United States women's national rugby union team

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Not to be confused with United States women's national rugby league team.
This article is about the women's fifteens team. For the women's sevens team, see United States women's national rugby sevens team.
United States
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Eagles
UnionUSA Rugby
Head coachSione Fukofuka[1]
CaptainKate Zackary
Most capsJamie Burke (51)
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current8 (as of 23 October 2023)
First international
 Canada 3–22 United States 
(Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; 14 November 1987)
Biggest win
 Japan 0–121 United States 
(Melrose, Scotland; 15 April 1994)
Biggest defeat
 England 89–0 United States 
(Worcester, England; 21 November 2021)
World Cup
Appearances7 (First in 1991)
Best resultChampions 1991
Women's
World Rugby Rankings
Top 20 rankings as of 15 April 2024[2]
Rank Change* Team Points
1 Steady  England 096.18
2 Steady  New Zealand 090.56
3 Steady  France 088.00
4 Steady  Canada 086.27
5 Steady  Australia 081.61
7 Increase1  Scotland 077.17
6 Decrease1  Italy 075.13
8 Steady  Wales 073.41
9 Steady  United States 072.57
10 Steady  Ireland 072.35
11 Steady  Japan 069.38
12 Steady  South Africa 065.17
13 Steady  Spain 065.15
14 Steady  Russia 061.10
15 Steady  Samoa 059.57
16 Steady  Netherlands 058.98
17 Steady  Fiji 058.65
18 Steady  Hong Kong 058.31
19 Steady  Kazakhstan 055.97
20 Steady  Sweden 052.72
*Change from the previous week

The USA Women's National Team XVs represents the United States in women's international rugby union. The team was officially formed in 1987 and is nicknamed the Eagles.

An international powerhouse during the 1990s— the Eagles won the inaugural 1991 Women's World Cup and finished second in the two following World Cups in 1994 and 1998. The team finished fourth at the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland.[3]

In May 2018, Rob Cain was appointed full-time Head Coach. Cain joined the Eagles after winning the inaugural Tyrell Premier 15s title in England with Saracens Women.[4]

History[edit]

(Source: US Women's Rugby Foundation)

The history of women's rugby in the United States can be traced back to three teams that existed in 1972 – the Colorado State University Hookers at Fort Collins; the University of Colorado, at Boulder; and the University of Illinois, at Champaign. During the mid-1970s women's teams began to spring up on college campuses across the United States. As those players graduated they went on to set up teams near cities and urban centers. At that time there was only one division for all women's rugby. In 1975 United States Rugby Football Union was formed and contained four territories. At this time the women had their own Board of Directors and followed in parallel USARFU with four territories (East, Midwest, West and Pacific). In 1978 the first Women's National Championships was held. The Chicago Women's Rugby Club in Chicago, Illinois hosted this event. The winner of that championship was Portland, Maine.[citation needed]

1980s–1997[edit]

In 1985 the first semblance of a national team was formed. An ‘invitation-only’ team was put together and made up of, arguably, the top women playing the game at the time. The team was named WIVERN and toured throughout England and France. The team finished the tour undefeated. Many of these players went on to be selected to the 1991 World Cup Team.

In 1987 the USA women's national team was officially born with their first match against the Canadian women's national team. Although the women were not permitted to wear the Eagle logo, this match was sanctioned by Rugby Canada and USA Rugby. USA and Canada began holding an annual match, which became known as the CanAm series. For ten years the Women Eagles went undefeated in this test series.[citation needed]

In 1990 the women's national team, competing under the name ‘USA Presidents 15’, traveled to New Zealand to compete in the historic Women's World Rugby Festival. The WNT posted a record of 3–1 with their only loss coming at the hands of New Zealand. In 1991 the first Women's Rugby World Cup was held in Cardiff, Wales. Coached by Beantown's Kevin O’Brien, a Welshman himself, and Minnesota's Chris Leach, a South African the stage was set for the US women to bring home the Cup. Defeating New Zealand in semi-final play, the USA women advanced to the finals where they defeated England. Also in 1991 the first woman was elected to serve on the USARFU Board of Directors. Jamie Jordan was elected Treasurer for the Board.[citation needed]

In 1997 The U23 women's national team was formed. USA Women's National Team Head Coach Franck Boivert appointed Penn State Coach Peter Steinberg to be Head Coach for the U23 Women's National Team program. At an event in the CanAm Series the US Women's National Team celebrated their 10-year anniversary by cheering on the Women's U23 National Team in their first test against Canada.

Present[edit]

The USA Women's National Team XVs finished fourth at Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland which earned them automatic qualification to the next World Cup in New Zealand in 2021. In early 2018, the program hired former Women's National Team player Emilie Bydwell to serve as its General Manager of Women's High Performance.[5] Soon after in May, Rob Cain was appointed full-time Head Coach and has since helped lead the program in a new direction.[4]

The Women's National Team Program fields a number of age-grade and development programs including the High School All-Americans (U18), Under-20s, Collegiate All-Americans and USA Selects. All age-grade and development programs are umbrellaed under the national team program and serve as a feeder to the senior Women's Eagles.

