The USA Women’s Eagles have landed in South Africa for a 2-Test Tour against the Springbok Women marking the Women's Eagles first time ever playing on South African soil.
The Tests, in Johannesburg's historic Ellis Park Saturday, July 4th and Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria the following weekendwill be part of double headers when the Men’s Springboks host England and Scotland in the Nations Championship.
Having last met in London in March 2024, when the USA won 38-17 the USA Women will be looking to build off of the momentum established this spring during the Pacific Four Series, Head Coach, Jack Hanratty and staff have named a dynamic fresh squad expected to showcase the new USA style and energy fans got a glimpse of earlier this year.
And while building that unique USA playing style is being formed, Hanratty is looking to build strong leaders as part of that USA DNA. Stepping into Captaincy duties for the first time in the USA jersey, Georgie Perris- Redding will lead out the Eagles on their 4th of July fixture honoring the USA’s 250th anniversary from abroad.
“It’s an important time to develop multiple leaders in the build up to 2029/2033 RWCs. Although Georgie might be taking over the official captaincy for the first time she has been a leader for the Eagles for many years and I know she will lead from the front.” commented Hanratty.
Perris-Redding will be in strong company, with the return of Kate Zackary who will join the squad after recovering from injury in line to make her 50th USA appearance. Zackary, alongside Teeling Trailfinder teammate, Alivia Leatherman will join up with the Eagles early next week after the conclusion of the PWR Final. Similarly, Hallie Taufoou will join the Eagles after competing in the French Elite 1 Championship Final for top side Stade Bordelais Women.
With a wealth of Eagles leaders at the helm, five uncapped players have been join the Tour with Lauryn Carlton, Elizabeth Cook and Chloe Hill-Huse looking to bolster the forwards pack; while in the backline, Alopa Nau looks to make her debut, alongside Ashley Cowdrey who has already made a mark in the USA jersey on the Women’s Sevens side.
Despite players unavailable for tour through personal commitments that featured in PAC4 in the likes of Erica Jarrell-Searcy, Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele, and Abigail Paton, Hanratty is relishing new personnel and dynamics that will unfold. Hanratty continued;
“From day one of this cycle, we have been aiming to have a group of 50 players that can compete at the international level. Although we will miss some quality players we have more athletes coming into the Eagles squad for the first time.”
“Welcoming back a player like Kate is a great addition to the squad, and we will forgive both her and Alivia for arriving a little late to compete in the PWR Final.”
The USA will line out ranked seventh after moving up the World Rugby ranking list this spring when they defeated Australia on home ground in Kansas City. The Eagles will be looking to replicate that winning feeling and create some 4th of July sparks of their own by upsetting the 10th ranked Women’s Springboks on their own turf.
Excited to get the squad back together and get another game time underway, Hanratty commented,
“South Africa Women's Rugby is one of the most talked about teams in World Rugby with their performances in the recent Rugby World Cup and their clear desire to become a top nation. To compete in a Test series in South Africa is one of the most challenging place to go and we want to hold ourselves to a high standard and raise our game from our PAC4 experiences.
USA fans can catch the action live on Paramount+ as they follow the Eagles journey this season preparing for the USA Women’s return stateside this October where matches newly announced WXV matches will be hosted in Texas, Tennessee and New Jersey. Tickets are available at https://go.usa.rugby/wxv-usa-series-presale
| First Name | Current Club |
|---|---|
| Emerson Allen | Leicester Tigers |
| Kapoina Bailey | Denver Onyx |
| Lauryn Carlton* | Boston Banshees |
| Elizabeth Cook* | Cardiff Met University |
| Rachel Ehrecke | Loughborough Lightning |
| Tessa Hann | USA 7s |
| Chloe Hill-Huse* | Sunnybank Union Club |
| Hann Humphreys | USA 7s |
| Alivia Leatherman | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Georgie Perris-Redding | Sale Sharks |
| Hope Rogers | Exeter Chiefs |
| Paige Stathopoulos | Loughborough Lightning |
| Freda Tafuna | Lindenwood University |
| Hallie Taufoou | Stade Bordelais Women |
| Kathryn Treder | Loughborough Lightning |
| Olivia Woods | Sacred Heart University |
| Reece Woods | Sacred Heart University |
| Kate Zackary | Ealing Trailfinders |
| First Name | Current Club |
|---|---|
| Cass Bargell | Denver Onyx / USA 7s |
| Kristin Bitter | Leicester Tigers |
| Ashley Cowdrey* | USA 7s |
| Emily Henrich | Leicester Tigers |
| Katana Howard | Sale Sharks |
| Alev Kelter | Loughborough Lightning |
| Bulou Mataitoga | Loughborough Lightning |
| Alopa Nau* | Davenport University |
| Olivia Ortiz | Sale Sharks |
| Taina Tukuafu | Bay Area Breakers |
| Telesi Uhatafe | Southern Nazarene University |
| Bella Vogel | Life University |
- Erica Jarrell-Searcy
- Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele
- Abigail Paton
- Erica Coulibaly
- Sariah Ibarra
- Lotte sharpe
Sat, July 4: USA vs. South Africa
7:30 am ET | Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Sat, July 11: USA vs. South Africa
7:30 am ET | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Jack Hanratty | Head Coach
Sarah Chobot | Assistant Coach
Lou Meadows | Assistant Coach
Jon Humphreys | Assistant Coach
Michael Deasy | Head of Athletic Performance
Sam Malette | Lead Athletic Trainer
Mia Pelton | Athletic Trainer
Abigail Hamilton | Team Physician
Hannah Reid | Team Manager
Rudy Betancourt | Videographer
USA vs Italy - 5:00pm
Saturday October 17th - Texas Health Mansfield Stadium, Mansfield, TX
USA vs Italy - 3:15pm
Saturday October 24th - GEODIS Park, Nashville, TN
USA vs England - 5:15pm
Friday October 30th - Sports Illustrated Stadium, Newark, NJ
