eagles.rugby – A fight to the finish in the 3rd place match against France saw the USA Women’s Eagles Sevens end their Perth SVNS campaign in another bittersweet 4th place. The Eagles also finished 4th the week prior in Singapore, locking enough standings points to remain in third behind leader New Zealand and Australia. [lead photo: Kaylen Thomas vs. Fiji; all photos: Alex Ho @hoiho_photo]

 

 

Head Coach, Emilie Bydwell commented on her team’s progress despite their disappointment in finishing in the same standing.

“I’m really proud of the start of the weekend. It’s very difficult to beat teams on back to back weekends, especially in the fashion that we beat Japan and Fiji in Singapore in sudden death tries and then to come out day one and have pretty dominant performances against them. We were really proud of that.”

“Going into the game against France, we had a plan that would require us to do certain things, and we didn’t execute on that plan. A lot of that was due to the work ethic we value as a team. We had some really great player accountability postgame, and that accountability and willingness to have hard conversations with each other, especially with some of the younger players – recognising that that’s just a form of love – and disappointed with the outcome. To have a moment like that happen at this time of the season is really cool for us as a group though, so we just take that as a win and build from here and make sure that we’re backing our values whenever we come to perform.”

 

Coming into this fourth stop off the back of two 4th place endings, the Eagles were dialed in and ready to one up themselves. The new look team delivered with first international tries from Rachel Strasdas, Autumn Czaplicki, as well as from Rugby World Cup 2025 scrumhalf Cass Bargell who made her USA Eagles Sevens debut.

The USA Women opened Pool A against Fiji. After a yellow card gave Fiji an early lead, Rachel Strasdas quickly responded, collecting a restart and running the length of the pitch scoring her first USA try. Tries from Ariana Ramsey and Su Adegoke extended the Eagles’ lead 17-5 at halftime. On the restart, Sammy Sullivan dived across the line giving the Eagles enough buffer over two tries from a Fiji comeback. Cass Bargell came off the bench to make her USA Sevens debut at scrumhalf helping the USA move the ball and secure the win with scores from Autumn Czaplicki taking her first try in a USA jersey, and Kaylen Thomas finishing the match 34-15.

 

Japan kicked off with intensity taking the first score. Bringing it back in range, Ashley Cowdrey offloaded with a pass out the back to set Strasdas up for the first match try. A penalty in the Eagles favor and Ramsey shifts the ball wide off a scrum to Thomas who handles well to pop off to Adegoke wrapping around to fly in on the edge just before halftime. Footwork and fight from Thomas on the restart secured the Eagles third try, soon followed up by another. USA line speed stifled Japan’s go forward and Su Adegoke capitalized, piercing Japan’s defensive line to run straight in under the posts. Japan responded with a try but USA closed out with an Ariana Ramsey try after the buzzer sealing the win 38-14.

The Eagles finished second in Pool A after taking on a clinical New Zealand side. The Black Ferns took control early scoring on the opening play. The USA Women stayed composed through the half, but on the restart, the Kiwis defensive line staved off USA attempts to get through and take the win.

 

The USA Women opened day two against the hosts, Australia feeding off the crowd energy and putting two tries on the board in the first half. On the restart, the Wallaroos read well to intercept the Eagles’ forward momentum and dot down their third try of the match. Su Adegoke spots her chance to strike and barrels through the Wallaroos line running in points for the Eagles, but a subsequent Australian try seals the Wallaroos win 26-5 seeing the USA advance to the 3rd Place Play offs against France.

France struck fast and hard with two quick tries. Cass Bargell responded clinching her first try in the USA Sevens jersey. A try saving tackle from Thomas keeps the Eagles within striking distance. Intense speed and defensive pressure from both sides force the USA to take hard lines and Adegoke breaks through, despite the tackle, Sullivan’s support line clears up to deliver the ball under the posts. A France turnover shifted the ball out with pace to go one up and a penalty to France in the final minute gave Les Bleues back possession as they kicked into touch to secure their win 21-14.

 

Now just over halfway in the HSBC SVNS Series, the USA Women’s Eagles will travel back to the USA for a training block before the final two stops of the series in Vancouver, and at home in NYC.

USA Eagles fans can watch the action live March 14-15 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J. Tickets are on sale now at: https://sitickets.com/group/team/hsbc-svns-new-york.

HSBC SVNS PERTH ROSTER

Results

USA 34-15 Fiji
Tries: Strasdas, Ramsey, Adegoke, Sullivan, Thomas, Czaplicki
Conv: Wilfley, Cowdrey

USA 38-14 Japan
Tries: Strasdas, Adegoke 2, Thomas 2, Ramsey
Conv: Cowdrey, Wilfley 3

New Zealand 31-0 USA

Cup SF: Australia 26-5 USA
Tries: Adegoke

3rd: France 21-14 USA
Tries: Bargell, Sullivan
Cone: Cowdrey 2

2025-26 HSBC SVNS Series

Nov 29-30 | Dubai, UAE – 5th Place
Dec 6-7 | Cape Town, South Africa – 4th Place
Jan 31-February 1 | Singapore – 4th Place
Feb 7-8 | Perth, Australia – 4th Place
March 7-8 | Vancouver, BC, Canada
March 14-15 | NYC (Harrison, NJ)

2026 HSBC SVNS World Championship

April 17-19 | Hong Kong
May 29-31 | Valladolid, Spain
June 5- 7 | Bordeaux, France

Staff

Emilie Bydwell | Head Coach
Tony Roques | Assistant Coach
Charlie Purdon | Technical & IDP Skills Coach
Ben Pinkelman | Support Coach
Lauren Barber | Performance Analyst
Trey Ford | Head of Athletic Performance
Ashley Morataya | Assistant S&C
Nicole Titmas | Head of Athlete Health & Wellness – 7s / Women’s 7s Head ATC
Meghan Chambers | Rehab Specialist
Jackie Rodriguez | Athletic Trainer
Jacque Scaramella | Dietician
Peter Haberl | Sport Psychologist
Liz Strohecker | Head of High Performance Operations – 7s
Maria Adams | High Performance Operations Coordinator – 7s
Jenni Burke | High Performance Communications Manager