USA U23s Ready for ‘Border Battle’ in MA

USA RUGBY – Reconvening for their second competition series of 2023, the USA Women’s U23s will head for Quincy, Mass., this July for a two-match “Border Battle” with the Canada U23s at Veterans Memorial Stadium, home of the New England Free Jacks.

Hosted by the Major League Rugby club and supported by the XV Foundation, the classic North American rivalry will take to home soil as a showcase for the best USA Rugby Pathways prospects. The first match will kickoff July 26 at 7pm ET, with the second played on July 30 at 12pm ET. Tickets will be available soon, with a livestream of both matches free to air on The Rugby Network.

Head Coach Katie Dowty and squad will look to continue their recent success at the Americas Rugby Trophy, taking home the tournament title against the Brazilian and Columbian senior national sides. As a mixture of collegiate, club and academy players, the U23s are a central squad of prospects on the doorstep of the USA National Team.

Dowty said on the home series, “Our U23s announced themselves in Brazil, proving their ability to compete and win at the international level. We now have a special opportunity to build upon the foundations, connections and lessons the group took away from that tour as we go to battle against the Canadian U23s. This incredibly talented group, several of whom are already making an impact on the senior squad, will be joined by even more exciting new talent identified at the recent U23 All-Star Tournament. At a key time in their development, these consecutive competitions are rapidly accelerating the growth and confidence of our up-and-coming Eagles, preparing this exciting generation to win on the world stage.

“The team now gets the chance to play on home soil and introduce the rugby fans of New England and beyond to their incredibly physical and dynamic style of play. They are so fun to watch; their personalities and passion shine on the pitch and they represent so many rugby communities throughout the country. With the additional support of the Free Jacks and XV Foundation, we have every intention of making these players known to USA rugby fans everywhere while inspiring more young girls and boys throughout the community to pick up a rugby ball.”

New England Free Jacks Co-Founder and CEO Alex Magleby added, “Free Jacks have a renowned match day scene, and we are really looking forward to sharing this fun festival and professional experience with the burgeoning fans of our sport here in New England and these quality rising US and Canadian stars. With the Rugby World Cup only two years away, many of the players in this group should be competing for those precious roster spots. Beyond that, many are at the right age to peak as we head into a home Rugby World Cup in 2033. Senior Team Captain Kate Zackary is a great example of where these future stars could be in 10 years time. This will be a next generation showcase with a great rivalry packaged in an awesome festival atmosphere you won’t want to miss.”

Tickets to the Border Battle series will be available shortly, with a free live stream of both games on The Rugby Network.