haggart
Assistant Coach | Melodie Bosman
Coach Intern | Karameli Fa’ae’e
Strength & Conditioning | Sylvia Braaten
Strength & Conditioning Assistant | Owethu Durban
Analyst | Caitlin Singletary
Doctor | Derek Hatfield
Lead Physio | Katherine Henry
Physio | McKenna Medders
Team Manager | Tiffany Lopez
Team Liason | Jongi Nokwe

USA Women’s Eagles WXV 2 Schedule

All matches live on RugbyPass

Saturday, Oct. 14
v. Samoa | 8 a.m. ET

Friday, Oct. 20
v. Scotland | 8 a.m. ET

Saturday, Oct. 28
v. Italy | 11 a.m. ET