Record[edit]

Overall[edit]

See List of United States women's national rugby union team matches

Full internationals only

Correct as of 20 October 2023

Opponent First game Played Won Drawn Lost Win %
 Australia 1997 6 4 0 2 66.67%
 Canada 1987 44 19 0 24 43.18%
 England 1991 20 1 0 19 5%
 France 1996 13 2 1 10 15.38%
 Ireland 1994 8 5 0 3 62.5%
 Italy 2012 3 2 0 1 66.67%
 Japan 1994 2 2 0 0 100%
 Kazakhstan 2010 1 1 0 0 100%
 Netherlands 1990 3 3 0 0 100%
 New Zealand 1990 14 1 0 13 7.14%
 Russia 1998 1 1 0 0 100%
 Samoa 2023 1 1 0 0 100%
 Scotland 1998 6 4 0 2 66.67%
 South Africa 2009 5 4 0 1 80%
 Soviet Union 1990 2 2 0 0 100%
 Spain 1998 6 6 0 0 100%
 Sweden 1994 1 1 0 0 100%
 Wales 1993 5 4 0 1 80%
Total 1987 137 63 1 73 45.98%

Rugby World Cup[edit]

Main article: United States women at the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
Year Round Pld W D L PF PA Squad
Wales 1991 Champions 4 4 0 0 79 6 Squad
Scotland 1994 Runners-up 5 4 0 1 387 53 Squad
Netherlands 1998 Runners-up 5 4 0 1 200 76 Squad
Spain 2002 7th place 4 2 0 2 124 43 Squad
Canada 2006 5th place 5 4 0 1 87 47 Squad
England 2010 5th place 5 3 0 2 136 82 Squad
France 2014 6th place 5 2 0 3 95 139 Squad
Republic of Ireland 2017 4th place 5 2 0 3 128 135 Squad
New Zealand 2021 Quarter-final 4 1 0 3 65 100 Squad
England 2025 TBD
Australia 2029
United States 2033 Automatically Qualified as Hosts
Total Champions 42 26 0 16 1301 681 Squad
  Champion   Runner-up   Third place   Fourth place
* Tied placing † Best placing Home venue

Players[edit]

Current squad[edit]

The United States named their 30-player squad for the second leg of the 2023 Pacific Four Series.[6]

Player Position Caps Club/Province
Alycia Washington Lock 22 Sale Sharks
Bulou Mataitoga Outside Back 9 Loughborough Lightening
Catie Benson Prop 33 Sale Sharks
Carly Waters Scrumhalf 17 Sale Sharks
Charli Jacoby Prop 12 Exeter Chiefs
Charlotte Clapp Wing 3 Saracens
Emily Henrich — 0 Dartmouth College
Erica Jarrell Prop 0 Beantown RFC
Eti Haungatau Centre 9 Lindenwood University
Evelyn Ashenbrucker Lock 8 San Diego Surfers
Georgie Perris-Redding Back Row 6 Sale Sharks
Hallie Taufo'ou Lock 3 Beantown RFC
Hope Rogers Prop 42 Exeter Chiefs
Jennine Detiveaux Wing 11 Knoxville Minx
Jett Hayward Hooker 1 Life West Gladiatrix
Joanne Fa’avesi — 0 USA Sevens
Kate Zackary (c) Back Row 28 Exeter Chiefs
Kathryn Treder Hooker 10 Beantown RFC
Keiamae Sagapolu Prop 1 Central Washington University
Kristin Bitter Fly-Half 1 Dartmouth College
McKenzie Hawkins Fly-Half 9 Colorado Gray Wolves
Olivia Ortiz Scrumhalf 14 Colorado Gray Wolves
Paluvava'u Freda Tafuna — 0 Lindenwood University
Rachel Ehrecke Back Row 3 DMP Sharks
Rachel Johnson Back Row 13 Exeter Chiefs
Summer Harris-Jones Outside Back 1 USA Sevens
Tahlia Brody Back Row 1 Cheltenham Tigers
Taina Tukuafu — 0 Lindenwood University
Tess Feury Fullback 11 Wasps
Tiara A'au Prop 1 New York Rugby Club

Previous squads[edit]

Notable players[edit]

Two former Eagles have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame: Patty Jervey and Phaidra Knight.

Patty Jervey was inducted in 2014. She was the first player to play in five Women's Rugby World Cups. She won the inaugural tournament in 1991 and appeared in the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006 editions. She made her Eagles debut in 1989 and has won 40 caps, and scored 178 points.[7][8]

Phaidra Knight was inducted in 2017. She has been capped 35 times for the Eagles and has appeared at three Women's Rugby World Cups – 2002, 2006 and 2010. She was named USA Rugby Player of the Decade in 2010. Knight also represented the USA Women's Sevens, from 2006 to 2009.[9][10]

Award winners[edit]

The following United States players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:[11]

Coaches[edit]

Name Years
Kevin O'Brien 1991
Franck Boivert 1994
Martin Gallagher 2002
Kathy Flores 2002–2011
Peter Steinberg 2011–2017
Rob Cain 2018–Present

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Milton Haig to lead Women's Eagles for WXV tests". Americas Rugby News. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  3. ^ "RWC 2021 Spotlight: USA". www.rugbyworldcup.com. 2020-11-14. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  4. ^ a b Tabani, Aalina (2018-05-14). "USA Rugby Selects Saracens Women's Rob Cain as Head Coach of Women's National Team". USA Rugby. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  5. ^ "USA Rugby appoints Emilie Bydwell as General Manager of Women's High Performance". USA Rugby. 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  6. ^ Dean, Taylor (2023-06-16). "USA Women's Eagles traveling roster confirmed for second leg of 2023 Pacific Four Series". eagles.rugby. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  7. ^ "Harlequin Patty Jervey Inducted into IRB Hall of Fame". AHWRFC. 2014-11-14. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  8. ^ "Jervey: WRWC 1991 was "an experience of a lifetime"". www.rugbyworldcup.com. 2017-04-14. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  9. ^ Zeigler, Cyd (2017-11-14). "Phaidra Knight is second American athlete inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame". Outsports. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  10. ^ Pengelly, Martin (2017-11-04). "Meet Phaidra Knight: free radical flanker in World Rugby Hall of Fame". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  11. ^ "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.

External links[edit]

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